Big Money

The richest Americans in history

9. Frederick Weyerhäuser

richest americans
  • Adjusted wealth*: $91.2 billion
  • Lived: 1834-1914

Timber, lumber and paper magnate Frederick Weyerhäuser and his family were once rumored to control an area the size of Wisconsin.

The Weyerhaeuser (WY) company replanted the trees it cut, and is still considered one of the more responsible forest products firms.

First published June 2, 2014: 6:18 PM ET
Source: *Most nominal wealth estimates are from The Wealthy 100 by Michael Klepper and Robert Gunther, and include wealth at time of death, including bequests. Estimates were then calculated as a fraction of the overall economy at time of death by Sam Williamson of Measuring Worth, and then presented in 2013 dollars based on the size of the current U.S. economy. Estimates for Gates and Buffett provided by Wealth-X.

Biographical information from The Wealthy 100 by Michael Klepper and Robert Gunther, Encyclopedia Britannica, and The Prize by Daniel Yergin.

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