Voting Station

William Henry Vanderbilt

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Heir

The Resume

    (May 8, 1821-December 8, 1885)
    Born in New Brunswick, New Jersey
    Son and principal heir of 'Commodore' Cornelius Vanderbilt
    Railroad tycoon

Why he might be annoying:

    The Commodore left 95% of his fortune to William, slighting his three other children, allegedly based on instructions received from his late wife during a seance. (William was rumored to have bribed the medium to ensure a favorable message.)
    When he was asked by a reporter about the New York Central's elimination of a popular mail train, he snapped, 'The public be damned! I'm working for my stockholders.'
    'Working for my stockholders' was not all that civic-minded, given that he owned 87% of the company.
    He sported fierce mutton chops.
    Shortly before his death he complained, 'I have had no real gratification or enjoyment of any sort more than my neighbor down the block who is worth only half a million.'

Why he might not be annoying:

    In less than ten years, he doubled the family fortune to $200 million (equivalent to over $50 billion today).
    He weathered the nationwide 1877 railroad strike by setting up a $100,000 fund for workers who stayed loyal to the New York Central.
    He was more philanthropic than his dad, donating to the YMCA and Vanderbilt University and helping to establish the Metropolitan Opera and the medical school at Columbia University.

Credit: C. Fishel


Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

Year In Review:

    In 2023, Out of 3 Votes: 66.67% Annoying
    In 2022, Out of 2 Votes: 0% Annoying
    In 2021, Out of 12 Votes: 66.67% Annoying
    In 2020, Out of 2 Votes: 100% Annoying
    In 2019, Out of 2 Votes: 100% Annoying
    In 2018, Out of 7 Votes: 57.14% Annoying
    In 2017, Out of 2 Votes: 100% Annoying
    In 2016, Out of 8 Votes: 87.50% Annoying
    In 2015, Out of 10 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2014, Out of 12 Votes: 58.33% Annoying
    In 2013, Out of 8 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2012, Out of 8 Votes: 62.50% Annoying