Many ancient emperors possessed more wealth than today’s billionaires put together. Historians believe that Augustus Caesar accumulated a fortune worth trillions of dollars in today’s money during his reign over several of the world’s most powerful nations, including Egypt. In 2023, the net worth of Augustus Caesar was around $5.8 trillion.
In 2014, Stanford history professor Ian Morris argued that Augustus was the sole proprietor of Egypt, as well as the Roman Empire, which accounted for 25% to 30% of global economic activity. According to Morris, Augustus was once so wealthy that he controlled 20% of the Roman Empire’s economic output. The net worth of Augustus Caesar was projected to be $4.6 trillion in 2014, which equals $5.8 trillion or €5.3 trillion in 2023 USD.
How Augustus Became the Man With the Highest Net Worth
Augustus was a man of incredible fortune, the wealthiest in Roman history, and one of the wealthiest of all time. Augustus ruled most of the known globe at the time of his promotion to the position of “princeps,” or “first citizen,” including Egypt and much of Europe. To put Augustus’ enormous net worth into perspective, consider that the Roman General Marcus Licinius Crassus, a contemporary of Augustus Caesar, earned a legendary fortune from the sale of slaves and earnings from his family’s silver mines, which is only worth around $350 billion in today’s money.
Despite being born into a senatorial family and having a wealthy uncle in Julius Caesar, Augustus was not wealthy until Caesar died and left him his vast inheritance. Caesar had conquered half of Europe and exhausted the imperial treasury, making Augustus the empire’s wealthiest man.
Read Also: Warren Buffett Net Worth 2023: What You Need
Later, after capturing Marc Antony and Cleopatra and adding Egypt’s great resources to his own, Augustus became the first Emperor of Rome. The net worth of Augustus Caesar soared tenfold as a direct result of Egypt’s defeat. This figure, estimated to be at least one-third of the Roman Empire’s GDP, allowed Augustus to fund the whole Roman military and other big undertakings, leaving a pleasant legacy for his descendants.
Augustus’ net worth puts him 30 to 45 times richer than Jeff Bezos ($125 billion) and Elon Musk ($180 billion), respectively. According to economist Angus Maddison, the entire GDP of the Roman Empire in 2023 dollars was $57 billion. It’s difficult to estimate the extent of his riches. Today, the combined fortune of the world’s ten wealthiest persons is barely $1.2 trillion.
Because Augustus’ money dwarfed that of the world’s richest people at the time. Augustus personally financed about 30 legions and the grain dole, ancient Rome’s welfare system. Given how much the United States spends on defense, infrastructure, and social programs each year, Augustus would be worth at least $2.5 trillion if he were still living today. Augustus Caesar possessed more wealth than many current countries.
Historical Clues Regarding Augustus’ Net Worth
As Caesar’s adoptive son and heir, Augustus was to inherit 75% of his father’s fortune, according to Suetonius. Caesar inherited multiple lands and a large fortune from his victories. We don’t know what his net worth was when he died, but he was most likely the wealthiest Roman.
However, given that Caesar left 300 Sestertii to each freeborn Roman citizen, it is reasonable to believe that this treasure was substantial. At the time, there were approximately 250,000 freeborn citizens in Rome, and one Sestertius was worth approximately $4.25 in today’s money. As a result, Caesar left 75 million Sestertii, or around $320 million, to the citizenry alone.
Read Also: Jeff Bezos Net Worth 2023: How he Became a Billioniare?
Marc Anthony, who saw Augustus as a threat, had to give his permission for the fortune to be transferred. Augustus assembled a private army with the support of Caesar’s former troops and struck a deal with the Senate. As a result, he became a member of the Second Triumvirate and participated in their patrimony. When the Roman triumvirate fell apart, Augustus became dictator and devised a system to solidify his power.
Augustus governed Egypt as if it were his personal domain, transferring funds between the public and private sectors as he saw fit. Augustus’ own fortune benefited the whole population. As attested in Res Gestae Divi Augusti, Augustus disbursed more than 600,000,000 Sestertii from his “private” riches for public enterprises.
This corresponds to almost $2.6 billion in 2023 dollars. The reversing flow of funds is puzzling. Furthermore, affluent Roman citizens had the option of giving a piece of their territory to the emperor Augustus as political cover, as the general Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa or the wealthy political counselor Gaius Maecenas were known to do.
Augustus Owed His Net Worth to Julius Caesar
Augustus attributed his status as one of the world’s wealthiest men to the killing of his adopted father and great uncle, Gaius Julius Caesar. Soon after, Octavian, as he was still known at the time, rallied his men and mercilessly defeated his opponents.
But it wasn’t until the Senate bestowed upon him the honorary name Augustus that he garnered broad recognition and support from the general populace for deposing the old aristocratic families and ending the civil war. The Roman capital and provinces were finally at peace.
Octavius was born into an affluent family, though not one of Rome’s elite. He was the absolute ruler of the Roman Empire by the age of 40, thanks to his political acumen, the power he obtained from his relationship with Julius Caesar, and a state loan of roughly $40 billion (in today’s currency). While he shared considerable power with the Senate, he was primarily in charge of the Empire’s provinces (known as “Imperial Provinces”).
Read Also: Bernard Arnault’s Net Worth 2023: Does He Own Gucci?
Augustus possessed a quarter of the Roman Empire, which was worth an estimated $5.8 trillion in today’s money, or the GDP of five of the fifty states in the United States.
Augustus was frequently depicted as Jupiter, the most venerated god in the Roman pantheon. No current billionaire can claim to be as wealthy as Augustus Caesar unless he or she controls five US states and has god-like powers.
