John Jacob Astor (born Johann Jakob Astor; July 17, 1763 - March 29, 1848) was a German-born American businessman, merchant, real estate mogul, and investor who made his fortune mainly in fur trade. At the time of his death in 1848, Astor was the wealthiest person in the United States, leaving an estate estimated to be worth at least $20 million, or 0.9% of estimated US GDP at the time. Astoria, Oregon (setting of The Goonies) is named after him.

His great-grandson John Jacob Astor IV (July 13, 1864 – April 15, 1912) was an American business magnate, real estate developer, investor, writer, lieutenant colonel in the Spanish–American War, and a prominent member of the Astor family. He died in the sinking of the Titanic during the early hours of April 15, 1912.[1] Astor was the richest passenger aboard the RMS Titanic and was thought to be among the richest people in the world at that time, with a net worth of roughly $87 million (equivalent to $2.64 billion in 2022) when he died. Supposedly, he opposed the formation of the Federal Reserve.