John Jacob Astor

John Jacob Astor was a German-American businessman and real estate pioneer in the 19th century, known for building one of America's first major fortunes. He founded the American Fur Company, amassing wealth through fur trading, and invested heavily in New York City real estate. Astor's strategic investments helped him become one of the wealthiest people of his time, and he played a key role in shaping early American commerce and urban development. His legacy includes Astor Place in New York and the Astor family’s continued prominence in business and philanthropy.