List of most wealthy historical figures

This list of the richest people ever or the most wealthy historical figures is essentially the list of the richest people in the history of mankind since the dawn of civilization (from the time that money was invented) or the richest people ever born (ancient, medieval, and modern). Marcus Licinius Crassus was the richest person in the history of mankind. John D. Rockefeller is the richest person that lived in the modern era, with an estimated net worth of $330 billion.

Basis, purpose, and scope of the list

The list of most wealthy people ever born (who either inherited or acquired wealth) is based on calculations by Forbes.^[1] It is updated annually to reflect changes to GDP. However, their wealth or net worth is hard to estimate and the ancient historical figures are scarce in numbers or rare on the list.

The scope of the list is world-wide and all civilizations. This list might provide a numerical-benchmark for the measurement of achievements of all humans ever born. At present, there is no such comparable numerical-benchmark other than net-worth. Not only businessmen and politicians but also scientists and even engineers (e.g. Henry Ford) can be included in this list if they satisfy the defined criteria.

Ranking-process

The ranking process is done by the percentage of the total GDP of the nation they lived in at the time they were alive. Whether or not their fortune was inherited, the list records the people at the time of their greatest net worth, not by their current net worth, or their net worth when they died.

The list doesn't significantly change from year to year unless there is a new person who qualifies to be on the list or someone surpasses their previous peak amount. However, this can only really happen to those who are still alive. On occasion, there is an undiscovered billionaire from Ancient times, Middle ages and the Industrial age that wasn?t placed on the list before, or one of the billionaires already on the list has been found to have a higher peak net worth than previously thought. If this is proven, or a new billionaire is found, then the figure or net worth should be placed on the following list.

However, if the country where the member originally lived is now defunct, then the inflated net worth has to be averaged by the world GDP, rather than the country's. Because of this, the world GDP may be higher or lower than the other country's GDP and not tied to the same standard. This is really the only time where a member's net worth can be changed above the standard after he or she dies, thereby raising or lowering their rank on the list (e.g. Nicholas II of Russia).

Top ten: Current figures of mid-2008

1.		Name: John D. Rockefeller Age at Highest Earnings: 77 or 97 Age at Death: 97 (died May 23, 1937) Net Worth: 329.9 Billion $USD Original Net Worth: US$1 Billion (September 29 1916)^[2] US$900.0 Million (1913-eve of WWI) ^[3] Origin: United States Main Source of Wealth: Standard Oil Other Achievements: First Billionaire (Globally-USD)^[4] and The Rockefeller Foundation (Created:1913)^[5]
2.		Name: Andrew Carnegie Age at Highest Earnings: 68 Age at Death: 83 (died August 11, 1919) Net Worth: 309.2 Billion $USD Original Net Worth: 479.9 Million $USD (1901) Origin: Scotland then immigration to United States Company: U.S. Steel
3.		Name: Tsar Nicholas II of Russia (Nikolai Alexandrovich Romanov) Age at Highest Earnings: 50 Age at Death: 50 (died July 17, 1918) Net Worth: 290.7 Billion $USD Original Net Worth: 1.3 Billion $USD (1916) Origin: Empire of Russia Company: Monarchy - the Caesar (Emperor) and Autocrat of the Russian Empire (from the House of Romanov).
4.		Name: William Henry Vanderbilt Age at Highest Earnings: 64 Age at Death: 64 (died December 8, 1885) Net Worth: 240.0 Billion $USD Original Net Worth: 194 Million $USD (1885) Origin: United States Company: Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad and other railway companies.
5.		Name: Osman Ali Khan, Asaf Jah VII Age at Highest Earnings: 50 Age at Death: 80 (died February 24, 1967) Net Worth: 225.1 Billion $USD Original Net Worth: 1.4 Billion $USD (1937) Origin: Hyderabad, India Company: Monarchy - Nizam of Hyderabad
6.		Name: Andrew W. Mellon Age at Highest Earnings: 80 Age at Death: 82 (died August 27, 1937) Net Worth: 195.7 Billion $USD Original Net Worth: 1.0 Billion $USD (1935) Origin: United States Company: Gulf Oil and various other oil companies.
7.		Name: Henry Ford Age at Highest Earnings: 57 Age at Death: 83 (died April 7, 1947) Net Worth: 194.9 Billion $USD Original Net Worth: 1.0 Billion $USD (1920) Origin: United States Company: Ford Motor Company
8.		Name: Marcus Licinius Crassus Age at Highest Earnings: 62 Age at Death: 62 (died 53 B.C.) Net Worth: 181.3 Billion $USD (100 B.C) Original Net Worth: 170 Million sesterces^[6] Origin: Roman Republic Company: Roman Fire Brigade (wealth inherited, as well as earned by speculating in tenants, mining corporations, and slave trade)
9.		Name: Alain Le Roux Age at Highest Earnings: 49 Age at Death: 49 (died 1089) Net Worth: 178.7 Billion $USD Original Net Worth: 11,000 GBP (1089) Origin: Great Britain Company: None, earned money through Monarchy and Investments.
*10.*		Name: Caesar Basil II of the Roman (Byzantine) Empire Age at Highest Earnings: 67 Age at Death: 67 (died December 15, 1025) Net Worth: 172.5 Billion $USD Original Net Worth: 200,000 gold talents (about 5,400,000kg) Origin: Byzantine Empire Company: Monarchy - Caesar of Constantinople (from the Macedonian dynasty)