On the morning of May 23, 1937, the “World Oil King,” John D. Rockefeller, passed away peacefully in his sleep with a serene and composed expression on his face.
By his pillow, his family found a peculiar photograph — a class photo from his elementary school days, in which he was conspicuously absent. What did this photograph, cherished until the end of his life, signify? The fragments of time reflected that on that day, the impoverished young Rockefeller finally had the chance to take a graduation photo. He squeezed in among his classmates, smiling and standing as straight as he could, eagerly awaiting the happy moment. However, due to his shabby and worn-out clothes, the teacher asked him to step aside just before the shutter clicked. Thus, this unfortunate, regretful, and humiliating photograph was left behind.
The boy absent from the photo buried his shame deep in his heart and wrote down two major life goals: to earn US$100,000 and to live to 100 years old. He clearly surpassed the first goal, and although he passed away two months before his 98th birthday, falling short of the second goal by two years and two months, he seemed content with his life’s achievements.
The same boy who was absent from the photo founded Standard Oil at the age of 31. At its peak, it monopolized 90 percent of the U.S. oil market, with a total wealth equivalent of over US$340 billion today. Time is a magician; who could have predicted that the boy who quietly walked out of the frame would later become the first billionaire in the 19th century, creating a legendary life story?
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