Most Extreme Excesses In The Gilded Age

[@squigglesalamode3276]

I was able to tour the Breakers, Marble and Elm Houses in Newport and the opulence was insane. Every room was ornate and called you poor in thirty languages.

[@monkeygraborange]

The only word to properly describe those places is *TACKY!*

[@kc8203]

Did you happen to see the size of the kitchen & cast iron ovens at the Breakers?

[@squigglesalamode3276]

@@kc8203 yes! All the copper pots and the sheer size of everything, it was honestly mind boggling.

[@GroundersSourceOfficial]

There's a Gilded Age mansion in my town, but it is tastefully decorated and is now a museum. But the photos of the past tell a different story.

[@jessehinman8340]

@@GroundersSourceOfficial There were a bunch of gilded age mansions around where I live. Sadly all most of these were abandoned/demolished or turned into apartments or public service buildings. Such a heartbreak to see what happened to these magnificent estates.

[@RandomBalo]

I customize private jets for a living. Let me assure you, the excessive shenaniganry is still happening. Sometimes all it takes is for one rich dingus to see another rich dingus' jet for a new work order to come in.

[@originalcosmicgirl]

What's the craziest thing you've ever installed?

[@RandomBalo]

@@originalcosmicgirl it would be a combination of slightly crazy things. A stone floor in the galley. These little black disks that rise and spin to allow you to control music and media and lights for the when cabin from your seat. A full shower replacing the aft lavatory, two couches that fold out into a king size bed, etc etc. It's never a boring day at work but sometimes the wealth blows you away

[@thegreencat9947]

@@RandomBalo what? No hot tubs?

[@RandomBalo]

@@thegreencat9947 no hot tubs yet 😂. But don't say that too loud, they might get funny ideas

[@thegreencat9947]

Balo....in one of the "Crazy Rich Asians" books,which is based on real live super rich Singaporeans....there was one. No turbulence allowed.😁

[@MidnightBreezey]

Imagine living in a culture where earning your own wealth rather than inheriting it is a 'humiliation'.

[@viperford6840]

we still do

[@Amadeus8484]

You ever work a minimum wage job, you will soon wish you inherited a bunch of money. And unless you are deluded enough to think one day your minimum wage job will one day pay off, you will also learn to hate capitalism.

[@canaisyoung3601]

Uh...

[@PrezVeto]

*subculture

[@NewMessage]

That's nothin'. Yesterday, I threw out a jar of peanut butter without properly scraping the bottom clean... and just, opened a new one. I'm minted, man.

[@logicreversed18t]

It's funny you say this, because just last night I tossed out some ketchup without taking the squeeze top off and using a butter knife to get the last bits. I thought, "Wow. I've finally made it. True financial independence."

[@LubricatedWenis]

That’s nothin’ man, I don’t even lick the yogurt lids…

[@amberswafford9305]

Y’all are all too rich for my comprehension.

[@thegreencat9947]

You don't need to know about my shampoo bottles.

[@garyhoelting5994]

completely wreckless with your wealth.i mean to waste peanut butter so casually!!

[@Baba_Wawa]

The Vanderbilt home or Biltmore Estate is the most beautiful place I’ve ever seen. I’ve been a few times & highly recommend it. They have guided historical tours, a winery, & candle light dinners that are not only educational but a ton of fun!

[@alexiswaller3065]

It's is now owned by the tacky Trump family.

[@suzyfarnham3165]

@@alexiswaller3065 No it isn't??? They own MarALago on Palm Beach? It was owned by Marjorie Merriweather Post. Biltmore was built by George Washington Vanderbilt. It is still owned by the Cecil family? GWV only had 1 daughter and she married into the Cecil family. I am an Aussie and toured Biltmore in February 2020. I have now seen every Vanderbilt mansion still standing and Biltmore is by far the most beautiful.

[@undomiel152003]

@@alexiswaller3065 No it is not, a Vanderbilt still owns it and as a matter of fact, one of the wings in the mansion/castle is his private quarter--of course, that wing is closed to the public.

[@LJB103]

I also thought so until I had the chance to tour Henry Flagler's Palm Beach (he founded the city) mansion Whitehall.

[@Baba_Wawa]

@@LJB103 I will have to look into that, I love history & getting to your historical buildings. Thank you for sharing that with me!

[@legithopecrew]

It is good to know that almost nothing has changed for the rich.

[@TheBasher-_-]

It is and I hope it never changes as I hope to one day be rich. And I hope I won't be late to the party. 😂

[@annemaria5126]

Neither for the poor. What satisfied me is to realise that the group of rich people does not stay the same overtime; neither does the group of poor people. And most important, the rich children often become sad failures, because they find it hard to copy their parents, because being rich makes lazy and bored, because dna does not care about parents' expectations.

