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- John Jacob Astor built his fortune in the fur business and New York real estate.
- John Jacob Astor III and William Backhouse Astor Jr. cofounded the Waldorf-Astoria after a feud.
- Modern Astor descendants have been politicians, philanthropists, and British royal associates.
Astoria, Queens. Astor Place. The Waldorf-Astoria. Even if you're not a New Yorker, you've heard of these iconic places. You also probably know they're named for one very powerful family: the Astors.
To this day, the Astors' money and influence still make waves in society.