The Incredible Fortune of the Rothschild Family
How rich is the Rothschild family?
Due to the more than 200-year history of the company, especially with its diverse interdependencies, it is not possible to precisely name the assets of the Rothschild family. What is certain is that it goes far beyond the stated total assets from the banking business. If you only take the active net assets, you own them Rothschild family an estimated fortune of 285 billion euros. An asset of over two trillion dollars was also estimated, which also illuminates all economic goods. The number would be written out: 2,000,000,000,000, with 12 zeros. The total assets of the Rothschild family thus amount to two trillion dollars, the equivalent of around 1.6 trillion euros.
It originally started on a small scale: from the merchant in Frankfurt’s Judengasse, the Rothschilds then became most important financial dynasty 19th century. The Rothschild family is an example of the rise and influence of a global family company. His heirs are firmly established in the financial world to this day and are involved in a variety of ways. A very great power emanates from this Rothschild family worldwide. In addition, the name Rothschild has also established itself very well in other areas.
The beginnings in Frankfurt – the path to gigantic wealth
The initiator was Nathan Mayer Rotschild (1777 – 1836), who went to Manchester as a merchant in 1798. He then moved to London in 1809 and successfully founded a bank there. His path should be exemplary for the four brothers James, Salomon, Amschel and Carl in building the family company.
In addition to the head office in Frankfurt, the Rothschild banks were located in major European metropolises: Paris, London, Vienna and also in Naples. Included each of the brothers ran a bank. The customer list reads like a who’s who of 19th century political celebrities. Among them were, for example, the French Emperor Napoleon III, as well as the Austrian statesman Metternich or the later German Chancellor Bismarck.
Influence and importance of the Rothschild family
The Rothschild family played a leading role in historical events and developments, then and still today. All in all, thanks to a highly professional courier network, she was able to make a big profit from the Battle of Waterloo in 1815. Earlier than the British Cabinet taught, she used the information to successfully speculate on the London Stock Exchange.
The construction of the Suez Canal (opened in 1869) was carried out with a large financial contribution from the Rothschild family.
Meanwhile in the 7th generation, the Rothschild family is still active in international banking. In addition to their economic importance, the Rothschilds have also made a name for themselves in other areas. Members of the family were active as politicians, scientists and art collectors. World-famous wineries in Bordeaux are also closely associated with the name Rothschild.
European possessions
The Rothschilds settled in the 19th century magnificent villas, castles and townhouses build by well-known architects. Most of the possessions were in France and England, including around 30 buildings in France alone, such as Ferrières Castle (1855-1859) in Ferrières-en-Brie or the Château de Vallière (1894) in Picardy.
There are also traces in other European countries. In 1841 Carl von Rothschild acquired the neoclassical villa Acton-Pignatelli in Naples. The property now belongs to the city of Naples and is used as a museum. In Switzerland, not far from Geneva, is the one inhabited by Benjamin de Rothschild Pregny Castle.
There are other castles and country houses in Austria, for example the former Rothschild Castle in Waidhofen an der Ybbs or Rothschild Castle in Reichenau an der Rax in Lower Austria. Several were made on behalf of the family representative palace in Vienna. The French star architect Gabriel-Hippolyte Destailleur designed a magnificent building for Albert von Rothschild at Heugasse 24-26 in 1876.
Waddesdon Manor in Buckinghamshire, England, was built between 1874 and 1883 in the French Renaissance style. The castle complex also houses the extensive Art collection of Baron Ferdinand von Rothschild and can be visited together with the surrounding gardens.
Rothschild wines near Bordeaux
Today’s financial activities of the Rothschild family
The following three multinational financial and banking groups have emerged from the former dynasty of the 19th century:
Paris-Orléans
The largest group is originally called in 1838 Railway company founded Paris-Orléans. Since the merger of the French and British branches of the Rothschild family (2008), the company has now been the central holding of the Rothschild family. Its main areas of business are:
- Advice on the financing of corporate mergers and acquisitions
- Asset advice and administration for private and institutional investors
- Financial advice to corporate clients and private equity activities (over-the-counter equity)
Balance sheet total 2011: 8,616 billion euros.
Banque Privée Edmond de Rothschild SA
The Geneva-based Banque Privée Edmond de Rothschild SA specializes in asset management. In 2010 the balance sheet total was 4,126 billion euros. In addition to the Geneva headquarters, there are branches in Friborg and Lausanne, as well as a subsidiary in Lugano.
RIT Capital Partners PLC
The third company in the Rothschild family is RIT Capital Partners PLC, founded in 1961 by the British branch of the Rothschilds run by Jacob Rothschildto make investments outside of their bank, NM Rothschild & Sons. The investment company, of course, operates internationally and primarily acquires shares in listed and private companies. This company also acquired 37% of the shares in the Rockefeller family financial group in 2012. Two of the most powerful families on this planet merged and the Rothschild family can continue to expand their power in the United States.
Image sources:
Coat of arms – © Mathieu CHAINE [CC-BY-SA-3.0], via Wikimedia Commons
Veniamin Kraskov / Bigstock.com
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