[@barsbay7598]

@@TheBasher-_- you're not gonna be rich like them bro

[@TheBasher-_-]

@@barsbay7598 it's a joke 🤣

[@sama847]

@@TheBasher-_- You’ll never be rich

[@dembrosstudios2076]

Similar to Newport, Lake Geneva Wisconsin was also known for their guilded age mansions. People went there after the great Chicago fire since there was a direct rail line. It's an interesting place to visit.

[@annemaria5126]

Like the dutch traders, who fled dirty Amsterdam to built gorgious mansions, palaces, along the river Vecht. Later the rich built mansions on the edge of 'de Utrechtse Heuvelrug', a hilly sandy woody leftover from the ice-age gletscher, and the green valley watered by the river Rhine (Lek).

[@worldofdoom995]

Maybe an episode on the excess of Roman emperors or Chinese Imperial families would be interesting.

[@BillOweninOttawa]

Caligula had nothing on modern oligarchs.

[@brucemarsico6]

Roman emperors and chinese family wealth was nothing compared to the incredible ostentatious lives of the Russian royals. Jewels and properties and gold and priceless art works. Finest of champagnes and wines.....maybe Putin is carrying on the tradition......

[@BillOweninOttawa]

@@brucemarsico6 Putin? You live in a country that has 2.3 million people in cages, most of them black or chicano. The wealth transfer is on full blast. Your homeless crowd the streets. Your oligarchs live like gods, while most Yanks are just one pay cheque away from homelessness. And yet here you are, completely convinced of your utter superiourity and the need to destroy Russia. You even tried to turn this video, which is on Yankee robber barons, into war propaganda.

[@champagneproblemz]

I agree

[@LalinDissanayaka]

Or the roaring 20s or something around Agatha Christie's time

[@calendarpage]

Andrew Carnegie, once the richest man in the world, began funding library construction in the late 1890's. Many cities and towns in the US can thank him for their first purpose built library, which are often still in use today. There was no income tax then, so fantastic amounts of personal wealth could be accumulated. Carnegie wrote 'The Gospel of Wealth,' telling those who became wealthy that they had an obligation to give to and promote charitable works, which many did.

[@didiermarin2905]

Charity and philanthropy are the failures of policy

[@donHooligan]

@@didiermarin2905 but it's such a good tax write-off.

[@ryanindypa]

He also was feeling guilty (rightfully so) for being apart of the south fork hunting and fishing club, after what happened in Johnstown. Johnstown was one of the first places to get his “purpose built” libraries.

[@ammie8659]

My hometown has a Carnegie library. Beautiful neoclassical building. Still used as a library when I was a kid. Now an art gallery.

[@ammie8659]

@@donHooligan What kind of a tax write-off since there was no income tax?

[@marstondavis]

Reggie Vanderbilt commissioned a steam powered yacht to be built for his 21st birthday. It took a couple of years to build and outfit. When it was launched, on his birthday, he boarded it and inspected it from bow to stern. It had a 17-man crew, including the captain. He never went back aboard. He did keep it fully powered, ready to sail at a moment's notice. He stocked with the finest food and drink and had the crew on board 24-7-365. He kept it that way until he died in his mid 40's. How much do you think that cost just in coal, burning 24 hours a day for 20 plus years just to keep the steam boilers going, while going nowhere? I think that's amazing! Crazy, but amazing!

[@johnmcglynn4102]

Well, he did provide steady employment for a few people.....to keep all that going, right?

[@patricec.2957]

what about Huguette Clark who maintained 2 mansions (Bellosguardo estate in Santa Barbara and Le Beau Chateau estate in New Canaan) without ever setting foot in them for over 60 years.

[@Pickle8able]

Patrice C. Oh, how I envy the servants!

[@MAA77723]

@@Pickle8able Oh yes, need to see a period time drama series on that!

[@Parasiteve]

holy shit dude paying to keep a boat open all day and all year is insane. that money could help the poor but its being wasted on a fucking boat that was only used once lol.

[@guntherholbrook5627]

That amazing moment when you log on and Weird History uploaded a new video 14 seconds ago

[@Momsdailyagenda]

🥰👍

[@laserbeam002]

I live about an hours drive from the Biltmore House in Asheville NC. Been there three times and toured the house and grounds. It is an amazing place. The house is kept immaculate and the grounds well cared for. The tour guides are very well informed and are always willing to answer any question the tourist have. It's a wonderful day trip.

[@thedaggonator]

This is so interesting. It’s interesting to see how the CEOs live. Wait… this ISN’T about the 21ST Century Billionaires?

[@zlpatriot11]

We are living in the modern guilded age, thus I agree with you.

[@Jinka1950]

Most of them worked for it. Being rich is not a band thing. Money does a lot of good. I’ve never seen poor people give jobs.

[@ElisonJackson]

@@Jinka1950 one of the dumbest things i've ever read.

[@nussnougat5462]

@@Jinka1950 "give jobs" and with that you mean which jobs? The beautiful working opportunities of an McDonalds?

