English Learning for Curious Minds
#404 | The Rise And Fall Of The Vanderbilts
Sep 21, 2023
From an immigrant's journey to the New World to the rise and fall of the Vanderbilts, this episode covers the early career of Cornelius Vanderbilt in transportation, their expansion during the California Gold Rush, their immense wealth and legacy, the extravagant lifestyles of Vanderbilt descendants, and the decline of the Vanderbilt fortune.
20:57
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Quick takeaways
- The Vanderbilt family's rise to wealth began with Cornelius Vanderbilt's success in the transportation industry, expanding from ferry services to railways.
- Despite their immense wealth, the Vanderbilt family's downfall was attributed to their extravagant spending, poor planning, and the effects of the Great Depression.
Deep dives
The Vanderbilt Family's Origins as Indentured Servants
The podcast explores how the Vanderbilt family started as Jan Artsen, an indentured servant who settled in New Amsterdam. The family's rise to wealth began with Jan's great-great-great grandson, Cornelius Vanderbilt, who started his own ferry service at the age of 16 and later expanded into railways.
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