How to Remember Who's Who in the Rockefeller Family

At one time “as rich as Rockefeller” was a common catch-phrase, and indeed, John D. Rockefeller has been rated by some as the richest man in history. He and his descendants have dominated American business and politics for a century and a half. But who are the Rockefellers?

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

1. John Davison Rockefeller (1839-1937) was America's first billionaire. He founded Standard Oil in 1870. Through ruthless business dealings, Rockefeller made his company a virtual monopoly in the petroleum business. In 1911 the US Supreme Court ordered Standard Oil split into numerous smaller companies.
   
   After he went bald, Rockefeller had fourteen toupees made, each one with hair slightly longer than the next, to simulate the natural growth of hair. Though he was a tough businessman, he was a devout Baptist and a great philanthropist, giving away $550 million to charity in his lifetime. When he died at the age of 97, he had so remade his public image that he was widely mourned.
2. John D. Rockefeller Jr. (1874-1960) He was a businessman who developed New York's Rockefeller Center office building complex and was the largest shareholder in Chase National Bank. As a philanthropist he was president of the Rockefeller Foundation, donated the land that was used for the United Nations headquarters, endowed hospitals, art museums, churches and schools, restored Colonial Williamsburg in Virginia and donated, all told, over a half a billion dollars to charity. He had six children, five of whom became prominent in American public life.
3. John D. Rockefeller III (1906-78) A philanthropist, board member of various charitable and public policy-related institutions and the impetus behind the creation of New York's Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts.
4. John D.(Jay) Rockefeller IV (1937- ) Son of the preceding. Former Governor of and current US Senator from West Virginia.
5. Nelson Rockefeller (1908-79) President of the Museum of Modern Art, Governor of New York from 1959 to 1973, three-time candidate for the Republican nomination for the Presidency and Vice-President under Gerald Ford. He reportedly died of a heart attack while having sex with his secretary.
6. Michael Rockefeller (1938-61) Son of the preceding. An anthropologist who disappeared while on an expedition in New Guinea. Speculation held that he either drowned or was eaten by cannibals.
7. Laurance Rockefeller (1910-2004) A businessman, investor, principal shareholder of Eastern Airlines, philanthropist and one of the most important conservationist in the United States.
8. Winthrop Rockefeller (1912-73) Founder of the Winrock Farms cattle ranch and Governor of Arkansas from 1967 to 1971.
9. Winthrop Paul Rockefeller (1948-2006)Lieutenant-Governor of Arkansas from 1996 to 2006.
10. David Rockefeller (1915- ) Chairman of Chase Manhattan Bank, philanthropist, member of several global policy groups including the Trilateral Commission and the Bilderberg Group and impetus behind the development of the World Trade Center.