Was John D. Rockefeller a Robber Baron? A robber baron, by definition, is a 19th century businessman who acquired his fortune through ruthless means. To determine whether an individual can be considered a robber baron, it is very important to examine their intentions in their line of business, how they actually made money, and what they did with the money earned. . Taking this into account, it is clear that oil tycoon John D. Rockefeller was not a robber baron. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get the original essay First, Rockefeller didn't want to get into the business just to make money. Of course, he had to make a living somehow, and that was simply his chosen profession. Having been an accountant in the past, Rockefeller was obsessed with organization and saw an opportunity to help the oil industry capture what he knew it had to offer. In fact, Rockefeller himself said, “If your only goal is to get rich, you will never succeed.” Rockefeller had no intention of exploiting anyone, but simply responding to what he saw as an organizational need during the oil boom of the late 19th century. Second, Rockefeller made his money in a way that may seem immoral, but is in no way illegal. Given the growth of its business, it was only natural that it would make more profits and begin to overtake other companies. It’s because he was successful and good at what he did – not because he exploited others. He was just a businessman chasing the American dream, working in a capitalist economy to provide for his family. He attended church on Sundays and was known to be very faithful. He even offered his competitors very fair prices when buying them: “I thought his feelings on the subject were such that I could trust him and that he would deal honorably with me” (Chernow, 42). Finally, the way Rockefeller spent the money he earned – without losing people – was very honorable. Rockefeller and his family were devout Christians and gave much of their wealth to the Church. Rockefeller donated money to support universities and even created the University of Chicago. He also donated money to support medical research and scientific advancement. At the end of his life, Rockefeller's charitable donations totaled more than $530 million. Keep in mind: this is just a sample. Get a personalized article from our expert writers now. Get a Custom Essay Overall, it is clear that being a capitalist and defending yourself does not make you a bad person. John D. Rockefeller was exactly that: a businessman who made a living. His motivation was not to get rich, but to help American industry. He developed his business fairly, in accordance with the law, and used his profits to improve the welfare of society as a whole. There's no way he could be considered a ruthless robber baron..