This is a list of men (so far it has only been men) who at some time in their life could have been considered the wealthiest person in the United States. Determining the wealthiest people in the world throughout history is difficult as wealthy businessmen are a relatively new phenomenom. Often monarchs and rulers of countries had great control over lifes and wealth. Determining the richest man in America however is somewhat easier as the United States is a fairly young country with no hereditary aristocracy.
