These Are the Richest People in American History Before 1990

Edgar Miles Bronfman

Edgar Miles Bronfman was a Canadian-American businessman. He was born in 1929 and passed away in 2013. Bronfman’s role as the former CEO of Seagram Company Ltd, a multinational conglomerate involved in the production of alcohol. So the next time you have a gin and tonic, you might want to thank Edgar Bronfman. He led the company from 1971 to 1994, during which time it became one of the largest and most successful companies in the world. He was the president of the World Jewish Congress from 1979 to 2007, and was a strong advocate for the Jewish community and the State of Israel. At the time of his death, Bronfman was worth $2.5 billion.

Charles F. Feeney

Charles F. Feeney is the founder of The Atlantic Philanthropies, a private foundation that has made significant contributions to a variety of causes. He is also the co-founder of Duty Free Shoppers (DFS), a company that pioneered the duty-free shopping concept. That might sound familiar, because Duty Free is placed in airports around the world. It became one of the largest luxury goods retailers in the world. Feeney is a strong advocate for giving while living, and has been a vocal supporter of the idea that wealthy individuals have a responsibility to use their resources to make a positive impact on the world. There is not an exact number of what he is worth, but we do know that he is a billionaire.

Leslie Herbert Wexner

Leslie Herbert Wexner is an American businessman. He is best known for being the founder and CEO of L Brands, a retail company that operates several well-known brands including Victoria’s Secret, Bath & Body Works, and Pink. Millions of women across America have no idea that all of their staples exist because of an old white man. Many people widely regard Wexner as one of the most successful retailers in the world, and credit him with revolutionizing the lingerie and beauty industries. Under his leadership, L Brands has become a multinational corporation with a strong global presence, and has become one of the largest employers in the retail sector. He is worth $6 billion.

Forrest Edward Mars Sr.

Forrest Edward Mars Sr. was an American businessman. The name Mars might sound familiar, because they are the creators of M&M’s. He was born in 1904 and passed away in 1999. People know Mars best as the co-founder of Mars Inc., which is one of the largest and most successful candy companies in the world. The company is known for producing a wide range of well-known brands, including M&M’s, Snickers, and Skittles. They also own pet food brands, including Pedigree and Whiskas. Mars was a highly successful businessman. He was a strong believer in the importance of quality and customer satisfaction, and these values are still central to the company today. Forrest’s children, Jackie and John, went on to becoming some of the wealthiest people in the United States after they inherited their share of Mars Inc. When he died, he was worth $4 billion.

How did we find this stuff? Here are our sources:

List of the Richest Americans in History. Wikipedia.

From Rockefeller to Ford, See Forbes’ 1918 Ranking Of The Richest People In America. Forbes.

How the Waltons — America’s wealthiest family and heirs to the Walmart empire — live their lives. Business Insider. 2023.