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The list of 'most wealthy historical figures' is done annually by Wikipedia and is Based on the work done by Forbes. ^[1] It is published every year to update the new information of rising inflation. Mostly the figures are from the Industrial age, however, there are a few Network Age people that greatly influence this list. The series often is released a few months after its set date, and usually contain records from last year.
The ranking process is done by the percentage of the total GDP of which is of the nation they live in the estimated net worth of these people. Whether or not their Fortune are inherited, the list mostly records the people at their time of greatest earnings of net worth, not by their current estimates or when their last estimates where when they died. Usually nothing really changes in the list unless there is a new member with a higher amount wealth that either qualifies to be on the list or either surpasses his or hers previous peak amount. This however, can only really happen to those who are still alive and are on the list, unless there is an error in the calculations, which has to be corrected. Also, a person or member has to be on the list from his peak earnings, for at least 17 years ago to qualify to be factored in for inflation.
As of 2006, Rockefeller has been on top of the list and on top of other lists since 1937. Bill Gates, though once the richest person from being succeeded by Carlos Slim Helu in August 2007. ^{[2] [3]} In the Late 90s, the Dot-com bubble gave Bill Gates and other investors in the stock market an increase in their personal wealth. Then in mid-2000, the stocks gradually went down and the stock holders lost most of their net worth to that decrease.

Contents

Lists by years: 2006-

Current Top 10 Members

References

Lists by years: 2006-

★ Wealthy Historical Figures 2006

★ Wealthy Historical Figures 2007

Current Top 10 Members

#	Name	Age when at peak of earnings, or in 2006 for living people	Current age, or age at death	Wealth in Billion USD	Origin	Current Residence	Company	Image
1.	John D. Rockefeller	97	97 (died May 23, 1937)	257.6	United States	United States	Standard Oil
2.	Henry Ford	58	83 died (April 7, 1947)	179.3	United States	United States	Ford Motor Company
3.	Cornelius Vanderbilt	82	82 (died (January 4, 1877)	159.5	United States	United States	Railroad, shipping
4.	Andrew Carnegie	75	83 (died (August 11, 1919)	127.3	Scotland	United States	Carnegie Steel Company
5.	H. L. Hunt	75	85 (died November 29, 1974)	122.0	United States	United States	Hunt Refining Company
6.	John Jacob Astor	84	84 (died March 29, 1848)	109.5	Germany	United States	American Fur Company
7.	Stephen Girard	81	81 (died December 26, 1831)	100.9	France	United States	First Bank of the United States
8.	Bill Gates	44	52	100.0	United States	United States	Microsoft
9.	Walton family	-	-	87.5	United States	United States	Wal-Mart
10.	Stephen Van Rensselaer	81	81 (died January 26, 1839)	84.7	United States	United States	Rensselaerswyck

References

1. Richest Americans in History
2. Mexican tycoon overtakes Bill Gates as world's richest man Fiona Walsh
3. Latin America stocks surge anew, lift Carlos Slim also Herbert Lash