A History of the World's Wealthy

In A World History of the Rich, French historian Fabrice d'Almeida delivers a masterclass in social and economic history, taking readers behind the velvet curtains of elite financial power. d'Almeida examines the transformation of wealth across modern eras, analyzing how high society evolved from traditional aristocratic dynasties and industrial moguls to jet-set elites and digital-age billionaires. The book dissects the socio-economic mechanics that preserve vast fortunes, demonstrating how wealth—when it far exceeds material need—transforms into an ideology, a distinct lifestyle, and an institutionalized network of political and cultural influence. Through compelling historical case studies, d'Almeida maps the intermarriages, inheritance structures, and scandals that define the global elite. Ultimately, the text reveals how money is weaponized to secure leverage over politics, media, and public institutions, offering a gripping, critical portrait of global oligarchy.

It offers an eye-opening, rigorously researched historical journey into the hidden mechanics of global wealth, equipping readers with critical tools to understand how financial dynasties build, maintain, and exercise systemic power.

Ideal for students and scholars of modern history, political sociology, economics, international relations, and general readers fascinated by the history of global elites, capitalism, and social power dynamics.