Paul Getty III. Crazy heir to billions. John Rockefeller - the first oil tycoon Eric LaurentOil tycoons: who makes world politics

It is not surprising that the richest people in the world are the owners of oil assets. Which of them has the most wealth? New rating of oil tycoons compiled by Vestifinance.ru

The list is headed by brothers Charles and David Koch, who inherited this business from their father. Their fortune is estimated today at $68 billion. By the way, initially their company Koch Industries had only oil refining equipment, but the brothers quickly expanded their portfolio of assets, covering refineries, pipelines, the chemical industry, polymers and fibers. Thus, the company became the second largest in the United States. And their main oil and gas subsidiary, Flint Hills Resources, produces more than 300 million barrels of oil per year.

The brothers, for this reason, are strongly disliked by environmentalists, but they seem to care little about this. For many years, Charles and David have supported the Republican Party, being the largest representatives of the oil and gas sector in it.

Second place on the list was taken by Indian Mukesh Ambani with a fortune of $21.5, who also earned his capital with the participation of a wealthy parent. Ambani Sr. once created the company Reliance Industries, which was engaged in the production of textiles. But in 2008, they also created a subsidiary company, which today owns the world's largest oil refinery in Gujarat, with a capacity of 1.24 million barrels per day.

One of the founders of Siberian-Ural Aluminum OJSC, Viktor Vekselberg, received his first large capital in the metallurgical sector, after the above-mentioned company was absorbed by RUSAL.

Around the same time, the businessman became interested in the oil and gas sector and his holding company Renova became a shareholder of TNK-BP. Well, after Rosneft reached an agreement to purchase TNK-BP, Vekselberg for some time became the richest man in Russia. Today his fortune is estimated at $17.2 billion.

One of the founders of the largest financial and industrial group Alfa Group in Russia, Mikhail Fridman, with a fortune of $16.5 billion, came in fourth place. He received most of his fortune after selling 90% of the shares of TNK-BP (at that time the third largest in Russia), owned by Alfa Group and Rosneft.

And finally, Vagit Alekperov, with a fortune of $14.8 billion, is the only one among these five who began his career in the oil and gas sector. Alekperov began his work history as a drilling rig operator, then was a shift supervisor, an oil and gas production foreman, and a senior engineer. Subsequently, he became deputy general director of Bashneft, and then deputy minister of oil and gas of the USSR. After the collapse of the Soviet Union, Alekperov created the oil concern LangepasUrayKogalymneft, the founder of Lukoil.

It is impossible to imagine life without oil, therefore the oil industry is one of the most profitable on the planet, because the demand for this resource is growing steadily, and sellers of “black gold” are becoming increasingly rich

It is not surprising that the richest people in the world are the owners of oil assets. Which of them has the most wealth? New rating of oil tycoons compiled by Vestifinance.ru

David and Charles Koch

The brothers, for this reason, are strongly disliked by environmentalists, but they seem to care little. For many years, Charles and David have supported the Republican Party, being the largest representatives of the oil and gas sector in it.

Mukesh Ambani

Victor Vekselberg

One of the founders of Siberian-Ural Aluminum OJSC, Viktor Vekselberg, received his first large capital in the metallurgical sector, after the above-mentioned company was absorbed by RUSAL.

Mikhail Fridman

Vagit Alekperov

The difference between an optimist and a pessimist is that a pessimist is usually more informed.

Claire Booth Luce

I would like to thank:

Jacques Gravero,

Charles Urzhevich,

Fabienne Le Bihan,

Nicholas Sarkis,

Anton Brenler,

Christian Paris

who, as always, was able to make out my disgusting handwriting.

Preface

On January 31, 2006, with a barrel of crude oil reaching $68.25 and up more than 18% year-to-date, eleven OPEC ministers meeting in Vienna issued a brief communiqué. They decided to keep their production at the same level despite the rise in demand. The explanation for maintaining the status quo seemed quite plausible: the increased price of oil guaranteed them record profits.

In fact, the truth was exactly the opposite: if OPEC members freeze production at the same level, it is only because they are no longer able to increase their oil production, their resources, which are greatly overvalued, are rapidly beginning to decline; including the countries of the Arabian Peninsula - leaders in oil production on our planet.

This circumstance is carefully hidden. Producing countries, oil companies and consumer governments - at least those that were informed about it - made every effort to avoid publicity because of the shock it could cause to the world economy and public opinion.

This secret decline of OPEC affects many other oil countries as well. The worst thing is that the shortage of real reserves coincides with an unprecedented increase in oil consumption. It seems we don't have the slightest chance...

From now on we see the last act of the play, “full of sound and fury.” The performance began almost a hundred years ago and is always performed behind closed doors. There is always an atmosphere of uncertainty and misinformation in the world of oil. We often forget that these raw materials are still a stake in the struggle for power - due to their strategic role, the low cost of their extraction and the exceptional profits that they provide.

