Education and career beginnings
High school, colleges, and early jobs
john d rockefeller
John D. Rockefeller was born on July 8, 1839 in Richford, New York. He attended high school in Cleveland, Ohio and then briefly studied bookkeeping at Folsom Mercantile College. However, he dropped out before completing his degree to start working as an assistant bookkeeper at a small produce commission firm.
Rockefeller quickly rose through the ranks in the business world, and by the age of 23, he had formed his own business, Rockefeller & Andrews, which dealt in commodities and loans. In 1863, he co-founded the oil refinery company, Rockefeller, Andrews & Flagler, which later became Standard Oil, one of the most successful and controversial companies in American history.
Through his strategic business tactics and ruthless competitive practices, Rockefeller built a massive fortune and became one of the richest men in the world. He is often regarded as one of the key figures in the development of big business and the oil industry in the United States.