John D. Rockefeller (1839-1937) founded the Standard Oil Company, revolutionized the oil business and, after adjusting for inflation, may have been the richest person in world history. Rockefeller's business practices were fiercely condemned, but he and Standard Oil had a policy of not responding to the attacks of critics.

Random Reminiscences of Men and Events (1909) is in part a personal memoir, in part a response to his critics, and in part a book of advice on making money and philanthropy.