Oil has provided unprecedented growth in our wealth; nevertheless, oil consumers have never had even a small fraction of information about the true state of affairs in this area.

This book, which is the fruit of more than thirty years of research and various meetings, attempts to lift the veil on the many secrets carefully hidden from the public. I realized quite early on, back in the early 1970s, how oil was at the center of the great conflicts of the 20th century.

In 1972 and then in 1974, the two meetings I discuss in this book - with one of the leaders of the Nazi state and with the former British prime minister who was once Churchill's right-hand man - made it clear to me the decisive role of oil during the Second World War.

Incidentally, I discovered during the first oil crisis, 1973, that the distrustful and fearful West seemed to be reeling, afraid of losing its power and its privileges. The producing countries looked like winners - a delusion as short-lived and baseless as the fear experienced by the West. The first book I published in 1975 was the result of meetings with one of the perpetrators of the nationalization of the oil fields in Iraq, Libya and Algeria.

In subsequent years, I attended OPEC meetings, establishing contacts and meeting with the main players of this “great game” - company presidents, stockbrokers, heads of state such as Gaddafi, Saddam Hussein, the Shah of Iran, who later provoked his own fall and the second oil crisis, with Imam Khomeini, at that time in exile and living in a small mansion in Nophle-le-Chateau.

One of my interlocutors put it very figuratively: “The world of oil has the same color as this much-coveted liquid itself - black, enhancing the darkest sides of human nature. It arouses lust, inflames passions, provokes betrayal and deadly insults, and leads to brazen fraud.” Over time, I became convinced that these words were true.

While we must prepare for not only high oil prices but also shortages, I continue to be amazed by the persistence of this relationship.

At the beginning of the 20th century, Iran and Iraq, before becoming independent states, were nothing more than giant oil concessions producing “exceptional profits” (in the words of one of the shareholders of the time). What happened to Iraq in 2003—the American military invasion and then the seizure of control of the oil fields—followed the same logic.

Since taking office, Bush and Cheney have been more concerned with the energy security of the United States and Iraq's resources than with the threat of terrorism and the danger that al-Qaeda might pose. And this is one of the topics of this investigation.

February 2006 of the year

I discovered that the world didn't like to face reality during the first oil crisis in 1973. Within a few days, everything seemed to be unraveling. In Vienna on October 14, negotiations between OPEC member countries and oil companies broke down. On October 16, six Gulf states—Saudi Arabia, Iran, Iraq, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar and Kuwait—decided to unilaterally raise the price “set” for the commodity, increasing it from $2 to $3.65 per barrel.

With the passage of time, such an increase seems insignificant, but then, after the decision was made at a meeting in Kuwait, Saudi Oil Minister Sheikh Yamani told his colleagues: “I have been waiting for this moment for a long time.” Ten days earlier, on the Jewish holiday of Yom Kippur, the Egyptian and Syrian armies attacked the Jewish state, unleashing the fourth Israeli-Arab war.

On October 17, as the battles became increasingly fierce, Arab OPEC oil ministers decided to impose an embargo and called for a 5% production cut. The final communiqué, written in Arabic, specified that “this percentage will apply to all months, based on oil production in the previous month, until the complete withdrawal of Israelis from the Arab territories occupied in June 1967 and the recognition of the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people.” "

In a strange irony from Lady History, both events happened at the same time, although there was no connection between them. The unilateral price increase resulted from long and difficult negotiations between the producing countries and the major oil companies, while the embargo was imposed, in the words of the OPAEC Secretary General, "solely to attract the public opinion of Westerners to the issue of Israel." This had nothing to do with the desire to raise the price of oil. But this will prove to be the surest means of raising the price to an even higher level.

On October 19, the embargo comes into effect. Saudi Arabia, the world's top oil exporter, says it will cut its production by 10% and cut off all supplies to the United States and Holland for their support of Israel. The choice fell on the Netherlands, perhaps also because the port in Rotterdam received large shipments of oil cargo from the Middle East. The fact that tankers no longer docked in Dutch ports increased pressure on Europe.

They will be discussed in today's review on Faktrum.

Cornelius Vanderbilt

Converted to modern prices: ~$165 billion

The future American businessman was born into the family of an impoverished farmer and boatman in May 1794. The story of Cornelius Vanderbilt is a perfect example of the proverb “rags to riches.” At the age of 11, Vanderbilt left school to work on the ferry line. According to legend, by the age of 16, Vanderbilt already owned two sailing cargo ships of his own.

By age 18, he had secured a contract with the United States government to supply supplies for the army during the Anglo-American War of 1812. By the end of the war, he was studying the art of shipbuilding and already owned a small fleet of boats, as well as a working capital of $10,000. Over the next decade, Vanderbilt seized a monopoly over Hudson River traffic with his luxurious ships and cheap fares.

