How Did the Richest Americans Live in Every Decade?

[@yahuveh]

Nothing today can compare to the artistry, beauty, and old-world craftsmanship of the Gilded Age mansions.

[@bigjermboktown6976]

Yeah you ain't kidding! I still don't understand how they did all that with the tools they had available then. I mean I do know bc I do it for a living but the tools we have now are far superior but you find million-dollar homes with fake cabinets and MDF trim.

[@DebdrikDebnath]

I liked how you said "...servants - paid or 'unpaid'...". I'd totally forgotten that slavery was legal back then.

[@412StepUp]

Why do buildings from hundreds of years ago look better than new ones today?

[@oltedders]

Because of your personal taste.

[@02dartda]

@@oltedders No, its objectively better

[@Robert.Zimmermann]

Because we pondered over ideas for much longer and took greater journeys to arrive at finished works compared to today’s lightning fast evolution of home building optimized for the bottom line instead of the end of the century

[@oltedders]

@02dartda I worked construction for 10 years. The only thing that was better in domestic buildings historically was the quality of the millwork. If you're comparing the European palaces and Gilded Age robber baron's homes to today's billionaire digs, then of course they were better because every aspect of the build was labor intensive. Size and the quality of technological innovation are not relevant comparisons. It still comes down to your personal taste.

[@02dartda]

@@oltedders I guess so, I prefer the neo classical look to the post modern look though, I think its more inspiring subconsciously but maybe not as efficient to build

[@pmn2821]

One of your best, Ken.

[@David-tm8sl]

Still love more simplistic styles of the early periods.❤

[@Dan-dp5dz]

Architecture was one of the many notable casualties of World War Two.

[@cdsnider9496]

It's a great big beautiful tomorrow...

[@johnsonrepp]

Very well curated video.

[@EchezonaDibia]

★ @10:56 Hey... She cute. ★★ @10:56 I wonder if those two ever got together. ★★★ @5:40 _Ordinary Americans reading about these [gilded-age] affairs in the newspaper might never have seen electric lighting..._ In the second half of the 1800's: How many ordinary Americans could read?

[@stickynorth]

My favorite era isn't or wasn't covered and it's Mid Century Modernism and its ideals of racial and economic equality.. Mass produced and affordable houses for all budgets. At least that was the ideal...

[@radeksparowski7174]

soon we will have AI architects that will create whole cities to the smallest detail, later on I guess anybody will be able to combine whatever style they like and on request let it build absolutely custom designed to their needs by an army of robotic builders, I would like the visuals of steampunkish early 1800 jules verne like but would need the luxuries of today like triple glazed windows, high quality AC with dust and hepa filters that keep air humidity in check too, different and stable temperature in every room, underfloor heating, infrared heating panels, hidden/invisible audiosystem, optical network in the building itself with a wifi coverage as well, heatpump, be mostly energy independent with low power and low maintenance electric appliances, roof covered with photovoltaic tiles indistinguishable from common roofing, probably outer walls too...high tech building that is nice and cozy /cozy as comfortable not cozy as realtor codeword for tiny/

[@bigjermboktown6976]

The William Andrews Clark house was always one of my favorites. He built several and there's actually a pretty fascinating story behind him and one of his daughters lives. And his daughter was a mysterious woman who lived somewhere in New York and nobody ever saw her since like the 1930s or 40s and she lived until 2011 I believe.

[@jimwhitman3678]

Frank Lloyd Wrights Usonian and John Lautner are my favorite. Great post as usual Ken .

[@mikenixon2401]

Interesting episode, Ken. Evolution of construction and design. I recognized photos from your archives. I imagine you have quite the impressive collection. Very interesting.

[@racheldavila6431]

Soo excited about this new video 🎉🎉🎉🎉🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰💯💯💯💯

[@jec1ny]

Modern times are better. In the US our poor (setting aside the homeless) live better than the wealthy did 200 years ago. In 1892 Jay Gould, one of the richest men of his era died from consumption (tuberculosis). He was 56. My grandmother was the 13th of 14 children when born into a working class Irish family. She died in 1992, comfortably middle class and aged 86.

[@Bellaknd]

The guilded art deco age❤

[@oltedders]

The Gilded Age and the Art Deco period are years apart. One did not merge, morph, nor coincide with the other.

[@Robert.Zimmermann]

@@oltedderslol

[@spooderdoggy]

I think if I lived in the Gilded Art and Art Decco Age, with the option of having modern day computers, cars, and healthcare, I’d have heaven on Earth. 🤩🏆🙏🏻

[@sagittariusa7662]

I don't think there should be any bedrooms unless they are guest rooms on the first floor. You should ideally want your bedrooms on the second floor or in the basement. You should also have a basement (if possible), because it allows you to have better privacy and certain rooms such those that keep things cold work better underground.

