In the late nineteenth century, a select few Americans separated themselves from the rest by fulfilling the American Dream.

In the late nineteenth century, a select few Americans separated themselves from the rest by fulfilling the American Dream. William H. Vanderbilt attained wealth as a successful railroad executive when he joined the family railroad businesses and eventually succeeded his father as president. Andrew Carnegie became one the richest people through his domination of the steel industry. John D. Rockefeller intuitive business practices in the oil industry resulted in his addition to the history books …

…with money. "Robber barons" were not hard to find in the late nineteenth century and it was society as a whole who lost out as those very select few got ahead. It is justified to characterize those who got ahead as "robber barons" or "industrial statesmen" because the opportunistic wealthy few of the late nineteenth century either disregarded or took interest in the general population, and there were hardly any who fell in-between those sects.