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William Henry "Billy" Vanderbilt (May 8, 1821 – December 8, 1885) was an American businessman and philanthropist. He was the eldest son of Commodore Cornelius Vanderbilt, an heir to his fortune and a prominent member of the Vanderbilt family. Vanderbilt became the richest American after he took over his father's fortune in 1877 until his own death in 1885, passing on a substantial part of the fortune to his wife and children, particularly to his sons Cornelius II and William. He inherited nearly $100 million from his father. The fortune had doubled when he died less than nine years later.

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Born	8 May 1821 New Brunswick, New Jersey
Died	8 December 1885 (aged 64) Manhattan, New York City, New York, U.S.
Zodiac	Taurus
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Cornelius Vanderbilt · Father · 1794-1877 · American businessman and tycoon edit info

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Cornelius Jeremiah Vanderbilt · Brother · 1830-1882 · American member of the Vanderbilt family edit info

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Alfred Gwynne Vanderbilt Jr. · Great-grandson edit info

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William Knapp Thorn · Nephew · -1910 · Polo player edit info

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Cornelius Vanderbilt III · Grandson · 1873-1942 · military officer edit info

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Alice Vanderbilt Morris · Granddaughter · 1874-1950 · Vanderbilt family member edit info

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Emily Vanderbilt Sloane · Granddaughter · 1874-1970 · American socialite edit info

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Gertrude Vanderbilt Whitney · Granddaughter · 1875-1942 · American sculptor edit info

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Elliott Shepard · Grandson · 1876-1927 · American racing driver edit info

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Consuelo Vanderbilt · Granddaughter · 1877-1964 · British politician edit info

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Alfred Gwynne Vanderbilt I · Grandson · 1877-1915 · American businessman edit info

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William Kissam Vanderbilt II · Great-grandson · 1878-1944 · American racing driver edit info

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Reginald Claypoole Vanderbilt · Grandson · 1880-1925 · Equestrian edit info

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Harold Stirling Vanderbilt · Grandson · 1884-1970 · American businessman edit info

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Gladys Vanderbilt Széchenyi · Granddaughter · 1886-1965 · American socialite edit info

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Flora Payne Whitney · Great-granddaughter · 1897-1986 · American philanthropist edit info

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John Spencer-Churchill, 10th Duke of Marlborough · Great-grandson · 1897-1972 · British Army officer and peer edit info

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Cornelius Vanderbilt IV · Great-grandson · 1898-1974 · American newspaper publisher edit info

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Lord Ivor Spencer-Churchill · Great-grandson · 1898-1956 · British noble edit info

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Cornelius Vanderbilt Whitney · Great-grandson · 1899-1992 · American businessman edit info

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Cornelia Stuyvesant Vanderbilt · Granddaughter · 1900-1976 · American heiress edit info

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William Henry Vanderbilt III · Great-grandson · 1901-1981 · American philanthropist edit info

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Cathleen Vanderbilt · Great-granddaughter · 1904-1944 · American heiress edit info

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George Washington Vanderbilt III · Great-grandson · 1914-1961 · American scientist edit info

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Gloria Vanderbilt · Great-granddaughter · 1924-2019 · American artist, author, actress, and designer edit info

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George Henry Vanderbilt Cecil · Great-grandson · 1925-2020 · American businessman edit info

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William Amherst Vanderbilt Cecil · Great-grandson · 1928-2017 · American businessman edit info

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John Hammond · Great-grandson · 1955- · Musician edit info

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