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Where Did The Kennedy Wealth Come From

So, you're curious about the Kennedy wealth, huh? Grab a coffee, let's dive in. You know, like that time we were wondering how the neighbors afford that fancy new car.

Let's start at the beginning

Picture this: 1881, Boston. A guy named P.J. Kennedy starts a small, humble liquor business. Nothing too fancy, right? But here's where it gets interesting. P.J. had a knack for, shall we say, creative bookkeeping. He'd sell his booze to saloons, then buy it back at a discount when they closed for the night. Talk about making a profit off the same bottle!

Now, don't get me wrong, it wasn't all smooth sailing. P.J.'s son, Joe Sr., took over the business and expanded it into banking. But he had a bit of a gambling problem. Lost a fortune on the stock market in the '20s. Ouch!

Enter the political scene

But then, enter politics. Joe Sr.'s son, JFK, becomes the 35th President. And with politics comes power, connections, and, you guessed it, more money. The Kennedy family starts investing in everything from real estate to Hollywood.

Now, you might be thinking, "But didn't they lose a ton of money during the Great Depression?" Well, yes and no. They did lose some, but they also made smart investments. Like buying a bunch of stock in a little company called General Motors. Talk about a comeback!

Diversifying the portfolio

After JFK's presidency, the family started diversifying their portfolio. They invested in everything from airlines to hotels. And let's not forget about the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C. Talk about a family legacy!

American Dynasties, The Kennedys (Part 1): The Power of Wealth - YouTubeAmerican Dynasties, The Kennedys (Part 1): The Power of Wealth - YouTube

And then there's the other Kennedy clan, the ones in the Senate. You know, the ones who keep reminding us that they're not those Kennedys. But let's be real, they're still pretty well-off.

So, where are they now?

Well, according to Forbes, the Kennedy family is worth around $1 billion. Not too shabby, right?

But remember, it's not just about the money. It's about the legacy. And the Kennedys, well, they've got that in spades. From politics to philanthropy, they've left their mark on history. And hey, maybe they'll even teach us a thing or two about making a profit off the same bottle. Who knows?