[@eddienash8645]

@@Jinka1950 keep simping for billionaires

[@IPPSav]

Shortly after the end of the Gilded Age, in 1916, a guy named James Deering built Villa Vizcaya (overlooking the Biscayne Bay in Miami). I guess the gilded fad was a little behind down in Florida. Anyway, Vizcaya is just as ostentatious as anything up North. Italian marble, gold plumbing fixtures, ten acres of formal gardens, and even a PIPE ORGAN spread out in hidden places throughout the mansion.

[@1953childstar]

"Vizcaya" is lovely.. When I was there, the guides told me that the bathrooms had either hot and cold "seawater" or filtered water.. Plus a "long distance " phone in a booth, for private conversations… You should visit Canada and see the mansions on the "thousand Islands". One which was very interesting was "Boldt Castle" which was unfinished due to the death of the builders wife..

[@dayseyenavajo3925]

Floriduh is still a swamp

[@undomiel152003]

I've been to Vizcaya many times since I live in Miami, but, as gorgeous as it is, it is nothing compared to many of the mansions built in the Gilded Age. As a matter of fact James wanted to build something luxurious but far from being as ostentatious as what his peers in the North were building. Now, having said that, if memory serves me correctly, Vizcaya did have the first toilets and full bathrooms with running water both cold and hot.

[@jeffo2448]

I currently live in Newport. I highly recommend touring the Breakers, Elms, and Marble House. Those 1%ers lived a lavish life back in the day…. Don’t forget to take a drive around Ocean Drive to see more crazy houses (including Jay Leno’s mansion).

[@TheNurulaulia]

This is really interesting 😉. I wish you could cover more about Gilded Age!

[@g.b569]

Yeah like more detail about the foods they ate and how many courses. I’d also like more detail about trips they might have taken

[@karthymcg2104]

Oh me too! I would’ve loved to have lived as one of the very wealthy at that time: new money, please! Old money seemed too stuffy for my taste🤣

[@jgallardo7344]

Isn’t there an HBO series about the Gilded Age?

[@g.b569]

@@jgallardo7344 Yes there is. It's written by the guy who also wrote Downton Abbey.

[@stacyscorsese1078]

@@jgallardo7344 yes, and it is opulent and ostentatious. I like it. Julian Fellowes writes it.

[@topherman420]

The Vanderbilt ball was a bit of an inspiration for the ball the Russell's threw in the show The Gilded Age (Mr Russell is also heavily inspired by the robber baron Jay Gould). The elaborate dance they had in the show was also inspired by that ball but the Vanderbilts had 6 rehearsed dances and all the guests and the hosts had very elaborate costumes, one woman actually had a stuffed cat for a hat and her dress had cat tails sewn on it.

[@lotstodo]

That car hat and tail dress would not be appreciated now days.

[@ankhpom9296]

Stuffed cat and tails? Absolutely disgusting!

[@ralphg3454]

I just went to the Biltmore for new years it was unbelievable. Took me 2 1/2 hours to walk through it.

[@email5023]

Same here.

[@ladynikkie]

It's pretty much the American version of the palace Versailles

[@seebeearr600]

Same here

[@spinstercatlady]

Biltmore is so beautiful, as is Ashville NC in general. I live not too far up the road a ways in KY so I've been a few times, and Christmas is my absolute favorite season there!

[@DrewElGringasho]

Asheville in general is beautiful, as are the surrounding mountains. The Biltmore is astounding. I spent 4 hours tripping on mushrooms in the gardens one time. Could have sworn I successfully traveled back in time to the 1890s. I WAS THERE MAAAAAN

[@pamelamays4186]

Also: What was a typical day like for the help staff of the Gilded Age rich?

[@bigbossimmotal]

The Historical Society of Newport, RI now owns most of those mansions, they give daily tours (in season) for a very reasonable fee. The tours are absolutely wonderful! A great walk thru the history of America, rich, and poor. The tour guides get very detailed about what each day was like for Masters of the House, and their Servants. Most homes were only occupied by the owners for a couple chosen months per year, the rest of the time, they packed up their silver, locked up the good China, and toured their other mansions. So the remaining staff would basically live like kings for 10 months, minus the silverware and china.

[@brucemarsico6]

Help staff? What is that? You mean, the servants? Those that were created to serve their superiors? Who knows, who cares? There'll always be a steady stream of the lesser to cater to the those with the most.....

[@esmeraldagreen1992]

@@brucemarsico6 And who do you think you are? Money doesn't make you a superior being Money doesn't make you happier, better looking, healthiest or smarter and those who tell rich people that it does are lying to their faces.

[@brucemarsico6]

@@esmeraldagreen1992 No? Well...having lots of money makes one much more socially acceptable...whether that's genuine or superficial, that's not the point here....zo....while YOU'RE struggling through wal-mart over something trivial, I'M having another glass of sparkling Bourgogne while watching the sun set in Punta del Este....CIAO.... Oh....and money can buy you good health, provide you with plastic surgery, perfect teeth...didn't you know?

