William Kissam Vanderbilt
Quick Summary
William Kissam Vanderbilt was a prominent figure in the third generation of the wealthy Vanderbilt family in the United States. While his father, William Henry Vanderbilt, was a railroad magnate, and his brother, Cornelius, was deeply involved in family business, William Kissam had less interest in business affairs.12
He worked with his brother Cornelius in managing the family's investments but eventually turned over the management of the railroads to an outside firm in 1903. William Kissam then focused on his philanthropic, social, and sporting interests. He was significantly involved with the Metropolitan Opera, art collecting, and yacht racing, notably retaining the America's Cup for the United States in 1895.2
Ask Britannica AI about this topic
Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.
