Another vote in this category should probably go to Elias Hasket Derby, who helped convert Salem, Mass, from a colony of witchburners to a massive seaport. If I remember correctly, a conversion of his fortune into today's terms would be valued at around $15 billion.
Jeff Downing
T. C. Frank wrote:
> Tom Lehman asked about George Washington's personal wealth.
>
> By the time of the Washington administration, certainly the richest man in
> the U.S. was William Duer, the speculator. He was also the
> under-secretary of the Treasury, and got caught up before very long in all
> sorts of scandals. I believe he was the one who embezzled the funds for
> Hamilton's famous industrial project in Paterson, New Jersey.
>
> I don't know if Duer was the richest at the time of the Revolution. I
> doubt it.
>
> Tom Frank