[@brucemarsico6]

@Alice Rivierre Alice, Alice, Alice!!! I love you....I don't treat people like dirt...oh Alice! Perhaps YOU are richer than I am...such a vulgar word, 'rich'. Achh...let's employ the words, 'comfortably well off' shall we? Perhaps if you managed your monies well, you too could be sipping sparkling rose watching the sun set over Punta del Este......

[@starsantheoriginal]

As a born and raised Rhode Islander who now lives in North Carolina, I loved this episode so much hahaha

[@goldengalsclazy]

The narrator honestly keeps me in stitches with his witty commentary! Marble House does sound like a place you'd eat pancakes. LOL

[@aliceseger7108]

I know I love his sense of humor!!

[@chad735]

Live near biltmore. Been at least 10 times. It’s amazing every time. It’s insane how massive it is.

[@glennduke5853]

And some people, like me, couldn't care less!

[@caseygarland3342]

Living near Asheville in NC, I have visited the Biltmore mansion many times…. It is an amazingly beautiful home with the gardens and vineyard to explore as well.

[@bitteralmonds666]

We are currently living in a second gilded age 🥷🏽

[@williamcarter1993]

we really are. Bezos, Buffett, and the like have untold millions and billions while the rest of us flop around like a pile of rats

[@TheKrazysexykool]

Yes we are

[@goatsandroses4258]

"Giving to the needy was out of the question?" The Carnegies, Morgans, and Rockefellers were actually known for some types of philanthropy, and Julius Rosenwald established thousands of schools for African-American children. Certainly none of these families suffered for their charity, but they DID give.

[@champagneproblemz]

That's true, maybe they meant they didn't start giving until later in their lives?

[@Amadeus8484]

Tax deductible just means that WE are paying for it. Charity is just the politically correct term for Laundering Money.

[@allenatkins2263]

@@Amadeus8484 Yes, I would much rather the government decide how to waste money.

[@Amadeus8484]

@@allenatkins2263 Government works just fine if its a democracy...

[@allenatkins2263]

@@Amadeus8484 That may be the funniest post I have ever read. By that you mean as long as the majority gets to decide how my money is wasted, then it all works out?

[@michaelfisher7170]

I've seen The Breakers from the tourist walk, and I've been inside Biltmore House and yes, it is incredible what you can accomplish when you have endless rivers of money to spend. In the case of Biltmore, at least, I found it (sad? ironic? fate?) that poor George Vanderbilt III died rather shortly after its completion. He never even had the chance to enjoy the place.

[@esmeraldagreen1992]

Michael Fisher, I would say it was karma.

[@brucemarsico6]

Like that Astor chap that went down with the Titanic. Wrong place at the wrong time.

[@aarinisles]

@@brucemarsico6 I believe there were a lot of poor people that went down with that ship as well. Not sure of your point. That “Astor chap” put his wife on a lifeboat and stayed onboard when he could have forced his way into a lifeboat. There is character in that decision. And that quality of character can come with or without money.

[@tcam8809]

Seriously? “poor guy”? I’m sure he enjoyed so much in life that he needs no one’s pity.

[@scothammond5736]

@@esmeraldagreen1992 why karma?

[@kirbster1005]

So nothing's really changed, there's just newer stuff to buy now...

[@allisonjackson6142]

Alva wasn’t married to Cornelius….? Her husband’s name was William, he was Cornelius’ grandson. How am I the only one that’s caught that?

[@klskin]

And George was the younger brother. Caught that too.

[@jamesmcinnis208]

Maybe others aren't as interested in the Vanderbilt family tree as you are.

[@ArasPundys]

@@jamesmcinnis208 But "Weird History" should at least try to get history correct.

[@jamesmcinnis208]

@@ArasPundys Fair enough. (It was the "why am I the only one?" part that I was responding to.) It seems that lately I've been bombarded with KZbin videos of some interest that are full of inaccuracies and mispronunciations, which diminish my interest because I wonder what else they got wrong that I didn't catch.

[@michaelplunkett8059]

His older brother was also Cornelius.

[@The7Reaper]

I went to the Biltmore house once for a school field trip and the trailer I lived in at the time could have fit into their living room. I personally don't think these people have done anything worth making more money in a day than any of us will see in a lifetime but whatever.

[@carmenrosado-benitez258]

Disgusting age I see very few to the benefits of being rich and famous in the stupid age or any stupid age especially in the world where people starve.

[@ArtisticlyAlexis]

Newport, RI is _so_ beautiful! The other claim to fame for Newport is the oldest synagogue in America, Touro. George Washington wrote them around the Revolutionary War to thank them for their support. My big sis was married there.

[@jeffo2448]

And the “Whitehorse Tavern” is allegedly the oldest Tavern. Pretty cool spot to have a drink or grab a nice dinner!

