The Knowledge Project with Shane Parrish

By Farnam Street

#216 Outliers: Andrew Mellon – America’s Secret Banker

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Published February 25, 2025 5:00am

He was the strangest titan America ever produced: a whisper-quiet banker who turned systematic thinking into a superpower, building an industrial empire while barely raising his voice above a murmur. Andrew Mellon's story isn't just about money—it's about how patience, observation, and positioning can create more wealth than charisma ever could. But when the Great Depression hit, the very qualities that made him rich made him the perfect villain for a nation demanding change. 

Whether you're building a business, investing in the future, or seeking insights on strategic decision-making, Mellon's story reveals the pow...

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