12. William the Conqueror – peak net worth: $228 billion
The first Norman ruler of England who famously invaded the kingdom in 1066, William the Conqueror seized lands and plundered treasures from Sussex to Yorkshire that would be worth $228 billion in today’s money. He spent his lavish riches on everything from tapestries to castles, including the iconic White Tower at the Tower of London.
11. Jakob Fugger – peak net worth: $277 billion
Fittingly dubbed ‘Jakob the Rich’, this banker, merchant and mining pioneer was Europe’s richest man during the early 16th century. His enormous wealth enabled him to influence the politics of the time, funding the rise of Holy Roman Emperor Maximilian I, as well as bankrolling the Spanish King Charles V.