“Unmasking the Masters of Greed: Meet the 14 People Who Took Avarice to Unthinkable Heights!”
7. Nicholas II of Russia (1868 – 1918)
Nicholas II, the last Tsar of Russia, held onto power with a tight grip despite the growing unrest in his country. His greed for absolute rule and resistance to reform led to one of the bloodiest revolutions in history, the Russian Revolution of 1917. While his lavish lifestyle continued in the face of widespread poverty and famine, Nicholas turned a blind eye to the suffering of his people.
His inability to adapt and his greed for maintaining autocratic power led to the downfall of the Romanov dynasty. Nicholas, along with his family, was executed, marking the end of imperial Russia and serving as a cautionary tale of how greed for control can bring about a nation’s collapse.
8. Cornelius Vanderbilt (1794 – 1877)
Cornelius Vanderbilt, the “Commodore,” built an empire in shipping and railroads, and his greed for dominance in these industries knew no bounds. Vanderbilt crushed competitors through ruthless business tactics, monopolizing transportation routes and amassing an enormous fortune. His wealth and power allowed him to control not just industries, but also politicians and lawmakers.
Despite donating a portion of his wealth to establish Vanderbilt University, his legacy is overshadowed by the sheer greed that drove him to build a business empire at any cost. His methods of accumulating wealth were aggressive, making him one of the most notorious robber barons of the Gilded Age.
