Although the 21st century United States is, as we intimately know, brimming with newly found wealth from billionaires across the commercial spectrum...

There’s a certain allure to learning about the sagas of the “old money” set of America’s wealthy.

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TIMESTAMPS
0:00 Introduction
1:22 1. The Dupont Family
3:47 2. The Hearst Family
7:18 3. The Rockefeller Family
9:16 4. The Mars Family
11:14 5. The Cargill-Macmillan Family

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First on our list is the illustrious DuPont family, with a story as explosive as the industry that begot their wealth.

If you've ever pondered over a non-stick pan or admired a glamorous Nylon stocking, then you have been touched by the innovation of the DuPonts.

Their saga begins with Éleuthère Irénée du Pont, a man with a vision far beyond the horizon of his era. Fleeing the throes of the French Revolution, he sailed across the Atlantic and turned his gaze to gunpowder manufacturing...

And did it pay off? It certainly did!

Let's now delve into the saga of the Hearsts, a family that has indelibly marked the landscape of American media.

At the helm of this family's meteoric rise was the visionary William Randolph Hearst.

With a blend of audacity and entrepreneurial genius, he transformed a humble newspaper from San Francisco into an impressive media juggernaut.

Hearst was not one to rest on his laurels, however.

His penchant for yellow journalism, his propensity for the sensational, and his uncanny ability to tap into the zeitgeist of the public sentiment, formed the foundation of his success.

Let’s shift our gaze now to another legendary name in American wealth, the Rockefellers.

It all began with John D. Rockefeller, a name that even today, my friends, is associated with an astonishing level of affluence.

John D. was not merely rich; he was - by many metrics - the richest of ALL TIME.

And how did he amass such an enviable fortune? Why, as you probably know - oil... a.k.a. “black gold”.

John D. Rockefeller was a man of ambition and tenacity.

At a time when others were just recognizing the potential of oil, he was already establishing Standard Oil, a behemoth that would redefine the American industrial landscape.

And now let’s travel from the gritty world of oil to the sweet delight of confectionery.

I present to you: the Mars family, a name that's likely brought more than a few smiles to your face over the years.

You may not think of candy bars as a route to wealth, but the Mars family would beg to differ.

Frank C. Mars, the patriarch, was a man with a sweet tooth and an even sweeter dream.

He began his journey in the early 20th century, selling hand- dipped chocolates out of his Tacoma, Washington kitchen.

From these humble beginnings, Mars Incorporated grew, buoyed by Mars' tireless spirit and vision.

The Mars family didn't merely create a confectionery company; they built a global empire.

Today, Mars, Incorporated is a household name, its delightful array of products gracing supermarket shelves across the globe. We're talking about Snickers, M&M's, Milky Way, and so much more.

If you've got a favourite candy bar, odds are it's a Mars creation. But it isn't all about chocolates and sweets.

Over the years, the Mars family expanded their business portfolio into other areas such as pet care, food products, and even symbioscience. They've proven that the key to enduring wealth lies in diversification and adaptation, much like our other 'old money' families.

Let's turn our attention to our final old money titan - the Cargill-Macmillan family. Unlike our previous moguls of confectionery, oil, and media, their tale is one deeply rooted in the grains of the earth.

William W. Cargill was the man behind it all. In the post-Civil War era, he saw an opportunity in the grain storage business.

It may not sound glamorous, but therein lies the beauty.

Cargill took a seemingly mundane industry and, with a combination of foresight and hard work, forged an empire.

Today, Cargill Inc. is one of the largest privately held corporations in the United States.