The Rich Live Longer, Too

David Rockefeller in 1981, when he retired as Chairman
of Chase Manhattan Bank (WSJ photo)

When John D. Rockefeller was born in 1839, Martin Van Buren was President. The Civil War was still 22 years away, and there were only 26 States.

John D. Rockefeller's last surviving grandchild, David Rockefeller, died yesterday at the age of 101.

John D. Rockefeller was by some measures the richest man in history. Not only did he bequeath immense wealth to his descendants, he apparently blessed them with genes of extraordinary longevity. John D. died at the age of 97.

The American experiment isn't as old as it seems.