He further expanded his transportation company to New York, Providence and Boston, where he acquired a railroad. By 1846, Vanderbilt was a millionaire, and by 1863 he owned the New York and Harlem railroads, later buying out the New York Central Railroad and establishing rail service between New York and Chicago for the first time in history.

In 1877, at the age of 83, Vanderbilt died due to health complications. Today his fortune would be (in modern terms) almost $165 billion.

Vasily II

Converted to modern prices: ~$168 billion

Vasily II (aka Vasily the Bulgarian Slayer) was the Byzantine emperor for 49 years. As the son of Emperor Romanus II, he was crowned co-emperor in 960 AD. When Basil II came to power, his main focus was on expanding imperial power both at home and abroad.

He sent troops throughout Asia Minor and eventually expanded Byzantium to its largest size in five centuries. Although Vasily's fortune exceeded $168 billion in today's prices, he had no heir. After his death, the Byzantine Empire collapsed within half a century.

Marcus Licinius Crassus

Converted to modern prices: ~$170 billion

Marcus Licinius Crassus was a Roman general and politician who not only transformed the Roman Republic into the Roman Empire, but also amassed quite a large fortune during his lifetime. The wealthy senator Crassus was raised from childhood as an aristocrat. He later married his late brother's wife, who secured the alliance between Sulla and Rome. It was at this time that Crassus began to make his fortune.

He bought the houses and property of Sullai citizens for next to nothing, and then resold them for a large profit. He also resold slaves and started the family's silver mines. At the end of his life in 53 BC. e. Crassus had a fortune of almost $170 billion (at modern prices).

Henry Ford

Converted to modern prices: ~$186 billion

Known as America's premier industrialist, Henry Ford revolutionized automobile manufacturing and virtually brought about the industrial revolution in America. Ford was born on July 30, 1863, on his family's farm in Wayne County, Michigan. Since childhood, Henry was interested in mechanics. When he was only 13 years old, his father gave him a pocket watch. The curious boy took them apart and quickly put them back together.

At the age of 16, Ford went to work as an apprentice machinist in Detroit, where he learned to service steam engines and learned accounting. In 1891, the Edison Electric Company offered him a position as an engineer. Just two years later, Ford was already the chief engineer of this company.

In 1896, he completed the plans for a horseless vehicle and founded the Ford Motor Company, soon introducing the famous Model T to the world. Henry Ford died of a cerebral hemorrhage on April 7, 1947, with a fortune equivalent to approximately $186 billion.

Andrew Mellon

Converted to modern prices: ~$188 billion

In the 1880s, Andrew Mellon seemed to be a jack of all trades. He was a businessman, banker, industrialist, philanthropist, art collector and US Secretary of the Treasury. Mellon was born March 24, 1855 in Pittsburgh. At age 20, he began working for his father's banking firm, T. Mellon & Sons, and became its full owner in 1882.

The firm continued to grow steadily in size and profitability. Eventually, he began providing capital to large corporations. By the early 1920s, Mellon was already one of the richest men in the United States, owning $188 billion (in today's dollars).

Osman Ali Khan, Asaf Jah VII

Converted to modern prices: ~$230 billion

Osman Ali Khan was born on April 6, 1886 in Andhra Pradesh, India. In 1911, he succeeded his father as Nizam (ruler) of the princely state of Hyderabad. During his 37-year reign as Nizam, Osman did much for his country, promoting the development of electricity, railways, roads, air travel and irrigation systems.

Osman also donated huge amounts of money to educational institutions. By the time he died in 1967, he had seven wives, 42 concubines and a fortune worth nearly $230 billion.

William Henry Vanderbilt

Converted to modern prices: ~$239 billion

William Vanderbilt was born on May 8, 1821, in Brunswick, New Jersey, one of the 13 children of Cornelius Vanderbilt, one of the world's most impressive industrialists. His father considered him incompetent in financial matters and sent him to a farm on Staten Island. Immediately, William was able to increase the profitability of the farm and these actions did not go unnoticed by his father: in the 1840s, his father sent him to reorganize the Long Island Rail Road business.

William again managed to turn a loss-making business into a very successful enterprise. In 1877, when Cornelius Vanderbilt died, William took over his company. Just eight years after his father's death, William Vanderbilt himself died. Incredibly, in such a short time as president of the company, he doubled his family's fortune from $100 million to an incredible $200 million. Today, Vanderbilt would be worth a whopping $239 billion.

Nicholas II

In modern terms: ~$300 billion

Nicholas II was born on May 6, 1868 and was the last Emperor of All Russia. When his father died in 1894, Nicholas inherited the Russian throne and soon married Princess Victoria Alice Helena Louise Beatrice of Hesse-Darmstadt.

