The Richest Person In History

This ranking of the richest person in the history is based on of interviews with academic economists and historians. To read more about how the order was determined despite the difficulty of comparing wealth across a wide range of time periods and economic systems…

10. Genghis Khan

Lived: 1162-1227
Country: Mongolian Empire
Wealth: Lots of land, not much else

9. Bill Gates

Lived: 1955-present
Country: United States
Wealth: $78.9 billion

8. Alan Rufus

Lived: 1040–1093
Country: England
Wealth: $194 billion

7. John D. Rockefeller

Lived: 1839–1937
Country: United States
Wealth: $341 billion

6. Andrew Carnegie

Lived: 1835–1919
Country: United States
Wealth: $372 billion

5. Joseph Stalin

Lived: 1878–1953
Country: USSR
Wealth: Complete control of a nation with 9.6% of global GDP

4. Akbar

Lived: 1542-1605
Country: India
Wealth: Ruled empire with 25% of global GDP

3. Emperor Shenzong

Lived: 1048-1085
Country: China
Wealth: Ruled empire with 25% to 30% of global GDP

2. Augustus Caesar

Lived: 63 BC-14 AD
Country: Rome
Wealth: $4.6 trillion

1. Mansa Musa

Lived: 1280-1337
Country: Mali
Wealth: Richer than any one could describe