John D. Rockefeller was an American industrialist and philanthropist who founded the Standard Oil Company in 1870. He is widely considered to be one of the wealthiest people in history, and his wealth was largely derived from the oil industry. He was also a major philanthropist, donating large sums of money to various causes throughout his life. The term 'Rockefeller' is often associated with oysters, as he was known for his love of the delicacy.