1. Meet John Jacob Astor: From Immigrant to Tycoon
Born in 1763 in Walldorf, Germany, John Jacob Astor immigrated to the United States in 1784. Starting as a penniless immigrant, he established a fur trade monopoly, exporting opium to China, and invested in New York City real estate, becoming the nation’s first multimillionaire. His journey mirrors the success stories of many immigrants who have shaped America’s economy.