[@NancyRode-u9i]

💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖

[@ceceliaclarke]

Before images of celebrity and super-wealthy homes destroyed in recent California fires have revealed the architectural style which has been popular through the 2000s in places like Malibu and Pacific Palisades. It is surprising to discover that many of the newer houses look like boxes arranged on boxes. There were no "graceful lines". These look like boxes with super-sized windows. In my opinion...they were ugly. Seems possible that the main focus, for these celebrity home owners is security. Could these box-like houses be built to accommodate security systems, and so be not so graceful as houses of the past? These are 6 to 12 million dollar properties, so it is surprising that the houses are so chunky and box-like.

[@PaternofoulisShiva]

Boxy mansions are built to withstand zombie attacks

[@tyeteames7192]

Thank you for all of your knowledge and dedication. Looking forward to your next video.

[@stephenjohnson5589]

I like modern science and medicine.

[@mr.x8259]

I aspire to be a millionaire someday.

[@DennisFaulkner-x7r]

I absolutely love Queen Anne/Victorian architecture of the 1800s and of course the opulence of the Gilded Age mansions in Newport. I also thoroughly enjoy the works of Frank Lloyd Wright and the Craftsman Cottages with all the grand woodwork and built-ins. Just beautiful! Thank you, Ken, for all that you do to bring us these magnificent glances into the past. You're awesome! 😎

[@stickynorth]

None of the above? The wastefulness and inequality inexcusable... Shame on all your houses! /s

[@asylumlover]

KEN,YOU KNOW ME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I HATE THE AGE WE LIVE IN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I WOULD SAY THAT AT THE LATEST, GIVE ME BACK THE 1920S HERE, BUT OF COURSE, NO ERA HAS BEEN PERFECT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! YOU DO NOT KNOW WHAT I WOULD GIVE TO BE ABLE TO WALK THE GLORIOUS MONUMENTAL HALLS OF MANSIONS, INSTITUTIONS OF MANY DIFFERENT KINDS, HOTELS, ANCIENT OFFICE BUILDINGS AND COMMERCIAL STRUCTURES, AND ON AND ON I COULD GO, INCREDIBLE BUILDINGS THAT HAVE BEEN CRUSHED AND LEVELED IN THE NAME OF BUILDING TRASH, AND I WILL NEVER BE ABLE TO WALK THOSE HALLS, EXPLORE THOSE ROOMS AND SPACES, OR EVEN KNOW WHAT MANY OF THEM LOOKED LIKE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! YOU ARE HEARING FROM ONE ANGRY GOBBLER HERE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! NONETHELESS, LONG LIVE THIS HOUSE!!!!..!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@Flies2FLL]

-Do they have a name for what is wrong with you?

[@SkFojar]

You just made my day guys, I lost so much trying to invest on my own, thanks guys.

[@김혜령-p6r]

제가 러시아천손족타르타르족 우주 만드는 상급자 입니다 평행지구주춧돌우주정착 시켰습니다

[@terrioestreich4007]

I absolutely love this episode!! Thank you! Another one you could do is blue collar, every day houses and how much an average would go for 😊 love your work!!

[@mollylamczyk2421]

I would pick early 1800 style but with modern items

[@tias.6675]

2025 is hideous lol. Looks like a toy from 2001.

[@mai.vancon]

Could you do a video on the Andrew McNally estate? It was recently destroyed in the LA fires.

[@evancorzine2876]

I would rather have a large Victorian mansion than the souless monstrosities they are building today. There is so much more character and craftsmanship in the old homes.

[@GabrielDalMaso]

Give me Jazz-Era decadence any day...

[@martybuck]

How many syllables in theater?

[@ankursahu269]

Please made a most tallest beautiful homes please sir please

[@13gladiusToTheKnot]

From houses with character that radiate beauty outward to houses w/o caracter that selfishly hold everything inside and radiate nothing out

[@lesal.1373]

I think we are just as likely to enter another great depression as another gilded age, especially with today's political climate. I enjoy the 1890s to 1920s era, but the activist in me truly loves the post WW2 era where the middle class soared.

[@klovvin]

Do one for the Reich

[@jilledmondson6894]

Simpler styles in the older builds. Gilded Age to busy and fussy with so many styles competing with each other in the same house, i.e,. Spanish, English Tudor and Japanese style in same house. MODERN from the 60's to today UGH, UGH AND UGH just ugly.