The richest woman in America

This book is a captivating biography of Hetty Green, who at the time of her death in 1916 was worth at least $100 million, equivalent to over $2 billion today.

Abandoned by her neurotic mother and scorned by her misogynist father, Hetty set out to prove her value through her financial prowess.

She ignored the herd mentality, taking advantage of financial panics and crises by buying railroads, real estate, and government bonds when others were selling, and putting her money into cash when others were buying and borrowing.

Her independence, outspokenness, and disdain for the upper crust earned her a reputation for harshness, yet those who knew her admired her warmth, wisdom, and wit.

The book sets her life against a backdrop of financial crises similar to those of the present day, highlighting her as a rarely-mentioned queen of American finance.