At least the Robber Barons build things

The “robber barons” of the late 19th and early 20th century have a deeply conflicted legacy.

On one hand, they were ruthlessly exploitative and monopolistic – squeezing everything possible out of an underclass for personal gain.

On the other hand, they built and funded a huge amount of hard infrastructure and public goods that we still benefit from today.
Andrew Carnegie alone funded over 2,500 public libraries across the world – many of which are still operating today.

And yet, we still call Carnegie and his peers “robber barons.”

🔍 Which makes me wonder:
What will we call the titans of today?

We’ve seen an unprecedented concentration of wealth in a small number of individuals and companies. They’ve invested enormous energy into amassing unfathomable fortunes – but far less into building the kinds of shared institutions, public spaces, and cultural infrastructure that outlast them.

If Carnegie could point to libraries, museums, and universities… what will this era’s billionaires point to?