HBO's glittering costume drama The Gilded Age shines a light on the lives and scandals of the upper circles of New York society in the late 19th century. Created and written by Julian Fellowes of Downton Abbey fame, the show focuses on the era's power players, from the so-called 'robber barons' to the old-money socialites.

The period that gives the show its name lasted from the 1870s to around 1900, and was a time of rapid economic growth that made the financial disparities between the American classes more stark than ever before. During the Gilded Age, the lucky elite climbed to levels of wealth never before seen – and they weren't afraid to flaunt it.

Read on to discover some of the era's most affluent people, including a key character in the show, and find out how they spent their mountains of money. All dollar amounts in US dollars, with estimated peak net worths adjusted for inflation into today's money.

The incredible lives of the real Gilded Age billionaires