John D Rockefeller

John D. Rockefeller (1839-1937) was an American industrialist and philanthropist, best known for founding the Standard Oil Company in 1870, which dominated the oil industry and became the world's first great business trust. By 1882, Standard Oil controlled approximately 90% of the United States' oil refineries and pipelines. In 1911, the U.S. Supreme Court found Standard Oil in violation of antitrust laws and ordered its breakup into 34 smaller companies. Rockefeller's philanthropy included the establishment of the University of Chicago in 1890, and the Rockefeller Foundation in 1913, which played a major role in funding medical research, education, and scientific advancement. His precise financial acumen and business strategies set him apart as a pioneering figure in American capitalism.