This essay will argue that although Vanderbilt is seen as one of the most successful men in American history, he was actually an evil and heartless businessman. This is evidenced by the closure of the largest railway port. He should not be seen as a good person because he closed down one of the largest railways, causing a lot of confusion. Vanderbilt was known to be the most successful man, but what people don't know is that he started by taking 100 dollars from his mother and piloting a passenger ship to an island. He started with steamboats and then built the railroad, but he was not a good man to work with. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get Original EssayAs you know, Vanderbilt was known to be the most successful man, but he started by taking 100 dollars from his mother. Vanderbilt got this trait from his mother who spent less than she earned and then saved and invested the difference. He controlled his money, investing and spending it wisely as he sought value in every dollar spent. Vanderbilt grew his empire debt-free. He never borrowed money. Not even once. Almost until the day of his death, when he was never accepted by the wealthy class because he never flaunted his money or wealth. Vanderbilt invested his profits in steamboats, lent his money to other businessmen, purchased real estate, and purchased stock in private companies. He personally invested millions in the construction of Grand Central Station, one of the largest train depots in the world. He didn't come for money, yet he was self-made, while the habits he practiced all his life, such as living below his means, helped him take care of his health. When he died, Vanderbilt's estate was estimated to be worth $100,000,000. This was in 1877. In today's dollars, that would be about $2.3 billion, making him the richest man in America at the time. Vanderbilt was considered a man of few words, he rarely spoke. He let others do the talking and preferred to listen and hear what others had to say, but he never allowed criticism from others to influence him or his decisions. He was also considered an excellent judge of character. He embraced individuals of high character and went to war with those who were dishonest or untrustworthy. Vanderbilt's word was considered as precious as gold. He never wanted to think back on his word. All who did business with Vanderbilt found him to be a man of great integrity. Vanderbilt spent his life building relationships with other success-oriented people, people who would be able to open doors for him that were closed. He sought out Thomas Gibbons, a very wealthy and successful individual in the steamboat business and spent the first decade of his life as Gibbons' employee. He learned everything about business from Gibbons, who guided and molded him. Gibbons was the only employer he would ever have. Vanderbilt understood that to be successful you need to build a team of disciples who believe in your vision. Please note: this is just an example. Get a custom paper from our expert writers now. Get a Custom Essay Vanderbilt embraced new technologies, such as the steamboat, and new forms of business, such as the joint-stock company. He had invested all his profits in the steamboat and lent his money to other businessmen. He wasn't afraid to take calculated risks. Towards the end of his life, he even put his entire fortune at risk in an attempt to save one of his many investments:.