Cornelius vanderbilt robber baron political cartoon

For other uses, see Robber baron (disambiguation).

"Robber baron" is a derogatory metaphor of social criticism originally applied to certain late 19th-century American businessmen who used unscrupulous methods to get rich.

Usage

The term robber baron derives from the Raubritter (robber knights), the medieval Germanlords who charged nominally illegal tolls (unauthorized by the Holy Roman Emperor) on the primitive roads crossing their lands^[1] or larger tolls along the Rhine river &#; all without adding anything of value, but instead lining their pockets at the cost of the common good (rent seeking).

The metaphor appeared as early as February 9, , when The New York Times used it to characterize the unethical business practices by Cornelius Vanderbilt. Historian T.J. Stiles says the metaphor, "conjures up visions of titanic monopolists who crushed competitors, rigged markets, and corrupted government. In their greed and power, legend has it,