How Rockefeller Became a Billionaire

In 1901 Puck published this political cartoon depicting John D. Rockefeller as a king presiding over a landscape that he has devastated. On his crown are the tools of his empire: four railroads–including Pennsylvania's Reading and Lehigh Valley R.R.s– encircle his crown, which is topped by oil derricks and holding tanks.

OCCUPIED TUCSON CITIZEN In the beginning, Rockefeller was a completely poor fifteen-year-old kid who had only a single dime to his name.  With this dime he bought an apple, which he polished with the edge of his only shirt and sold for twenty cents.  With this twenty cents he bought two apples, polished them both …

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