John D. Rockefeller

Born July 8, 1839 in Richford, New York, Rockefeller was the second of the six children to William Avery Rockefeller and Eliza. The family moved to Ohio in 1853.

In 1862, John D Rockefeller’s firm, Clark & Rockefeller, invested in an oil refinery and in 1865 Rockefeller sold his shares and then bought into a larger share in another refinery partnership named Rockefeller & Andrews. In 1867 Rockefeller & Andrews absorbed John’s brothers business and 1870 the two Rockefellers, Flagler, Andrews and a refiner named Stephen V. Harkness formed the Standard Oil Company.

Standard Oil gradually gained virtual control of oil production in America creating fabulous wealth for Rockefeller. By 1901, he was worth about $900 million. Adjusted for inflation, he would be worth over $220 billion in today’s money.

In 1931 Rockefeller's son John D Rockefeller Jr. partnered with the Radio Corporation of America (RCA), a company prospering during the Depression. RCA’s music, news, and entertainment radio (NBC) had large audiences seeking diversion during hard times. RCA/NBC became the principal tenant of Rockefeller’s new skyscraper, previously known as the RCA building. Today people can get more and more information in online music news and the Rockefeller Center is comprised of 19 buildings between 48th and 51st Streets from Fifth Avenue to Sixth Avenue.

“Charity is injurious unless it helps the recipient to become independent of it. ”

“Every right implies a responsibility; Every opportunity, an obligation, Every possession, a duty.”

“Good leadership consists of showing average people how to do the work of superior people.”

“A friendship founded on business is better than a business founded on friendship.”

“The way to make money is to buy when blood is running in the streets.”

“Singleness of purpose is one of the chief essentials for success in life, no matter what may be one's aim.”

“If you want to succeed you should strike out on new paths, rather than travel the worn paths of accepted success.”

“I do not think there is any other quality so essential to success of any kind as the quality of perseverance. It overcomes almost everything, even nature.”

“I believe that thrift is essential to well-ordered living.”

“Don't be afraid to give up the good to go for the great.”