Cornelius Vanderbilt

Cornelius Vanderbilt (May 27, 1794 – January 4, 1877) was an American businessman, philanthropist, and slave owner. A lot of his wealth came from railroads and shipping.
He was also the patriarch of the Vanderbilt family. He was one of the richest Americans in history. He provided the initial gift to found Vanderbilt University, which is named in his honor.
Vanderbilt died on January 4, 1877 in New York City, New York from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), aged 82.
Vanderbilt was worth more than $100 million at the time of his death (equivalent to approximately $ in dollars).