How the Vanderbilts Lost Their $200 Billion Fortune

On January 4, 1877, Cornelius "the Commodore" Vanderbilt died the richest man America had ever produced, a fortune that, measured against the size of the whole economy, would rank near $200 billion today. He left almost all of it to a single son, meaning to keep it whole. Within fifty years it was gone. By the time 120 of his descendants gathered for a family reunion, not one of them was a millionaire. This is how the largest fortune in America vanished in three generations, and the one branch of the family that refused to let it happen. Chapters: 0:00 The Richest Man the Nation Produced 2:37 Shirtsleeves to Shirtsleeves 3:42 The Commodore's Ruthless Rise 5:34 Railroads and the New York Central 8:38 The Will Contest and William's $200 Million 11:09 Divided Out of Fairness 13:16 The Palaces on Fifth Avenue 15:29 The Breakers: a White Elephant 16:37 Alva's Ball and Consuelo's Bargain 19:57 Divided Every Generation 20:52 Reginald Gambles It Away 23:05 120 Heirs, One Million Dollars 24:52 The Branch That Built Instead 27:26 Gloria, Anderson, and the Curse That Skipped Sources: Vanderbilt family biographies, New York Times reporting, estate and probate records. Named sources only. Fortune's Grave: documented wealth, dated figures, named sources, past events. Not financial advice.