Soon they had children, but family happiness was short-lived. In 1917, the February Revolution happened and Nicholas was overthrown, and his entire family was shot by the Bolsheviks. Before his death, the monarch was worth about $900 million, equivalent to today's $300 billion.

Andrew Carnegie

Converted to modern prices: ~$310 billion

Renowned industrialist and steel magnate Andrew Carnegie was one of the richest businessmen of the 19th century. He was born on November 25, 1835 in Dunfermline, Scotland. In 1848, his family moved to America and eventually settled in Pennsylvania. In 1853, Carnegie took a job with the Pennsylvania Railroad as a telegraph operator and later assistant to company manager Thomas Scott.

During this work, Carnegie gained extensive experience about the industry and business in general. In 1865, he left the railroad business to concentrate on other industries, and by 1889, Carnegie created the largest manufacturing company in the world, Carnegie Steel Corporation. In 1901, Carnegie sold his business to the United States Steel Corporation for more than $200 million, which would equate to about $310 billion in today's market.

John D. Rockefeller

Converted to modern prices: ~$340 billion

John D. Rockefeller is often called the "father of the oil world." Born in 1839, the oil magnate eventually became not only the founder of the Standard Oil Company, but one of the richest men in the world. At the age of 16, Rockefeller went to work as an accountant at Hewitt & Tuttle.

At the age of 20, Rockefeller was already working with his business partner as a trader. Selling hay, meat, grain and other goods, the company earned nearly $450,000 by the end of the first year. In 1863, the tycoon opened the first oil refinery, which by 1868 became the largest in the world.

In 1870, Rockefeller created the famous Standard Oil Company, which immediately became prosperous. When Rockefeller died in 1937, his assets represented 1.5 percent of America's total economic output. Today that would be approximately $340 billion.

Oil tycoon

In 1859, an oil rush began in Pennsylvania. But among the small oil-producing enterprises growing like mushrooms, there were mostly amateurs. In 1862, after a business trip to oil-producing areas, Rockefeller, who had enough knowledge, experience and capital, decided to organize an oil business. After meeting Samuel Andrews, an oil expert, he had the opportunity to bring this idea to life. In 1863, the firm of Andrews, Clark & Co. was founded, the members of which were Andrews, Rockefeller and Clark with two brothers.

In 1864, Rockefeller married teacher Laura Spellman, whom he met as a student. The girl had a practical mindset and shared her husband’s Puritan views. The billionaire later admitted: “Without her advice, I would have remained poor.” The Rockefeller couple had five children. Rockefeller was a gentle husband and caring father. He taught children music, took them swimming and skating. At the same time, parents demanded an account from their children for every cent spent, and they introduced a system of monetary rewards and fines. The entrepreneur experienced the death of his wife in 1904 very hard.

In an effort to increase profits, Rockefeller proposed recycling industrial waste into fertilizer. He was the first businessman to abandon wooden casks (barrels), which were used to transport oil, and launched the production of more durable ones made of metal. Before competitors had time to pick up this idea, he began transporting oil in railway tanks. When everyone started using tanks after him, Rockefeller was already laying pipelines.

John was the first to realize that oil refining was facing a crisis of overproduction. In 1871, prices for crude oil and petroleum products began to plummet. Rockefeller remained calm:

“Unlike other people, we should act and not worry when the market bottoms out.”

And he began to act. His company, Standard Oil, began to absorb competitors. For example, in Cleveland, Rockefeller managed to buy up 22 of 26 companies. In American newspapers this campaign was called the “Cleveland shooting.” Rockefeller continued to acquire companies in Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, New York and other cities. By 1877, he controlled 90% of the entire oil refining industry in the United States. That same year, Rockefeller faced his first major challenge. The Pennsylvania Railroad, concerned about the construction of Rockefeller's oil pipelines, began buying up oil refineries and pipelines in response. Rockefeller would not budge and became involved in a grueling price war that negatively affected company payments and freight traffic for the Pennsylvania Railroad, and caused labor unrest on both sides. Ultimately, Rockefeller emerged victorious, and the railroad company sold its oil assets to him. Of course, as a monopolist, Rockefeller sometimes acted mercilessly, but he always offered competitors a fair price, buying out their business.

Rockefeller's activities affected the interests of Wall Street tycoons, who launched a media war against him and brought charges of violating antitrust laws. The first journalistic investigation of Standard Oil was published in 1881 in the Atlantic Monthly. From this article, the legend about the sinister and ruthless Rockefeller began to circulate. He himself simply waved it off: “The public has no right to interfere with our private contracts.”

Forecasts for the future of the Rockefeller company, which absorbed almost the entire US oil refining industry, were the most pessimistic. Experts agreed: “She has no future. The corporation will collapse under its own weight.” But Standard Oil had no intention of falling apart.

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