<P> (81 years) </P> <Tr> <Td> Henry Ford </Td> <Td> 1863--1947 <P> (84 years) </P> </Td> <Td> 188--199 </Td> <Td> Henry Ford was an American automotive engineer, entrepreneur, and founder of the Ford Motor Company . Through his designing of the Model T Ford and employing the assembly line means of rapid production, he was able to lower the base price of his product in order to reach a wider market . As production increased, Ford further reduced prices and increased salaries to reduce worker turnover . This resulted in a rapid increase in output, with Ford production rising from roughly 18,000 cars in 1909 to over 1 million cars in 1920 . Despite Ford stating that his focus was increasing Ford Motor Company's benefit to society and to its employees, even at one point being sued by the Dodge brothers based on this premise, his company was massively profitable . His highest earnings were recorded at age 57 and he died at the age of 83 in 1947 at a net worth of US $188.1 billion (inflation - adjusted value in 2008 dollars). </Td> </Tr> <P> (84 years) </P> <Tr> <Td> John Jacob Astor </Td> <Td> 1763--1848 <P> (85 years) </P> </Td> <Td> 120--138 </Td> <Td> American businessman, merchant, opium smuggler, fur trader, and investor . In 1801, Astor's nominal wealth was some US $250,000, and by the time of his death in 1848 his fortune had grown to US $20 million, making him America's first multi-millionaire . </Td> </Tr>

Who has had the most money in the world