The United States may not have a royal family, but it has a number of influential family dynasties that have intrigued the public for centuries. Two families in particular, the Vanderbilts and the Rockefellers, are household names whose self-made fortunes made them two of the richest and most powerful American families in history. The Vanderbilts, led by Cornelius Vanderbilt's railroad empire, amassed staggering wealth during the Gilded Age in the late 19th century. The Rockefellers, meanwhile, propelled by John D. Rockefeller's dominance of the oil industry, made a large impact with their philanthropy and preservation. ...Read More