USA HISTORY

Detailed explanation-1: -By age 30, Carnegie had amassed business interests in iron works, steamers on the Great Lakes, railroads, and oil wells. He was subsequently involved in steel production, and built the Carnegie Steel Corporation into the largest steel manufacturing company in the world.

Detailed explanation-2: -Carnegie adopted a new process invented by Sir Henry Bessemer that allowed steel to be made from iron more efficiently and quickly. This lowered the cost for steel, expanding the market. While this Bessemer steel didn’t work for bridges or buildings, it worked well for railways.

Detailed explanation-3: -Because of his position, Carnegie had knowledge of the war machine during the Civil War and saw there was a large need for iron products. After the war he used this new knowledge to switch his business interests from railroads and telegraphs to the ironworks industry, eventually founding the Keystone Bridge Works.

Detailed explanation-4: -Andrew Carnegie sold his steel company, Carnegie Steel, to J.P. Morgan for $480 million in 1901. According to the Carnegie Corporation, Carnegie’s personal peak wealth was about $380 million, or around $309 billion by today’s standard.