[@Momsdailyagenda]

Luv this channel! I love reading about the Gilded Age and learning new facts. I recommend going to the Newport Mansions for tours. It’s unbelievable the size of these homes, the decor and the landscaping. It is breathtaking! The series, The Gilded Age, Mr & Mrs Russell are based on the Vanderbilt’s. 👍

[@morganschiller2288]

I was a welder and worked for an ultra luxury interior design company. I built a $300,000 laundry basket 🧺 a 1.5M big screen baffle, or a very large, very heavy cinema sized screen frame. I also welded up a brass/nickel plated medicine cabinet that was 100,000’s Insane. Fun work, but totally insane

[@marquiesriley6479]

“$300,000 laundry basket”….. Holy shit!….😂😂

[@missyouwish88]

Please tell us more about that laundry basket

[@grapeshot]

Back then when you were rich you most definitely flaunted it. He also had a bunch of rich American mother's trying to sell their daughters off to European royalty.

[@seebeearr600]

Same.

[@evirareid1500]

It wasn't so much selling but definitely was buying into royal society.

[@dingusdingus2152]

In America there are, and always have been, lots of kulaks. Wealthy peasants with no taste. The bolsheviks considered them enemies of the people. In America vulgar displays of riches have always been de rigeur for the plutocrats.

[@mrs.g.9816]

Starting when I was a little girl, I knew these rich people were not too nice. And I started being environmentally aware (before I knew the the term, "environment") when I learned about those poor egrets. These one-percenters were awfully selfish - insensitive to the welfare of other people and other creatures. But I still wish the NYC mansions weren't knocked down and replaced by drab, cold skyscrapers. A city gets its charm and grace from the old architecture.

[@TheOffkilter]

I disagree with calling this "the" Gilded Age. I think it should simply be called a Gilded Age because many economists, sociologists and others say that we have for effectively the last 20 years been living in another and arguably even more opulent Gilded Age today.

[@ottomattix86]

Ones gotta start it all

[@KBzDvSt]

@@ottomattix86 so “the first gilded age” then

[@dominic.h.3363]

The last 20 you say? Could've fooled me... especially with that itty bitty faux pas in 2008, that was called the worst recession since the great depression.

[@andrewbetances1203]

@@dominic.h.3363 Even the poorest person getting full government assistance is richer today then anyone in the last 2000 years. You can pretty much experience more then people in the past even imagine on almost nothing. Granted your not flying first class but McDonald's and traveling to anywhere in the world for very little is more then the richest back then could ever hope for. I'm talking about as far as modern times of course

[@fanniek1694]

That makes better sense

[@didiermarin2905]

The weathly and super rich make me sick. What needless excess while many for homeless and hungry. Human nature never changes.

[@Autumnh141983]

The Biltmore Mansion is by far the best place to visit! So much history and innovation there. If you ever go to Ashville, NC you need to go see it.

[@vincentvangogodancer]

Spoiler alert: We're living in a gilded age now. Billionaires can still do whatever they want.

[@LJB103]

You mean the 23 car garage at the Bill Gates house is an excess!?!

[@orion8981]

The Biltmore estate is mind-boggling. Definitely worth a visit if you haven't been.

[@baylorsailor]

I live in a town in Northern NY that was booming during the Gilded Age. At one point we had more millionaires per capita than any other town in the US around 1890-1900. Unfortunately after WWII much of the town deteriorated and many of the opulent homes were torn down. But there are still a few surviving.

[@slcRN1971]

Seeing these once opulent homes torn down is a bit sad because of how beautiful they once were. All that money spent on opulent houses, which didn’t even stay lived-in for a great length of time. Sounds so utterly wasteful too.

[@jamesmcinnis208]

How coy.

[@pyrexmaniac]

Hello, fellow Buffalonian! Go Bills!

[@pamelamays4186]

Excess suggestions: Exotic pets. Pampered children: fancy clothes, fancy toys, personal help staff. Private zoos. Private hunting preserves. Extravagant yachts.

[@williamcarter1993]

from a dispassionate view the Gilded Age/later Victorian era looks so cool to live in- all the beauty and opulence. But then when you realize it's built on prejudice, disease, exploitation and the like it's not so nice looking. But if one could be a ghost or something, it'd be nice to go back to that era and just listen and look around

[@williamcarter1993]

@Alice Rivierre what?

[@Kaboomboo]

That's why it was called the gilded age. Gilding something means you're just spraying gold paint on top of something, like a crappy piece of metal. And that's what it was. A nice 'looking' time, but covering up a very crappy life for others.

[@evirareid1500]

Yeah child labor is literal evil...

