Numerous sources consider John D. Rockefeller as being the richest person in modern history (Forbes is one of the sources). Adjusted for inflation, his net worth would be north of $300 billion today. Rockefeller lived between 1839 and 1937 (died age 97).
He made his immense fortune in the oil industry; Rockefeller was a dedicated philanthropist. Leaving aside historical facts (not the point of this post), I will delve into his daily routines, as he told them to Orison Swett for his early-1900s book How They Succeeded:
"The riches man in the United States, John Davidson Rockefeller, has consented to break his rule never to talk for publication; and he has told me the story of his early struggles and triumphs, and given utterance to some striking interesting observations anent the same."
Earlier in this series:
1. A day in the Life of Nikola Tesla
2. A day in the Life of Benjamin Franklin
3. A day in the Life of Thomas Edison
4. A day in the Life of Albert Einstein
5. A day in the Life of Charles Darwin
The Daily Habits of John D. Rockefeller
Some of his biographers claim that Rockefeller followed a strict routine during the last 40 years of his life.
6 A.M. Wake-up and read the newspaper.
8 A.M. Breakfast, followed by a puzzle game (numerica).
9 - 10:15 A.M. Working through correspondence. He would often receive thousands of letters per day. Can you guess what they were about?!
10:15 - 12 P.M. Play golf.
12:15 - 1 P.M. Bathe and afternoon rest.
1 - 2:30 P.M. Lunch and another puzzle game.
2:30 - 5:30 P.M. Reading more correspondence (30 minutes) and motoring.
5:30 - 6:30 P.M. Rest.
7 - 9 P.M. Dinner and more rounds of numerica.
9 - 10 P.M. Listen to music and chatter with guest.
10:30 P.M. Lights off.
Credits to Jonathan Roseland for the data.
If you've been following my series on the habits of remarkable figures, you can notice a stark resemblance between J. D. Rockefeller and Charles Darwin's routine.
However, I should be careful to point out that this routine was followed in the second part of his life (the last 40 years), when he might not have been so actively involved in business like he was in his earlier years. I did not find data on his daily habits as a younger person.
Interesting to Note
- he was the son of a con artist/bigamist. According to history.com:
"The tycoon’s father, William Avery Rockefeller, was a traveling snake-oil salesman who posed as a deaf-mute peddler and hawked miracle drugs and herbal remedies. The smooth-talking huckster dubbed “Devil Bill” alternately fathered children, including the future industrialist, with his wife and mistress, the couple’s live-in housekeeper."
- he was a devoted religious believer
- he abstained from consuming alcohol and tobacco
- he donated up of $500 million to philanthropy
- as young kid, two of his ambitions were to live to 100 and to make $100,000 (a lot of money for that time period):
He achieved his second ambition, that of making 100 grand, in his early years. Very close to accomplishing his first ambition too, Rockefeller died age 97 (of arteriosclerosis).
Ending Thoughts
I'll end leaving you with a great line that Rockefeller told Swett during their discussion - as presented in How They Succeeded:
"When I asked Mr. Rockefeller what he considers has most helped him in obtaining success in business, he answered: It was early training, and the fact that I was willing to persevere. I do not think there is any other quality so essential to success of any kind as the quality of perseverance. It overcomes almost everything, even nature."
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Credits for Image: Oscar White via Wikimedia Commons
Cristi Vlad, Self-Experimenter and Author