Along with his brother, Rockefeller set up Standard Oil in 1870, which went on to have a near-monopoly of the industry by 1882. His overarching influence over the oil business was a cause for concern, with many journalists and political figures protesting the company’s controversial practices, such as underselling competitors and using differential pricing.

Yet Rockefeller was also an influential philanthropist, donating a huge chunk of his fortune throughout his life to various causes.

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