[@PheOfTheFae]

Yeah but the reality is it wasn't any more common in that era than Bill Gates and Jeff Bezos level of wealth is today. Most people never would see such opulence unless they worked as a servant for a rich person, perhaps. And I'm pretty sure their day to day was pretty boring; if you have ever looked at old etiquette books and such they had to change clothes like four times a day for different meals and functions and sat hours at every meal, so most of your day was dressing and eating. Luxurious, sure. But it probably adds to their penchant to entertain themselves in weird ways, since their lives were so dictated in that way.

[@scientchahming5]

The standard of living for the average Joe was a lot better during the late 19th and early 20th centuries than it was in previous centuries. History shows that the largest quantum leaps in living standards have been in places and eras where markets were at their freest.

[@gregoryambres1897]

Giving to the needy was NOT "out of the question" in the Gilded Age. Philanthropy was founded during the Gilded Age (see Carnegie, Mellon, Astor, Vanderbilt, Rockefeller, et al).

[@maggiemae7539]

@DrumWild no it means they hid in charities. Their name also was used to get other peoples $

[@Lady_Chalk]

Biltmore Estate is beautiful during Christmas.

[@StacyLawlerThomas]

I visited the Breakers in RI and Hearst Castle in CA….both extremely ornate and ostentatious. While I enjoyed the tours, I will take my rinkydink two bedroom apartment that is warm and cozy over these monstrosities anyday.

[@joeyjamison5772]

_"Honesty is incompatible with amassing a large fortune."_ -Mohandas Gandhi _"Behind every great fortune there is a crime."_ -Honoré de Balzac _"Money is the loot of all weasels."_ -Louis Rukeyser

[@legend7842]

Who else had family that came from this time period? I also had received instruction from people who were born and raised in this era. My parents home built in the 1800s. The interior design unimaginable.

[@abekeakinpade5518]

I can imagine

[@nicoleel2578]

Newport is so beautiful! I visit every summer. I’m also from NC and have been to the Biltmore many times, absolutely insane how big it is!

[@BillOweninOttawa]

Applying gold leaf is called "gilding", hence the name for the age (coined by Mark Twain). Contemporary American oligarchs just as bad a this lot though.

[@katem2411]

So pretty much the same as now? 🤣 This is what happens when wealthy people don't have to pay serious income taxes and inheritance taxes and don't need to follow any/many regulations about how they treat people who work for them.

[@aarinisles]

The reference to Neverland at the beginning of this video gives insight into what type video this is. To compare Neverland to, say, the designs and buildings of someone like Richard Hunt is like comparing F1 to NASCAR.

[@calibmatlock]

I can understand the costume parties and crazy meals but covering a bathroom in actual gold sounds so stupid to me.

[@IRosamelia]

Oh hush you lowly peasant! 🤑

[@kate_cooper]

So what would you suggest is a better use of all that gold? What would you do with it?

[@IRosamelia]

@@kate_cooper bathing of course, like a famous duck does 👑

[@dayseyenavajo3925]

Marble…

[@maggiemae7539]

As in ancient Babylon!

[@jlshel42]

"Hold my tea." -Rich Brits of the same time period

[@angrybigfoot752]

The builtmore is definitely beautiful. Most of the land around the estate is a massive tree farm.

[@lyndseyfifield]

Citation needed on the repeated claims they did nothing for the poor. Many built hospitals and schools and funded health care and literacy programs… not to mention job training and giving major opportunities and huge sums to workers and tradespeople…

[@davidchunkyonion]

Love this channel. Good information and always funny.

[@SlimKeith11]

One of my fav movies, Being there, with Peter Sellers was filmed at the Biltmore. I highly recommend this brilliant film and it's a treat to see inside of the manse as well as a bit of the outside.

[@marlenesingleton8839]

That was very interesting. What amazes me so much was that they would always try to outdo the other one with what they would spend.

[@ladynikkie]

Pretty much this is the original keeping up with the Jones' but way more excessive it's kind of sad

[@bernardcassidy6497]

It was incredibly hard work, running these places and organising ever greater functions and constantly keeping yourself, front and centre of everything and always worried sick that you would be outdone by someone richer, hard to believe when they could have just chilled, kicked back and done nothing, humans need stimulus or chronic boredom and booze etc kicks in.

[@cathleendelorenzo205]

Cornelius and Alva were not married, so they didn’t build a house together.

[@jmc8076]

Both built in Newport as in-laws not as couple.

[@michaelpage4199]

Great video. We have been watching this on HBO. Amazing.

[@Golf.dealer]

Vanderbilt of Vanderbilt University if anyone's wondering. They named it because (according to Google) he was the first one to donate over $500,000 to the cause.

[@sixpackbinky]

I think they were materialist, shallow and worldly while others starved. Did they ever do anything for the less fortunate?

[@trixrabbit8792]

Sadam Husain had a solid gold toilet. It disappeared during the sacking of Baghdad. Rumor has it that it took more than half dozen people to get it out of the palace.

