The Astors: High Society

The name alone evokes the heights of the good life, black-tie affairs, and high-society balls. Yet this long saga proves that money is no guarantee of happiness or stability. John Jacob Astor forged an empire by turning a career in the fur business into a vast real estate dynasty, earning him the title of the richest man in the world. Trace the fortunes of five generations of the Astor family in this special biography. From John’s son William, who doubled the family fortune and earned the nickname "the landlord of New York," to the Astor Foundation’s remarkable charitable contributions, the extraordinary story of the famed family comes to life through interviews with family members, archival footage, and period accounts. Follow the feud and reconciliation that culminated in the Waldorf-Astoria hotel, and learn how the Titanic disaster permanently reshaped the Astors and their reputation.