This is a list of men (so far it has only been men) who at some time in their life could have been considered the wealthiest person in the United States. Determining the wealthiest people in the world throughout history is difficult as wealthy businessmen are a relatively new phenomenom. Often monarchs and rulers of countries had great control over lifes and wealth. Determining the richest man in America however is somewhat easier as the United States is a fairly young country with no hereditary aristocracy.
| Name | Dates of Birth-Death | Wealthiest | Associated State | Areas of Business
|
| John Jacob Astor | July 17, 1763 - March 29, 1848 | ? | New York | Fur trading, Real Estate
|
| William Backhouse Astor, Sr. | September 19, 1792 - November 24, 1875 | ? | New York | Real Estate
|
| Cornelius Vanderbilt | May 27, 1794 – January 4, 1877 | ? | New York | Shipping
|
| William Henry Vanderbilt | May 8, 1821 – December 8, 1885 | ? | New York | Railways
|
| John Davison Rockefeller | July 8, 1839 – May 23, 1937 | ? | New York | Petroleum
|
| Howard Hughes | December 24, 1905 – April 5, 1976 | ? | born in Texas | Aircraft, Movie Production
|
| Sam Walton | 1918 - 1992 | 1985-1988 (Forbes 400) | Arkansas | Wal-Mart
|
| John Kluge | 1914 - | 1989 (Forbes 400) | Germany | Television
|
| Warren Buffett | August 30, 1930 - living | ? | Omaha, Nebraska | Investments - Berkshire Hathaway
|
| Bill Gates | October 28, 1955 - living | 1996-2005 (Forbes 400) | Seattle,Washington | Computer Software - Microsoft corporation
|
