I created American Moguls after realizing how much the very wealthy men of America have shaped the history of this country from its founding to the present. In American Moguls, I selected 16 individuals I found particularly interesting. Most of the and 19th-century moguls I chose are the epitome of the “rags to riches” legend, some started poor, and some started incredibly poor. In the 20th and 21st centuries, that paradigm shifted to where most of the moguls came from wealthy to very wealthy families. This changed the character of the super-rich. It was not so much a sense of entitlement but a lack of knowing struggle. What drove these men to accumulate such vast fortunes? Some simply wanted the money, but these were fewer than you might think. Some wanted the power money would give them, some wanted celebrity, some wanted to win, some wished to defeat enemies, and a few wanted to share the wealth.

paintings are acrylic on paper, 10" X 10"
(most of the work in this project is available for exhibition or sale — contact markwmcginnis@gmail.com)
click on book cover >Amazon