As an expert in economic history and wealth accumulation, I can provide an informed answer to your question. When considering the richest American of all time, it's important to adjust for inflation and changes in the economy over the years. Historical figures are often difficult to compare directly due to these factors. However, one name that frequently comes up in such discussions is John D. Rockefeller, the founder of Standard Oil, who is widely considered to be one of the wealthiest Americans in history.

Using measures such as the share of the national economy a person's wealth represented, Rockefeller's wealth has been estimated to be worth as much as 1.5% of the gross national product (GNP) at the time. Adjusted for inflation, his peak net worth is estimated to be around $409 billion in today's dollars, which significantly surpasses the wealth of modern billionaires like Jeff Bezos or Bill Gates.

So, the answer is:
John D. Rockefeller is often considered the richest American of all time.

read more >>

In the 1996 book The Wealthy 100, authors Michael Klepper and Robert Gunther placed John D. Rockefeller atop the list of the richest Americans in history, followed by Cornelius Vanderbilt and John Jacob Astor. Bill Gates was the top living person, coming in fifth.read more >>