The Rise of John D. Rockefeller
John D. Rockefeller (July 8, 1839–May 23, 1937), the founder of Standard Oil, was once the richest man in the world, making history as the world’s first billionaire. He amassed a net worth of at least $1 billion in 1916. When Rockefeller died in 1937, his net worth was estimated to be approximately $340 billion in today’s dollars.
By the age of 25, Rockefeller owned one of the largest oil refineries in the United States. At 31, he became the world’s largest oil refiner. By the age of 38, he controlled 90% of the oil refined in the United States. At fifty, John was America’s richest man. As a young man, every action, attitude, and connection was crafted to establish his wealth.
The Turning Point
But at the age of 53, Rockefeller’s health took a drastic turn. His entire body became wracked with pain, and he lost all his hair. In total anguish, the world’s lone billionaire could buy anything he wanted but could only eat soup and crackers. According to an associate, “He couldn’t sleep, wouldn’t smile, and nothing in life meant anything to him.” His personal, highly trained physicians indicated that he would die within the year.
That year passed painfully slowly. As he approached death, he awoke one morning with the faint understanding that he would not be able to bring any of his fortune with him to the next world. The man who could dominate the commercial world suddenly realized he had no control over his personal life. He informed his solicitors, accountants, and management that he intended to devote his assets to hospitals, research, and charity work.
The Rockefeller Foundation
John D. Rockefeller started his foundation, which financed significant advancements in medical research, including Howard Florey and his colleague Norman Heatley’s penicillin research in 1941. But arguably the most astounding aspect of Rockefeller’s narrative is that when he began to give back a fraction of all he had gained, his body’s chemistry changed dramatically, and he recovered.
A New Lease on Life
He was expected to die at the age of 53, but he survived to reach 98 years old. Rockefeller learned gratitude and returned the great bulk of his money. This made him whole. It’s one thing to be healed. It is another to become fit. He was a devout Baptist who attended the Euclid Avenue Baptist Church in Cleveland, Ohio.
Before he died, he wrote in his diary: “God taught me that everything belongs to Him, and I am merely a conduit to carry out His will. My life has been one long, happy holiday since then; full of work and play, I let go of my worries along the road, and God was wonderful to me every day.”
The Legacy of John D. Rockefeller
Rockefeller’s story serves as a powerful reminder that while money can buy many things, it cannot buy health, happiness, or peace of mind. His journey from immense wealth to profound illness, and finally to recovery through generosity, highlights the importance of balance and the realization that there is a greater force at play in our lives.
