The Age of the Trillionaire
The article examines the rise of the first trillionaire, Elon Musk, in the context of historical wealth accumulation. It argues that this milestone reflects a broader trend of increasing wealth concentration among the capital class.
Why it matters
It provides a critical look at economic inequality and the historical trajectory of extreme wealth in the United States.
Illustration by The Atlantic. Source: Brendan Smialowski / AFP / Getty. July 6, 2026, 7 AM ET Share Save Robert Morris migrated from England to the American colonies as a teenager and established himself in the mercantile industry. During the Revolutionary War, his trading ships attacked British vessels and seized their cargo; after the conflict, the Founding Father became a millionaire, likely the country’s first. He later invested in frontier real estate—a good bet made too soon. Morris went bankrupt, spectacularly, and spent the years 1798 to 1801 incarcerated in a Philadelphia debtors’ prison.
The framing emphasizes the 'pulling away' of the capital class from the rest of society, which is a common critique in economic discourse.
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