a) John D. Rockefeller

John D. Rockefeller, an icon of American industry and philanthropy, founded Standard Oil in 1870, making it the first American multimillion-dollar corporation. His business practices, which included consolidating and controlling the oil industry, set a precedent for corporate structure and management. Rockefeller’s approach to business, characterized by aggressive expansion and integration of all aspects of oil production, led to immense wealth and economic power. This, in turn, prompted significant legal and social changes in how corporations were regulated, leading to the enactment of antitrust laws. Rockefeller’s legacy is a complex tapestry of immense wealth, philanthropy, and the birth of modern corporate America.