[@Redneck322]

I really hope time travel is available in the next decade because I want go back in time to steal some cash during the old west and then put it in a bank account in Austin to collect interest over the 150 years to be able to withdraw the current day worth to live off of.

[@lubazak636]

The rich are still the same. A contractor told me that two neighbors in a wealthy bedroom community near me, were demanding a more expensive bathroom than my neighbor, begging him to find the most expensive materials possible. New money also is involved in a lot of showing off; labels, 100,000$ Burkin bags, ect.

[@MegaNihilarian]

I toured the Flagler Museum in West Palm beach and Henry Flagler’s home is exactly like this with the rail cart outside. The Ringlings Brothers Manson was similar.

[@markfigueroa1681]

You know it was a rager when your party is being talked about 150 years later

[@jacktribble5253]

As crazy as all that was, it didn't even come close to some of the "Vulgar displays of wealth" further back in history and all of that stuff is still going on in many places right now. Even as I write this.

[@kimberleysmith818]

One of e Palaces of a Sultan in Morocco took up miles. Literally walking miles from one end of the palace to the other. That didn’t I voice gardens.

[@btetschner]

A+ video! LOVE IT! What a eye-opening topic and video!

[@sonyajaffe1024]

I’ve visited the mansion with the golden toilet in Baltimore, Maryland couple months ago.Unfortunately due to covid restrictions, I was unable to have a picture of myself sitting on the 23karat gold toilet seat:(

[@jgallardo7344]

What a crock! They wouldn’t let me walk through the Peabody Library because it was “unsafe” due to COVID, but Ravens and Oriole games were totally safe 🙄

[@Uzair_Of_Babylon465]

Fantastic video keep it up your doing amazing job

[@grammiesspirit4922]

Killing defenseless female egrets....in front of their newborn babies....a violent statement toward the natural wonders of the world strictly toward the sacred space occupied by mother's and their newborns' needs. And women perpetuated and encouraged this total disrespect of their spirits.

[@lindarutledge9104]

I really enjoy your videos! Fun and informative 😊

[@bethwondrely4371]

Ok...I love this guy's narration. It's so fresh and humorous.

[@gettfoffmynews3315]

That dude's hair in the thumbnail is an excess he could have lived without...

[@lynnobrien8159]

Alva was married to William Kissam Vanderbilt, the grandson of Commodore Cornelius Vanderbilt, whose picture you showed at the beginning.

[@onecoolcat2478]

I love your channel. Any updates about your 70's project?

[@Keikimainecoon]

The poor birds…. That was the worst. I guess they had much lower consciousness back then. I am totally traumatized by their treatments of those birds. Wish I had never heard such a thing😢

[@lauraguida8482]

2 ERRORS - The first one is at 1:18. You have the incorrect person married to Alva Vanderbilt. She was married to William Kissam Vanderbilt, not Cornelius. Commodore Cornelius Vanderbilt was William's father. ERROR #2 is at 3:36. George Vanderbilt II was not Cornelius and William's father. George was William Kissam Vanderbilt's son and was Commodore Cornelius Vanderbilt's grandson.

[@1shotmilo14]

I love this channel this is the reason why I know so many useless facts. I guess they’re a bit useful to start a random conversation.

[@lukesnare8063]

Guess it doesn't make them useless then does it

[@machinelearng]

The best voice on KZbin 👍🏽

[@andrewwiggins3190]

I just turned 20 and want to devote myself into becoming a millionaire by 30, I already have £80k saved, £65k lump sum following the death of my father and £15k in personal savings. So far ive come across dropshipping, stocks, and real estate as the most popular means of doing so but i was wondering if any of you have any other suggestions, at this stage im just trying to learn about the most viable ways of achieving success within 10 years

[@wildtxboy6083]

THE REAL WEALTH WILL ALWAYS BE LAND,GOLD,NATURAL RESOURCES. THATS IT

[@karynplumm878]

I don't know what your definition of success is, but I can share what I've done. My Father died in 2014, His social security benefits and some cash were split between me and my brother. I spent about 16k of it to start a business and invested the rest through the wealth advisor who managed his investment for 13 years before he passed away. It is now worth over 750k. Becoming a millionaire can be done in 10 years. It feels like 60hr work weeks. Feel the pain of discipline early or feel the pain of regret later. I wish you well!

[@24ever12]

My only advise for you is to educate yourself on good investing books

[@andrewwiggins3190]

@@karynplumm878 Thanks for sharing your story. I'm fascinated to know who this financial advisor is and if they work with someone outside of US?

[@karynplumm878]

@@andrewwiggins3190 I can't actually leave her details on here, you could do that yourself..her name is ''Stacey Lee Jamieson'' she's the one I work with, look her name up you would see all you need to know. you could leave her a message on her webpage

[@jaxz4986]

The houses though....the architecture....wow, just wow

[@paulaltman9751]

The excesses of the rich and elite of today match or exceed those of the gilded age.

