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Which rich Freemasons lived in the 1700s and 1800s, and how rich were they?
Research question: Who were the wealthiest documented Freemasons in the 1700s and 1800s, and what were their fortunes worth?
The records show that Louis-Philippe d'Orléans led the Grand Orient de France, the main Freemason body in France 15. In a 1792 court petition, his wife stated his assets were 66,698,000 livres, but his liabilities of 75,234,648 livres, owed to about three thousand creditors, exceeded them 14. Günther Ludwig Stuhlmann, a Freemason, left 2000 Mark Courant to the lodge 'Carl zum Felsen' 68 and 10,000 Mark Courant to the Christianskirche congregation in Ottensen 11. Johann Jakob Astor's estate was worth 20 million dollars in 1848 10, but the facts provided do not link Astor to Freemasonry. For Andrew Carnegie, Max Jüdel, Élisée Nairac and Jean-Baptiste Mareilhac, the sources name them as Freemasons or lodge members but give no fortune figure 13713. The newest dated fact is from 1910, the year of Max Jüdel's death, so none of this describes current wealth 7.
Checked 2026-10-22. Only documented and supported facts are used.
Dig deeper on this questionSources
[1] supported
Élisée Nairac, a Bordeaux shipowner and Freemason, made his fortune in the slave trade.
"l'armateur Élisée Nairac , qui fera fortune dans la traite négrière"Franc-maçonnerie à Bordeaux
[2] supported
Voltaire is categorized in the source as a figure of French Freemasonry.
"Personnalité de la franc-maçonnerie française"Voltaire
[3] supported
Jean-Baptiste Mareilhac, a Bordeaux merchant, shipowner and mayor who was a member of the lodge L'Amitié, profited from the Revolution to increase his fortune.
"Il profite de la tourmente de la Révolution pour accroître sa fortune"Franc-maçonnerie à Bordeaux
[4] supported
Voltaire was documented as initiated into Freemasonry before 1800.
"Personnalité de la franc-maçonnerie initiée avant 1800"Voltaire
[5] supported
Alexandre de Grasse-Tilly, who arrived in Bordeaux in 1804, was ruined following the revolt of enslaved people in Saint-Domingue.
"À la suite de la révolte des esclaves de Saint-Domingue, il est ruin"Franc-maçonnerie à Bordeaux
[6] supported
Günther Ludwig Stuhlmann, a German entrepreneur and patron, was a Freemason who left legacies to the lodges 'Carl zum Felsen' and 'Zu den drei Rosen'.
"Günther Ludwig Stuhlmann war Freimaurer und bedachte die Logen „Carl zum Felsen“ und „Zu den drei Rosen“ mit Legaten."Günther Ludwig Stuhlmann
[7] supported
The document describes Max Jüdel (1845–1910) as a Jewish large-scale industrialist and patron known well beyond Braunschweig, but it gives no figure for his fortune.
"dass sich der weit über Braunschweig hinaus bekannte jüdische Großindustrielle und Mäzen Max Jüdel genötigt sah, aus der Loge auszutreten."Carl zur gekrönten Säule
[8] supported
Stuhlmann left the lodge 'Carl zum Felsen' 2000 Mark Courant, which was used to found the Stuhlmann fund.
"Doch trotz dieser Differenzen hinterließ Stuhlmann der Loge „Carl zum Felsen“ 2000 Mark Courant, mit denen der Stuhlmann-Fonds gegründet wurde."Günther Ludwig Stuhlmann
[9] supported
Stuhlmann received 6000 Mark Courant per year for the use of his land for a gas works in Altona.
"Stuhlmann erhielt jährlich 6000 Mark Courant für die Nutzung des Grundstücks."Günther Ludwig Stuhlmann
[10] supported
Astor left an estate worth 20 million dollars, along with two hotels, a theater, numerous properties, and many shares.
"Er hinterließ ein Vermögen von 20 Millionen Dollar, zwei Hotels, ein Theater, zahlreiche Immobilien und eine Vielzahl von Aktien."Johann Jakob Astor
[11] supported
Stuhlmann bequeathed 10,000 Mark Courant to the congregation of the Christianskirche in Ottensen for a new church tower.
"Ferner bedachte Stuhlmann die Gemeinde der Christianskirche in Ottensen mit einem Legat über 10 000 Mark Courant, die für einen Neubau des Kirchturms bestimmt waren."Günther Ludwig Stuhlmann
[12] supported
Stuhlmann made his will in 1869, directing part of his money toward a public garden in Altona, which led to the Stuhlmannplatz being laid out in 1883.
"1869 machte Stuhlmann sein Testament und bestimmte darin, dass von seinem Geld unter anderem ein öffentlicher Garten in Altona angelegt werden sollte."Günther Ludwig Stuhlmann
[13] supported
The document names the steel magnate Andrew Carnegie as a Freemason, but it gives no figure for his fortune.
"e steel magnate Andrew Carnegie, who funded thousands of public libraries, were both lodge members."Famous Freemasons: A Verified List Through History
[14] supported
In a 1792 court petition, the Duchess of Orléans stated that her husband Philippe d'Orléans had assets valued at 66,698,000 livres, which were absorbed by liabilities of 75,234,648 livres owed to about three thousand creditors.
"Cette requête révèle en outre que l'actif de Philippe, évalué 66 698 000 livres est absorbé par un passif de 75 234 648 livres , réparti entre trois mille créanciers."Louis-Philippe d'Orléans (1747-1793)
[15] supported
Louis-Philippe d'Orléans, the subject of the article, was a leader of the Grand Orient de France, the main Freemason body in France.
"Dirigeant du Grand Orient de France"Louis-Philippe d'Orléans (1747-1793)
[16] supported
The Wikipedia article classes Louis-Philippe d'Orléans's family among eighteenth-century millionaires, and his wife's dowry alone was 6,100,000 livres plus a perpetual annuity of 50,000 livres.
"après avoir reçu en dot 6 100 000 livres et une rente perpétuelle de 50 000 livres"Louis-Philippe d'Orléans (1747-1793)
[17] supported
In his revised will, Franklin gave 1,000 pounds sterling each to the cities of Boston and Philadelphia, to be lent to artisans, counting on 5% interest.
"Finalement, il cède une partie de sa fortune aux villes de Boston et Philadelphie ( 1 000 livres sterling chacune)."Benjamin Franklin
[18] supported
Franklin calculated that the Boston bequest, left to compound for a century, would grow to 131,000 pounds sterling.
"D’après ses calculs, au bout de cent ans, la somme devait s’élever à 131 000 livres sterling."Benjamin Franklin
[19] supported
His sister Marie-Adélaïde de Bourbon became, at age 15, the richest heiress in France after their father's death, inheriting the Penthièvre fortune.
"Sa sœur, Marie-Adélaïde de Bourbon dite « M lle de Penthièvre », par sa mort, devient à 15 ans la plus riche héritière de France."Louis-Philippe d'Orléans (1747-1793)
[20] supported
Franklin's will projected that the compounded funds would reach 4,061,000 pounds sterling after 200 years, available to the state government.
"Au bout de 200 ans la somme devant s’élever à 4 061 000 £ sera à la disposition du gouvernement de l’État."Benjamin Franklin