Rockefeller family, a unique and extraordinary family. /kloc-the second half of the 0/9th century, John? d？ Rockefeller started a family legend and was called "the first billionaire on earth".
Because of the Rockefeller family's great influence and prominent wealth reputation in the oil industry, Rockefeller's books and stories in different times appeared in the market, and sometimes it was inevitable to "make a fool of yourself".
For the convenience of reading, based on the background and growing environment of each generation of Rockefeller, I found the most important family pictures of the first three generations of Rockefeller family, sorted out the simple picture descriptions, and clarified the relationship between the characters and everyone.
The deep-rooted Rockefeller family
The first generation:
John? d？ John Rockefeller Sr.
1839- 1937, the pioneer of the Rockefeller family, is known as the "oil king".
"The first billionaire in American history" lived to the age of 98.
Laura? Spelman? Laura Spearman Rockefeller
1839- 19 15, John I's wife, beautiful and virtuous, loves her family.
The second generation:
John? d？ Little john rockefeller.
1874- 1960, the only son of old John, devoted himself to charity and art collection. He donated 500 million dollars in his life.
Abby. Aldridge? Abby aldridge Rockefeller.
1874- 1948, Mrs. John II, one of the founders of new york Museum of Modern Art.
Martha? Baird? Martha Baird Rockefeller
1895- 197 1 John II's second wife was a world-class pianist in the 1920s.
The third generation:
Abby (babs)? Rockefeller? Milton (Abby (babs) Rockefeller Milton)
1903- 1976, eldest sister, known as "babs" by family and friends, is different from her mother and is enthusiastic about public welfare.
John? d？ John rockefeller III
1906- 1978, focusing on charity.
Nelson? Nelson rockefeller
1908- 1979, re-elected as the governor of New York for four times, 1974 was appointed as the vice president of the United States by President Ford.
Lawrence? Lawrence Rockefeller
1910-in 2004, the father of venture capital and the "King of Zhongxing" of the Rockefeller family won many honors for his achievements in environmental and cancer research and treatment.
Winslow? Rockefeller (winthrop. Rockefeller) 19 12- 1973, once served as the deputy governor of Arkansas.
David? David Rockefeller (Rockefeller)
19 15-20 17, the youngest brother, the third heir of the Rockefeller family, and the former chairman of Chase Bank. 10 1 year-old wrote Rockefeller's memoirs.
Today, the Rockefeller family has been passed down to the sixth generation, with more than 200 family members, active in politics, economy, education, medicine, art and other fields.
The reading concept of the wealth-creating generation
Many aspects of life are repetitive. By reading, we can learn from other people's experience and solve problems more easily.
This time, what I recommend to you is John? d？ The autobiography of Rockefeller I is more like an essay based on old John's remarks and reports than an autobiography. The language is simple and full of insights into life and wealth. Especially the letters written by old John to little John, I often can't help reading them to my son when I see something that I deeply understand.
Autobiography of Rockefeller
Old John spoke highly of his son's extensive reading in order to learn the management of the company, and instructed his son that if he wanted to know good books about management, he could ask management professors for advice and ask them to be his learning consultants. Because they are most sensitive to cutting-edge knowledge, they will also know the excellent papers in a certain field for the first time.
This method is also useful for us to choose books for our children. The importance of reading for the family is self-evident. Buffett, Morgan, chesterfield and other rich people at the top of the pyramid all emphasized the importance of reading in their letters to their children. Reading is one of the most beautiful things in the world. Reading enables us to learn without making mistakes. Reading can also let us know all kinds of life, opinions and troubles.
But how to choose good books in the vast sea of books often confuses parents. We might as well use old John's thinking to find top figures in different fields and look for books according to their guidance. For example, if you choose a famous book, you might as well look at Mao Mu's Book and You, and recommend nearly 40 touching, interesting or pleasant famous books with brief comments.
The books recommended by old John in his letter to his children are Bancroft's American History and Thomas? Wolf's novel You Can't Go Home Again, Emerson's On Self-reliance, Capital of Success, Power of Thinking, proverbs, bartlett's common aphorisms, etc.
Billionaires' Views on Financial Education
No matter how good the steak is, you can only eat one piece at a time.
Old John is the founder of Rockefeller Empire and the first billionaire in the world history. The Rockefeller family has survived for six generations, which is inseparable from his thrifty educational philosophy and even his attitude of setting an example.
The Rockefeller family believed in the Puritan creed against luxury. They have never built any vulgar memorial buildings. They didn't pick their teeth with gold toothpicks, nor did they foam with 18K gold shaving cream. Their wives don't wear mink underwear and shorts, and they don't carry plates of guinea fowl in mink tents.
Old John thinks that those ways of enjoying only material wealth will soon become boring. He said, "money has only two functions: one is to invest and expect higher returns; The other is to use it to get happiness and happiness. "
In old John's letter to his son, his stern, frank and emotional attitude makes people move. He hopes that his children will neither be stingy nor spend money recklessly.
