Richer Than The Rockefellers: The Mellon Family's Secret Empire

The Mellon family of Pennsylvania is billions of dollars richer than the modern Rockefellers, Morgans, or Carnegies…

In today’s episode, we’ll tell you this secret “old money” banking dynasty’s full, unauthorized journey - revealing a legacy that has quietly shaped the very backbone of American wealth and influence.

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TIMESTAMPS:
0:00 Introduction
1:56 Chapter 1: The Wild Wealth of the Modern Mellon Family
6:01 Chapter 2: The Origins of The Mellon Family
9:29 Chapter 3: The Rise of Thomas Mellon and Andrew Mellon
16:08 Chapter 4: The Immense Power of Andrew Mellon and His Children
20:03 Chapter 5: The Legacy of Paul and “Bunny” Mellon
24:50 Chapter 6: The Modern Mellon Family

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In this detailed exploration, we uncover the rich history and immense wealth of the Mellon family, a lesser-known but extraordinarily influential 'old money' dynasty in America.

With a staggering $12 billion in wealth, their legacy is as profound as it is historic.

We delve into the life of Christopher Mellon, the family's modern patriarch, whose career encompasses high finance, secretive government roles, and an intriguing involvement in UFO advocacy.

Tracing the family's origins, we highlight the foundational role of Thomas Mellon in establishing Mellon Bank, a key player in shaping America's financial horizon.

The legacy robustly continues with BNY Mellon, a financial behemoth managing an astonishing $46.9 trillion in assets, standing as the thirteenth largest bank in the United States and earning accolades as one of the "world's most admired companies" by Fortune Magazine in 2023.

But the Mellons' influence extends beyond banking. We explore their ventures in various industries, including their crucial role in creating Gulf Oil, which became Chevron, and their investments in steel, backing Union Steel before its merger with U.S. Steel.

Their investment portfolio reads like a who's who of American corporate history, featuring names like Westinghouse Electric, Newsweek, and General Motors.

The Mellons are also deeply involved in land conservation and real estate.

The Richard King Mellon Foundation has contributed significantly to wildlife refuges, and the family's real estate holdings are nothing short of impressive, including the 700-acre Virginia Mellon estate and Oak Spring Farms, a 4,000-acre expanse that was Bunny Mellon's personal paradise.

In politics, family member Timothy Mellon's contributions are noteworthy, with significant donations to various political causes and campaigns, reflecting a deep commitment to their beliefs.

Our journey takes us back to the family's beginnings as immigrants to America, setting the stage for their rise to become one of the nation's wealthiest dynasties.

We also delve into the Gaelic origins of their surname and their settlement in Tyrone, Ireland, as part of the Ulster Plantation, a key moment in their story.

We also chronicle the life of Andrew William Mellon, a central figure in the family's history, and his profound influence on banking and finance.

We also discuss his role in shaping key American corporations and his tenure as Secretary of the Treasury, where his policies helped define the Roaring Twenties.

The legacy of philanthropy and art patronage is exemplified by Paul Mellon and his wife Bunny, who left an indelible mark on the cultural and educational landscape, including significant contributions to the National Gallery of Art.

Finally, we examine the family's adaptation to the digital age, with substantial investments in technology ventures and the creation of BNY Mellon, a global financial powerhouse.

This exploration offers a comprehensive view of the Mellon family's journey from humble beginnings to shaping key facets of American industry, finance, and culture, highlighting their lasting impact on the nation's history and future.

[oldmoneyluxury]

Which “old money” family would you like us to cover next?

[Pharaonin]

I didn't know so much about The Mellons. So I learned a lot today. Thank you for your interesting documentation.

[Suetvvlogs]

there are many old money families that live low-key lives you barely hear from round the world! These families, unlike the rockafellers and the Vanderbilt who live to flaunt their wealth and power! live in the shadows of their countries they helped foundings! these are the real power in their respective country!

[wendypatterson]

Money of this scale brings with it immense responsibility. People really do not realize that they are less free than mid classes.
However, with the money issues resolved for them, they have the available space in their lives to worry about the arts or education and the environment. The lower classes spend their time in pursuit of money enough to live a life of some comfort and be able to retire.

[betsyavallone]

I attended school with Matthew Mellon. He was always a sweet, sensitive soul. RIP Matthew.

[corneliusjones]

If possible, a video about the Warburgs would be greatly appreciated

[tyreedillard]

Please do a profile of French old money Louis-Dreyfus Dynasty and the UK Swire family, founders of Hong Kong and London conglomerate The Swire Group, and Swire Pacific

[CedricSmith-unvm]

Amazing. Wow now I know where Chevron comes from Gulf oil, I was wondering about that for a few days, thank you. I love watching this documentary, about the Mellon family this is my first night learning about them.

[lawsliveby]

Say what you want about old money, but the insistence on education, manners, and values, is certainly the guidance signs along the road to success.

[jmcfintona]

The Mellons orginate from the outskirts in Omagh in Northern Ireland. The family actually bought the tiny Village of Old castle and turned it into an immigration theme park called the Ulster American Folk park. You can stay at the Mellon country Inn which isnt far away, the old preyespetrian church they attended is near by.

[gardengirl]

Bunny Mellon is fascinating do a focus on her please ❤

[nordicvolkan]

If interested do one for the Coch Family (Charles Koch and David Koch)

[BOEHHO]

Paul Mellon also raised race horses on his Virginia estate .

[eploy]

In the US please consider the Byrd, Cabot, Carter, Griswold, Harrison, Lowell, Tayloe, Van Avery/Van Every (from Dutch nobility to American old money), Van Rensselaer (from Dutch patroons to American patricans), Forbes, Hartwick, Van Leer and Whitney families.

[betsyavallone]

You should do a video on the Pulitzer family.

[superfleapilot]

Tim Mellon was also a pilot and involved in the third and final iteration of Pan Am World Airways partnering with his brother in law David Fink. In addition to flying the B727 with Pan Am Airlines he owned and personally flew a Citation 501 and Piper Tomahawk that both shared the same family crest inspired Blue paint job with a red sash.

[EngineerDJ_Julius]

great story and video

the descendants are like a military dynasty, all aiming for high ranks

[abr]

Excellent content. Would be great if you could cover the S.C. Johnson family. Thanks!

[BaileyArf]

Do the Cannon family, Chilton family, and DuPont family.

[justmeonthebeach]

Many years ago, I almost got a desk job at the Bank of New York Mellon in Belgium, I passed the written tests and interviews, until there were only two of us, but... I worked at the embassy instead...