It was 110 years ago when the Titanic sank after hitting an iceberg. One of the richest men in the world sank with it. That man was John Jacob Astor IV.
He is the one who built New York City’s notable hotels such as Astoria Hotel as well as St. Regis.
Astor’s wife who was on board of the Titanic survived the tragedy.
The multi-millionaire was born on 13 July, 1864, in New York into one of the most affluent families in the world.
In 1700s the original Astor came to the Americas. He started business in real estate. He purchased a piece of land in the middle of Manhattan.
Later he purchased land all over Manhattan. That is how he became one of the richest men in the world and created a dynasty.
As an heir to the family fortune, John Astor, attended the finest schools in America.
He even attended Harvard University but there are no records of him graduating.
Astor went abroad briefly and returned to take charge of his family real estate business.
In 1897, Astor used his inheritance to construct Astoria Hotel in New York.
In 1904, Astor open St. Regis Hotel and the New York Times called it “the finest hotel in America” at the time.
To make the hotel advanced technologically, he installed a telephone in each room.
St. Regis is still in operation today.
Astor was a writer and a great inventor. He invented a brake for the bicycle, pneumatic road-improver and helped invent a turbine engine.
In 1891, Astor married Ava Lowle Willing but they divorced in 1909. They had two children together Alice and Vincent.
At 47 years old, the multi-millionaire, Astor, met and fell in love with Madeleine Talmage Force, 18.
The two married in 1911.
At the time of his death aboard the Titanic, his wealth was estimated to be approximately $150 million. He was one of the richest men in America.
When adjusted for inflation, his wealth would be $4.5 billion.
The Titanic ship hit an iceberg on 14 April 1912 and Astor offered his wife the second-to-last life boat hence she survived.
