“John D. Rockefeller was either ‘the greatest criminal of his age’ or ‘a man sent from God”. While those who knew him revered him as a divine figure, journalists often portrayed him as a dark presence. Rockefeller’s establishment of the Standard Oil Company granted him control over the majority of the oil in the United States, catapulting him to become the wealthiest individual of his time. Despite his immense success, many awaited the downfall of his monopolistic empire. At one point in his life, he was making $25,000 per day. John D. Rockefeller’s upbringing played a significant role in shaping the modern oil industry and left a lasting impression on those he encountered. John D. Rockefeller was a wealthy businessman who grew up in Upstate …show more content…
His father once said, “I cheat on my boys every chance I get. I want to make ‘em sharp”. His mother was the one to nurture and run the household. His father was gone a lot due to work and starting another family. His parents separated and his family moved to different places in New York and then to settle in Ohio. His mother taught him and his siblings, “willful waste makes woeful want”. His first job was as a bookkeeper. He then dipped his hand in the commercial business selling hay, grain, meats and other goods. After seeing the growth an oil company can gain fast, he opened a refinery near Cleveland. After two years, it was the biggest oil refinery. Rockefeller’s success grew rapidly. Even with his father’s dedication to money, Rockefeller did good with his money. Rockefeller used his mom's traits to spread his money. Rockefeller donated to an amenable amount of charities. He donated around $1.35 million and $865,000 worth of land to parks in the city. With his successful business and investments, he was able to give back to people and his community. Many people look up to him with their aspirations. He often gets letters from people requesting money or