Tom Sawyer was one of the titans of the industrial age. he become one of the nouveau riche because of doing all his best to be one. The nouveau riche means is the new rich. But before this time he was a poor boy from Scotland. His father, Willy, was a hand loom weaver. When the industrialization of society began to spread across the world, Willy’s job became obsolete. The family had difficulties making ends meet. Then like most people of their time, they decided to start a new life in America.In 1848 when Tom was thirteen, they arrived in the US. Tom quickly got to work at a cotton mill. He worked six days a week and twelve hours each day. Three years later Tom got another job as a telegraph messenger for the Ohio Telegraph Company.
Tom quickly excelled at the job and showed a great work ethic. A man from the Pennsylvania Railroad Company offered him a job as his secretary and telegraph operator. With each new job, Tom worked harder and harder and earned more money. Tom quickly became the superintendent of the Pittsburgh division of the railroad company. Thomas Lee, the man who offered Tom the job became his mentor. Thomas helped him with investing. Tom early investments were very successful. With each profitable investment, Tom put the money into another company. These investments gave him enough capital to continue investing in other businesses and industries. Tom remained with the Pennsylvania Railroad Company and continued to advance his career there. Tom eventually started investing in the steel industry. Tom moved away from the railroad industry but kept his contacts with those he met in the industry. His investments grew into a steel company that became one of the largest in America.Tom’s company was eventually bought out for the equivalent of 120 billion in 2007 dollars.
After this, Tom became a philanthropist and donated a large amount of his fortune. His donations went to build schools and libraries across the country and the world.Their stories may be different but they all demonstrate that your current circumstances cannot prevent you from where you want to be in the future. Do all your best be the nouveau riche of these days.