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April 18, 1521, Martin Luther faces Emperor Charles the V in the Heylshof Garden to defend the infamous 95 Theses. Few people noticed the quiet banker in the room, simply known as “Jakob the Rich.” Jakob is a common merchant who will become the richest person who’s ever lived. Jakob will go on to accumulate a personal net worth equivalent to 2% of Europe’s GDP at the time.
Jakob’s net worth is basically Bill Gates + Warren Buffet + Jeff Bezos combined — then doubled.
Who the was Jakob the Rich? Why was he at Martin Luther’s trial? How did he get so damn rich? Well, he was a data-hungry banker looking after his investment.
Over the previous 16 years, Jakob had been lending the Catholic Church money — and the Pope had racked up an enormous debt. In order to pay off those debts, the Church launched a campaign for people to pay to have themselves and their deceased family members absolved of all sins....
What I Learned About Business From the Richest Man Who Ever Lived. The leader of the Protestant Revolution, the Emperor, and the richest man to ever live walk into a room in1521.
Once in a while you come across a post that is rich with ideas. This is one of them. Sam Balter shares a very enjoyable, creative post. Recommended reading! 10/10