He used his fortune to purchase 70 acres of prime Manhattan real estate including the areas surrounding Times Square and along the Hudson River. By the time he died aged 84 in 1848, he was worth $30million — equivalent to over $1billion today.His descendants grew their wealth for generations, buying much of the land is built on before one family member decided to give half away after learning the Astors were 'slumlords'. The story of the family's controversial rise to the top, a fight between siblings over inheritance and a plot to loot the $200million fortune of one member has been detailed in a new book titled Astor: The Rise and Fall of an American Fortune.
Load More
Load More