Old John is very strict with his children's money management. When his son borrows $65,438+0,000 from him, he will charge his son 20% interest every year and deduct $65,438+00 from his salary every month. He also pointed out sternly that wealth refers to what kind of life you can live with money, not how much money you have.
Earning and paying are in proportion. The more you earn, the heavier your burden and the more you pay.
Only by learning to control expenses can we really have wealth. Trouble is often caused by expenditure exceeding income. Controlling spending will not make you rich overnight, nor will it make you rich in a year, but it will help you stay away from debt troubles and quietly accumulate more wealth in the future.
Regarding his son's luxury bill for entertaining customers in top restaurants, he wrote, "The figures above scare me. This should not be the habit of our family and our company." He believes that customers will not like this practice, and the money spent by the company will be shaken.
Old John emphasized the importance of bookkeeping in children's financial training. Through bookkeeping, you can clearly and accurately record every income and expenditure, and know where you earned money, how much you earned, or where you lost money. He believes that only by recognizing the reality can we make a better plan for the next step. Old John regarded the ledger as his most precious souvenir all his life.
The Rockefeller family has continued the habit of keeping accounts. Rockefeller's second generation, third generation and even fourth generation all strictly require the habit of keeping accounts and accept regular inspections. Otherwise, no one will get a penny.
According to legend, every Saturday morning, John? Rockefeller II called his children to the study one by one and examined their books carefully. Although each of them only gets 30 cents of pocket money, which is far lower than that of children of the same age, they must be responsible for every penny. You will be fined five cents for missing entries in the ledger, and five cents for careful bookkeeping. One third of pocket money can be used as pocket money, one third must be saved and the remaining one third must be donated to charity.
The art of giving
No excuse can make a person close his pocket and completely give up his obligation to assume social responsibility.
In the eyes of the world, old John became the richest man in the world through various means, but what many people don't know is that John started the charity of the American rich.
19 13, old John? d？ Rockefeller founded the Rockefeller Foundation. The initial capital is 1 100 million USD, and it is registered in new york. 1928 foundation and Laura, who was founded in 19 18? Spelman? Rockefeller memorial fund merger. Due to the new donation from the old Rockefeller, the foundation funds reached more than 300 million dollars in 195 1 year and more than 3.3 billion dollars in 2000.
China Peking Union Medical College is the largest and most famous charity of Rockefeller Foundation in China. Little known is that Rockefeller Foundation participated in the excavation and archaeological work of Zhoukoudian "Beijingers" from the very beginning.
Rockefeller founded two top universities in America: University of Chicago and Rockefeller University. In today's new york, people can see the landmark buildings left by the Rockefeller family everywhere, such as the United Nations Headquarters Building and Rockefeller Center. Because Rockefeller firmly believes that the purpose of life is to "earn as much money as possible from other vicious businessmen and use this money to develop a cause beneficial to mankind."
In the book, he spent a lot of space on the meaning and art of giving. Old John believes that helping donors means helping yourself, just as people themselves are the fundamental force against diseases. For example, understanding the situation of unfortunate neighbors and providing services to help them solve and improve their internal problems. Easily acquired wealth is usually not a blessing but a curse.
Old John has followed a routine since he was a child, that is, young people should donate the money they earned regularly. At the age of 20, old John made a life-long financial plan, including making money, spending money and donating money. This habit made him feel grateful when he looked back when he grew up. It is this habit that made him realize his responsibility to others early, and also made him feel satisfied and happy mentally. Under the education of John Sr, John Jr participated in the "Adopt an Old Man" activity in Pittsburgh when he was young, and adopted an African girl through the American adoption plan. Every time I read a letter from the girl, little John's face is full of happiness.
Teaching children to help others can help children learn to take responsibility and cherish wealth from an early age. Each family can combine their actual situation, or donate money or provide services. A given action may be small. Seeing someone in trouble, take the initiative to help. Helping the neighbor's grandmother carry heavy objects, even if it's just to say hello to people who haven't been noticed by everyone, is also a kind way to open up.
It can be said that the spiritual wealth left by old John is an important driving force for the continuous development of several generations of families. "Without the wise guidance of parents and the exemplary role of social responsibility, these inherited wealth will become a curse, not a blessing." David, the third generation? Rockefeller said this in his memoirs.
In a word, The Autobiography of Rockefeller tells how a rich man should make friends, have children, work, start a business, manage and live. The management philosophy and life philosophy contained in it are not unique to the rich, and the sharing level is very rich, which is worth reading again.
In 20 19, Rainbow Leopard will share more biographies and letters with you one after another, expecting to follow the growth mentality of the world's top richest people, stand on the shoulders of giants, constantly improve their horizons in family education and financial management, and jointly seek the road to the peak of wealth.