List of richest Americans in history

[5] The third-richest person in terms of wealth compared to contemporary GDP is a subject of dispute.

While most sources attribute this status to Andrew Carnegie, others argue that it could be Bill Gates, Cornelius Vanderbilt I, John Jacob Astor IV, or Henry Ford.

Vanderbilt left a fortune worth $100 million upon his death in 1877, equivalent to $2.4 billion today.

"[8] The second category, the second to eighth richest individuals, included Andrew Mellon's son, daughter, niece, and nephew.

[10] The list was compiled by taking each person's wealth at death, adding the amount given away during his lifetime, and expressing the total as a fraction of the nation's GDP at the time.