John Jacob Astor

About

Businessman and investor who became the first American multimillionaire after creating a monopoly in the fur trading industry. 

Before Fame

His first job was working for his father as a dairy salesmen.

Trivia

He started his business smuggling opium around the time of the Revolutionary War.

Family Life

He had one brother. He married Sarah Cox Todd, and together they had eight children. 

Associated With

He bought a lease on Manhattan island from Aaron Burr.