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"An investment in knowledge and industriousness pays the most certain interest, for it is by these virtues that wealth is diligently built and wisely preserved."
—Benjamin Franklin
Benjamin Franklin, known as the most extraordinary polymath of 18th-century America, made noteworthy contributions to printing, science, and politics.
He amassed wealth through his businesses, patents, and work with the early American government.
Estimates vary; his net worth in today's currency is between $10 million and $90 million.
Benjamin Franklin's wealth came from many sources.
Benjamin Franklin made most of his wealth with his printing empire in colonial America.
He used his press to distribute and sell newspapers, pamphlets, and books. Most notably, he's known for printing his beloved Almanac every year.
Franklin also made money by leveraging his inventions, such as the lighting rod and . Using licensing and other distribution means to make passive income.
He also had other business ventures and diverse investments, like real estate, that only grew over time.
Benjamin Franklin also had a diplomatic career when he retired from the printing business.
He had stints in the Continental Congress at the Constitutional Convention, was the first Postmaster General of the U.S. post office, and was the first U.S. diplomat to France.
Let's say he had streams of income from all kinds of industries. It made him one of the wealthiest people in the early Americas.
Benjamin Franklin can trace his success to his maxims and practical wisdom.
He had a unique approach to wealth management. His focus was on frugality, education, and calculated risks.
Franklin's economic principles can be summed up within his famous aphorisms, such as "A penny saved is a penny earned."
His sage advice continues to motivate wealth-seekers even today.
It's hard to say what Benjamin Franklin's net worth was at his death.
However, historians estimate it to be between $10 million and $90 million.
Benjamin Franklin gave most of his money away during his lifetime and before he died.
He founded institutions like the Library Company of Philadelphia and the American Philosophical Society.
In his will, Franklin left a large portion of his estate (valued at about £20,000, or roughly $4.4 million today) to charitable causes.
He gave £1,000 each to the cities of Boston and Philadelphia for public works projects.
He also set aside scholarships and cash to support apprentices.
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