[@amyfisher6380]

Eh, if space travel existed back then, I’m sure Cornelius Vanderbilt would have gladly dropped some cash to try it out.

[@sahasmahogha6399]

Rich people never change now do they?

[@MrJoeybabe25]

How about the horrible, terrible indulgence of watching any movie from the last 100 years in the comfort of your home? Or not dying from heat exhaustion because you have a little 100 dollar wall unit to keep you cool. The rich of the gilded age would marvel at what the poor have now. One of the side benefits of rich indulgence is the jobs and wealth it creates for the "common" people. If you have it, spread it around and enjoy it.

[@johnhartford8578]

Your right, we should be thankful. What would we do with all those rooms, etc.anyway.

[@lindacoolbaugh962]

I went to Newport and took a tour of The Breakers, awesome to see a fireplace bigger than my living room!! It was so surreal

[@LoriFoster]

Spending money does help working people and then the poor.🤷🏻‍♂️

[@larry3491]

In China and Hong Kong perhaps but not so much here.

[@LoriFoster]

@@larry3491 I don’t know what you’re talking about money is money wherever it. Someone or some Corp builds a home or business and people are hired from the get go on all fronts. Then you have workers or home owners that pay tax and spend on upkeep. Poor people can’t hire if that’s your reasoning. I’m not rich and have worked for a corp for decades but that’s how it works. 😃 Have a good weekend! ✌️

[@m.f.richardson1602]

Interesting. Thank you.💕👌

[@eddienash8645]

Seems like not much has changed

[@ladynikkie]

Pretty much just nowadays they're more wary especially with the social media age so they have to watch what they do or make sure the people they pay off at least keep their mouth shut.

[@StephenSatire]

“He was the best 25 customers” I died

[@jaylockwood5030]

"the only concern faced by the gilded age elite was competing over..." One of many unsubstantiated, hyperbolic, cartoonish claims here. Bad history.

[@undomiel152003]

It did happen, when one built a 10,000 square foot mansion, the next mansion near it would be bigger. The same happened with materials like marble, wood, gilded walls, etc. It was happening not just in New York, but also West Palm Beach. Mar-a-Lago is one of those mansions.

[@auntvesuvi3872]

Thanks for this! 🏰

[@natashakay9094]

This very thing is still happening 😞

[@Wanamaker1946]

They did give to the “needy”. Their institutions all still standing as Colleges and Trade Schools. This is how they gave back. You don’t see this today. This moderator is snarky.

[@DrLeroyGreen]

Does anyone question how you spend your money? Railroads, dresses, construction/carpenters, stable operator, wait staff. Sounds like they created a few jobs when they were not helping the needy? The only we can ask and expect the rich to do is spend their money and to NOT just sit on it and horde gold.

[@colmkirk8657]

Yes, and those people worked 6.5 days a week, up to 18 hours a day, making almost nothing. They were practically indentured servants, with little to no upward mobility, and couldn't afford to leave and find other work.

[@DrLeroyGreen]

@@colmkirk8657 No business can afford to pay labor what labor is worth.

[@colmkirk8657]

@@DrLeroyGreen Then how do we have billionaires? They can, actually, they just don't.

[@DrLeroyGreen]

@@colmkirk8657 WHat happened with steel, once the union got labor a better wage? The nation nearly lost its steel industry to cheap imports. Why were those imports cheaper? Because their labor was cheaper. There are billionaires because they invest their profits in other things which then also yield a win or loss but almost always create new jobs. Capitalism has many flaws and victims but its the best system that we've figure d out so far. The other isms won't work so long as we have a mass of lazy non-contributing individuals who don't only want not to work but want a hand out for nothing. How dare you make me defend this ugly fact!?

[@colmkirk8657]

@@DrLeroyGreen Your inability to understand reality is depressingly predictable. We didn't 'lose the steel industry' because we paid workers something approximate to their value, we lost it because greedy billionaires moved production over seas where they are allowed to treat employees as practical slave labor, and have no environmental protection laws to deal with. The same is true for every other manufacturing that has left this country. The fact that you are willfully ignorant of that is just... How dare you?!

[@chanel113]

I love seeing the houses of this time. What about a video on the Pullman mansion and the way the neighborhood changed

[@mikenixon2401]

I've often wondered if the Gilded Age would have been such had there been income and business taxes at that time. Then again, consider the political, business and celebrity elites we see today with their detachment from the rest of us.

[@esmeraldagreen1992]

They are the same and they despise us.

[@joebwannabe]

Well today's robber barons like Jeff Bezos and Elon Musk pay less in taxes than you and I do. That's how they can afford to ride in dick shaped rockets.

[@sanniepstein4835]

You'd have the Clintons, Bidens, and other crooks who produce nothing and take their multimillions by force and through treason. And probably a third world country.

[@gbritaney]

More Gilded Age videos please. I would like to know more about the railroad tycoon.

[@dianasmith725]

Great video. Super entertaining