About this item
Jacob Fugger lived in Germany at the turn of the 16th century, the grandson of a peasant. By the time he died, his fortune amounted to nearly 2 percent of European GDP. Not even John D. Rockefeller had that kind of wealth. Most people become rich by spotting opportunities, pioneering new technologies, or besting opponents in negotiations. Fugger did all that, but he had an extra quality that allowed him to rise even higher: nerve. In an era when kings had unlimited power, Fugger had the nerve to stare down heads of state and ask them to pay back their loans - with interest. It was this coolness and self-assurance, along with his inexhaustible ambition, that made him not only the richest man ever but a force of history as well. Fugger helped trigger the Reformation and likely funded Magellans circumnavigation of the globe. The ultimate untold story, The Richest Man Who Ever Lived is more than a tale about the richest and most influential businessman of all time. It is a story about palace intrigue, knights in battle, family tragedy and triumph, and a violent clash between the 1 percent and everybody else.
About the Author
Greg Steinmetz was born and raised in Cleveland, Ohio and went to Colgate University where he majored in history and German. He received a master's degree in journalism at Northwestern University and spent 15 years working as a reporter and editor for publications including the Wall Street Journal, where he served as German bureau chief and, later, London bureau chief. Since 2000, he was worked as a securities analyst for a money management firm in New York. He lives in Larchmont, New York and has three children. This is his first book.
