Andrew Carnegie
A Scottish-American industrialist who built a massive steel empire before giving away the majority of his fortune to philanthropic causes
Rising from a childhood of poverty as a Scottish immigrant to become one of the wealthiest men in American history, he spent his later years methodically giving away nearly his entire fortune to fund libraries and education.
From Immigrant to Steel Magnate
Carnegie immigrated to the United States from Scotland as a child, eventually building the Carnegie Steel Company into one of the largest and most profitable steel producers in the world.
Selling His Empire
Carnegie sold his steel empire in 1901 for an enormous sum, becoming briefly one of the wealthiest individuals in recorded history at the time.
The Gospel of Wealth
Carnegie articulated his philosophy on wealth and philanthropy in an influential essay titled "The Gospel of Wealth," arguing that the wealthy had a moral obligation to give away their fortunes for public benefit.
Funding Thousands of Libraries
Carnegie's philanthropic giving funded the construction of over 2,500 public libraries across the English-speaking world, representing one of history's most significant individual philanthropic legacies.
