Crassus for President.

[Actor]

Marcus Licinius Crassus

Best known for putting down the gladiator's revolt lead by Spartacus.
Believed by some scholars to be the richest man who ever lived. It is difficult to make adjustments for inflation over a 2000 year period but he may have had a net worth of over one trillion of today's U.S. dollars.
Portrayed by Laurence Olivier in the movie Spartacus.
Made most of his money in real estate. He trained a company of men to put out fires. He would then buy burning buildings at rock bottom prices and then have his men put out the file. Some believe his fire fighters were not slaves but free men who had a stake in putting out the fire as soon as possible. Some think he may have had a hand in setting properties afire but, given the tender box construction of Rome at the time, this was hardly necessary.
Member of the first Triumvirate, the other two being Pompey and Caesar.
Tried to mimic Caesar's military success in Gaul by invading Persia. He lost the first battle and was killed.
It is said that his head was used as a prop in a play presented to the King of Persia after the battle. Some accounts say that he was killed during the play, forced to change places with the lead actor just before being beheaded. Supposedly the audience did not mind the required suspension of disbelief.

[ArlJim78]

one of the earliest one-percenters.

[Tom]

I'm Spartacus!

[Actor]

one of the earliest one-percenters.More like a 0.01 percenter.

[BlueShoe]

Not a man to admire or mimic. Because of his ambition and folly he was the commander of one of the worst military disasters in Rome's history. In 53 BC he led an ill advised army of 40,000 in a campaign into the Parthian empire. At Carrhae, in what is now modern Turkey, he did battle against a Parthian force only one quarter the size of his own army, and was annihilated, with an estimated 20,000 killed, 10,000 captured and sold into slavery, and only 10,000 surviving. Commanded by a brilliant young general named Surena, the Parthians proved how effective the skillful use of horse archers and heavy cavalry can be against an immobile force of heavy infantry, and history buffs often cite this battle as an example. Besides the loss of his army, Crassus lost his own life and that of his son.

[NJ Stinks]

Not a man to admire or mimic. Because of his ambition and folly he was the commander of one of the worst military disasters in Rome's history. In 53 BC he led an ill advised army of 40,000 in a campaign into the Parthian empire. At Carrhae, in what is now modern Turkey, he did battle against a Parthian force only one quarter the size of his own army, and was annihilated, with an estimated 20,000 killed, 10,000 captured and sold into slavery, and only 10,000 surviving. Commanded by a brilliant young general named Surena, the Parthians proved how effective the skillful use of horse archers and heavy cavalry can be against an immobile force of heavy infantry, and history buffs often cite this battle as an example. Besides the loss of his army, Crassus lost his own life and that of his son.

Good stuff, BlueShoe. :ThmbUp:

[Actor]

Not a man to admire or mimic. Because of his ambition and folly he was the commander of one of the worst military disasters in Rome's history. In 53 BC he led an ill advised army of 40,000 in a campaign into the Parthian empire. At Carrhae, in what is now modern Turkey, he did battle against a Parthian force only one quarter the size of his own army, and was annihilated, with an estimated 20,000 killed, 10,000 captured and sold into slavery, and only 10,000 surviving. Commanded by a brilliant young general named Surena, the Parthians proved how effective the skillful use of horse archers and heavy cavalry can be against an immobile force of heavy infantry, and history buffs often cite this battle as an example. Besides the loss of his army, Crassus lost his own life and that of his son.He didn't know when to quit while he was ahead. He should have stayed home, up to his neck in t|t$ and @$$.

Interesting parallel between Crassus and David Crocket. Crocket was definitely not rich, but both men left failed political careers, got involved in a foreign war, and died in battle.