Who are the most influential businessmen in US history?

[JohnT]

@Otto

Not sure which ones to name, but certainly the men who built the movie studio system and the men who put together the television networks deserve some mention. No one can argue that movies and television haven’t had enormous influence on US culture.

Paley would be the name you’re looking for in regards to TV/Radio networks. For the studio system, reference Zukor, Selznick, Warner, Loew, and Zanuck.

[Cicero]

I couldn’t hope to be as persuasive as the people who have posted previously, but I think there was a programme about this topic on the history channel a few years back. It is difficult to try and compare wealth of individuals across centuries, but if you look at it as part of the wealth of the country, I think someone like Rockefeller is still in front of Gates. I know this is at a tangent from the original question, but to amass that wealth the person must have had an impact on society.

Also as an aside, isn’t Edison now looked on with some disfavour as stealing ideas from competitors and employees?

[Annie-Xmas]

Martha Stewart who built an empire and kept it, despite her more recent adventures.

[What_Exit]

@Cicero

I couldn’t hope to be as persuasive as the people who have posted previously, but I think there was a programme about this topic on the history channel a few years back. It is difficult to try and compare wealth of individuals across centuries, but if you look at it as part of the wealth of the country, I think someone like Rockefeller is still in front of Gates. I know this is at a tangent from the original question, but to amass that wealth the person must have had an impact on society.

Also as an aside, isn’t Edison now looked on with some disfavour as stealing ideas from competitors and employees?

Do not get me wrong; Edison was a bigger jerk and SOB than Gates could ever be portrayed to be. But he was an extremely sharp and influential businessman. Rockefeller was a pretty nasty character also if you read up on him. Even the Sainted Carnegie has at least one large skeleton in his closet.

Jim

[Annie-Xmas]

@What Exit?

Do not get me wrong; Edison was a bigger jerk and SOB than Gates could ever be portrayed to be. But he was an extremely sharp and influential businessman. Rockefeller was a pretty nasty character also if you read up on him. Even the Sainted Carnegie has at least one large skeleton in his closet.

Jim

And Henry Ford was a vicious, notorious Jew hater.

[What_Exit]

@Annie-Xmas

And Henry Ford was a vicious, notorious Jew hater.

Sorry, I did not mention that, I tend to think of that as common knowledge and forgot some people do not know that. :smack:

Jim

[Eve]

A.T. Stewart, who opened America’s first "department store; and Madame C.J. Walker, the first black businesswoman in the U.S., who marketed beauty products.

Oh, one can’t forget beauty-product pioneers Helena Rubinstein and Elizabeth Arden, either, both very influential.

[Rufus_Xavier]

William Randolph Hearst heavily influenced the shape of the modern newspaper business, as well as helping to popularize movies.

His getting us into the Spanish-American war also had a huge impact on American history. I’d say he’s up in the top ten, possibly.

[msmith537]

Ken Lay - ENRON.

Hey, you didn’t say it had to be a positive influence. I will be interested to see in 100 years time* if his name and ENRON are still used as a cautionary tale.

• yes, I mean what you think I mean

[Interrobang]

Poking around Wikipedia reminded me of Cornelius Vanderbilt, who seems like he belongs on the list.

And if we’re including Hearst – and why not? – I think P.T. Barnum probably needs to be on the list, as well.