21. Rome’s Richest and Greediest Man
Marcus Licinius Crassus (115 – 53 BC) was the Roman Republic’s richest man, and a giant of his era, whose life ended in an ignoble oops moment. As an ally of the dictator Sulla, Crassus started on the road to riches by buying the confiscated properties of executed enemies of the state in rigged auctions, for a fraction of their value. Crassus even had the names of those whose property he coveted added to the lists of those slated for execution and confiscation of property.
He continued to amass wealth and property after Sulla’s death, including a scheme involving a private firefighter company. Rome’s buildings were fire-prone, so when one broke, Crassus would rush in and offer to buy the burning property then and there at a knockdown price – a literal fire sale. Soon as an agreement was reached, Crassus’ firefighters would spring into action to control the fire and rescue the property for its new owner.
