Rothschild family descended from a man who established a banking business in the 1760s, so they have been a name associated with international banking since the beginning (Corti, 2001). Their ancestor was Mayer Amschel Rothschild, who was a court Jew (Corti, 2001). Unlike many in that position before him, he was able to bequeath the wealth he had to his family. Through his five sons, he established a dynasty in the international banking world (Wilson, 1988). That dynasty was strong enough to surpass the Berenbergs and Barings, who were among the strongest and wealthiest banking families of the day (Ferguson, 2000). Many lines of the family have been elevated to nobility in Austria and been given titles such as Baron (Ferguson, 2000). The British side of the family also became nobility, becoming Barons and Baronets (Corti, 2001). The Rothschild family was at its height during the 19th Century, when it was believed to have been the wealthiest family in the world (Wilson, 1988). It had at that...

There were hundreds of descendants who all received some of this wealth, and the overall amount of it has declined. However, the Rothschild name is still a significant one and there are many industries in which Rothschild descendents operate. These include mining, finance, energy, wine, farming, and charity work (Wilson, 1988). During the late 19th Century the Rothschild family started to become more low-key in nature, and they have continued to do so over time (Corti, 2001). While their name might not be a household one anymore, it is still well-recognized in the international banking world.
The conspicuous displays of wealth that used to mark a person as a Rothschild are not seen as often today, and a number of estates and works of arts that have been owned by the family for a very long time have been sold or donated to charity (Corti, 2001;…