Andrew Carnegie: How One of the Richest Men in History Viewed Wealth and Legacy | #Success - Ep. 73

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Sep 24, 2025

Dive into the world of Andrew Carnegie, one of history’s wealthiest figures, and discover how he influenced the likes of Napoleon Hill. Unpack his powerful essay, The Gospel of Wealth, which argues that dying rich is a disgrace and advocates for philanthropy that builds opportunities, not just handouts. Explore the harmony between Carnegie's views and Ayn Rand's philosophy on giving. Learn how practical charity can drive business profits and why teaching kids to earn is crucial for lasting wealth.

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ANECDOTE

How Napoleon Hill Got His Commission

Napoleon Hill spent three days with Andrew Carnegie and accepted a commission to write a philosophy of personal achievement.
Carnegie chose Hill because he answered in 29 seconds, launching Hill's work that led to Think and Grow Rich.

ANECDOTE

The Signed Book Before The Biggest Deal

Russell bought a signed copy of Carnegie's Around the World that Carnegie gave to his lawyer one month before the U.S. Steel merger.
That signature dated 1901 connects to the largest business transaction at the time and Carnegie becoming the richest man.

INSIGHT

Why The Gospel Of Wealth Stands Out

The Gospel of Wealth essay contained the most applicable lessons Russell found in Carnegie's writings.
Its short, actionable message had direct relevance to business, marketing, and philanthropy.

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In this episode of The Russell Brunson Show, I take you inside my collection to talk about one of the most influential men in history… Andrew Carnegie. At one time, he was the richest man in the world, and his ideas shaped generations of entrepreneurs and thinkers, including Napoleon Hill. I share some rare books and artifacts from Carnegie, including a signed copy of Around the World and a first edition of The Gospel of Wealth.

But more importantly, I unpack the lessons from The Gospel of Wealth, an essay that had the biggest impact on me from Carnegie’s work. He believed that dying rich was a disgrace, and that wealth should be used to build opportunities for others, not just handed down. I contrast his philosophy with Ayn Rand’s views, and talk about how those ideas play out in business today, especially when it comes to philanthropy, profits, and building something that lasts.

Key Highlights:

How Andrew Carnegie influenced Napoleon Hill and Think and Grow Rich
The core message of The Gospel of Wealth and why it matters today
How I realized Ayn Rand’s philosophy and Carnegie’s approach to giving were actually similar and not contradicting each other
Why charity tied to strong offers works better than guilt-driven giving
Lessons from Carnegie, Rockefeller, and Vanderbilt on building generational wealth

By the end, you’ll see why Carnegie’s vision for wealth still applies to entrepreneurs today, and how you can use these lessons in your own business and life. And if you want my notes from this essay, you can find them below!

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://russellbrunson.com/notes⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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