Top 10 richest people in history by Time magazine

10. Genghis Khan

The last in the top 10 richest rulers in the history of one of the most successful military commanders of all time, the founder of the Mongol Empire, Genghis Khan.

Genghis Khan, undoubtedly one of the most successful military commanders of all time. He led the largest in human history, the Mongol Empire, which at its height stretched from China to Europe. However, historians say that Genghis Khan never hoarded wealth. On the other hand, the generosity of the Khan was the key to his influence.

“One of the cornerstones of its success has been a tradition to divide the spoil with the other commanders and ordinary wars”, – says Morris Rossabi (Morris Rossabi), emeritus professor of history at Queens College of the City University of New York (Queens College, City University of New York).

Jack Weatherford (Jack Weatherford), author of the book “Genghis Khan and the birth of the modern world» (Genghis Khan and the Making of the Modern World) explains that the Mongol horsemen, as opposed to “military personnel” of many other armies of the time, it was forbidden to have a trophy .

After the conquest of the territory of each item of inventory subject to special officials and only then distributed among military personnel and their families. Of course, Genghis Khan received its share of production, but it hardly made him rich.

“He has not built a palace for himself or his family, nor the temple, nor the grave, not even a house,” – says Weatherford. – “He was born and died in a felt yurt. After the death of his was wrapped in a shroud, as well as any other Mongol, and then buried. “