For many, Augustus is the most beautiful month of the year, and even religious people who care less about politics are familiar with his name. In the biblical story, Mary and Joseph were forced to go to Bethlehem due to a census ordered by Augustus Caesar (despite the fact that Augustus never ordered a census for the entire Roman Empire in the historical records).
The Roman Economy Thrived While Augustus Was in Charge
The business prospered, towns expanded, and creative people rejoiced under Augustus Caesar. During this time, Rome was responsible for more than a quarter of global GDP, and Augustus, according to traditional history, was either astute or unscrupulous enough to take a fifth for himself. That translates to an astonishing $5.8 trillion or €5.3 trillion in today’s currency.
Augustus Caesar, famous for his victories, is sometimes referenced in the same breath as Napoleon Bonaparte. Augustus may have made life easier for his citizens within the empire, but it was certainly intolerable for those on the outside.
Read Also: BILL GATES NET WORTH 2023: Is He The Richest Person in History?
Augustus, the first emperor of the Roman Republic, took the example of his adoptive father, Julius Caesar, and escalated the already uncompromising conquering efforts to new heights. He conquered Egypt, and Cantabria, and marched his troops even further north, into Germany.
Augustus Caesar never rushed to celebrate his successes. He died at the age of 76, making him an utter Methuselah at a time when the average life expectancy at birth was 25 years. Even more astonishing, Augustus successfully installed his stepson Tiberius as his successor, and Tiberius got a sizable percentage of Augustus’ net worth.
Interesting Facts About Augustus Caesar
Let’s look at some Augustus Caesar facts you probably didn’t know:
#1. Julius Caesar was his great-uncle and adopted father.
Augustus was born on September 23, 63 B.C. in a place about 25 miles southeast of Rome. His father was a senator who died when he was four years old, and his mother was Caesar’s niece. Augustus, as a child, most likely saw little to no of his legendary great-uncle, who was out invading Gaul. He eventually won Caesar’s trust and began spending more time with him, particularly during a military campaign in Spain.
#2. Augustus was not his birth name.
After being adopted by his great-uncle, he changed his name to Gaius Julius Caesar Octavianus, also known as Octavian. Seventeen years later, the Senate bestowed upon him the name Augustus, which means “Revered One.”
#3. His sister married his fiercest rival.
Following Caesar’s death, Augustus assembled an army and went to battle with Mark Antony, Caesar’s former deputy who also saw himself as the conqueror’s political heir. After defeating Antony in his first fight, Augustus marched on Rome and was chosen consul, the highest office in the Roman Republic.
He then formed the Second Triumvirate, in which he, Antony, and Marcus Aemilius Lepidus agreed to divide Rome’s provinces among themselves. As one of their first tasks, they collaborated to beat Caesar’s assassins. Meanwhile, Antony married Augustus’ sister, and Augustus married Antony’s stepdaughter, to cement the partnership. However, neither the marriage nor the trio lasted.
#4. The month of August was named after him.
In 8 B.C., Rome was in a period of relative peace and prosperity, and the Senate chose to rename the month of Sextilis after Augustus. Augustus had first become consul and had achieved his last victory over Antony and Cleopatra during that month, according to the Senate’s edict. It was the month following July (originally Quintilis), which had recently been renamed Julius Caesar.
#5. He sent his own daughter into exile.
Augustus, a staunch supporter of traditional values, built and restored numerous temples during his reign, encouraged marriage and childbirth and criminalized adultery despite reputedly being a serial adulterer himself. When he realized that his only child, Julia, had been sleeping with various powerful men, including Mark Antony’s son, he banished her to the rugged island of Ventotene in 2 B.C. He never saw her again after allowing her to transfer to a less isolated location.
Who was the Richest Caesar?
Augustus Caesar, usually known as Octavian, was the first Roman Emperor, reigning from 27 BC to 14 AD. As the founder of the Roman Principate, he established a legacy as one of the greatest leaders in human history.
Was Mansa Musa or Augustus Caesar Richer?
Mansa Musa’s fortune dwarfed Augustus Caesar’s estimated $ 4.6 trillion. He was the wealthiest person in history, with a fortune that could never be imagined or equaled.
Who was the Greatest Emperor and Richest Man of all Time?
According to historians, the richest person ever to walk the world was a 14th-century West African prince named Mansa Musa, whose wealth was “indescribable” and “incomprehensible,” according to the BBC.
Who was the First Billionaire?
In 1916, John D Rockefeller was recognized as the world’s first billionaire in newspaper headlines. Rockefeller gave much of his money and assets to his heirs and philanthropies near the end of his life.
How Much Money Did Caesar Give to Rome?
Caesar’s influence on the city of Rome lasted long after his death when he ordered in his will that his villa, the gardens around it, and his art gallery be made public. He also divided his fortune among the citizens of Rome, leaving 300,000 sesterces to everyone.
Conclusion
The first Roman emperor, who governed the enormous empire from 27 BC until his death in AD 14, had a personal fortune equal to 20% of the empire’s economy, which is now worth $4.63 trillion (£3.28trn). Augustus even had control of Egypt at one point.
He was the first African ruler to become well-known in Europe and the Middle East, and he is often recognized as the richest person who ever lived. His wealth dwarfs that of anyone alive today. This page has thoroughly investigated everything about Augustus Caesar, including his net worth. Enjoy!
Related Articles
- LUXURY WATCHES FOR WOMEN: TOP 10 EXPENSIVE WATCHES
- Private Wealth Management: Overview & 10 Best Private Management Firms in 2023
- Trade Name: Simple Guide to Trade Name Registration in the UK
- Trillion dollar companies list 2019/2020
- 5 Easiest Things You Can do to earn extra cash for Christmas [with guide]
References
