History’s most famous figure is Napoleon Bonaparte, the French man of war and politics. Although famous for his conquests and military strategies that ultimately made the Napoleonic Empire, Napoleon was above all else a man with great ambition, power and wealth. That said, it’s not a simple matter to determine the exact net worth of such a historic individual in large part because we don’t have a ton of financial records from the early 19th century. In this article we’ll discover how much Napoleon Bonaparte was worth how he amassed it and its effects on the succession and legacy of the man himself.

Early Life and Rise to Power

Napoleon was born August 15,1769 in Corsica and his life was hardly anything to write home about. His noble ancestry gave him some opportunities though he came from a relatively poor family. Napoleon became a young boy of 10 years old, going to military school in France where he excelled in the art of mathematics and amounted to artillery. He joined the French army as second lieutenant at the age of 16.

The French Revolution was so chaotic that it allowed ambitious men like Napoleon to climb to power. He staged a coup d’état in 1799 and became the ruler of France in 1804 and finally named himself emperor. During this time the Napoleonic Empire was established in Spain to the west and Russia to the east. Not only did this expansion enrich Napoleon and his regime but it soaked the empire with Napoleon’s military conquests.

Sources of Napoleon’s Wealth

Napoleon’s wealth was amassed from a mixture of state resources and war and from personal assets. Before becoming emperor he had much use of the great French treasury which was large at times but would often run low because of his expensive military ventures. Some of the key sources of Napoleon’s wealth include:

Control of France’s Treasury: Napoleon was the ruler of France and so he had the power to dictate how those resources including gold reserves, taxes and state owned assets were used. And he had also kept under his control a mighty system of tribute from the lands he had conquered which increased his wealth.

Loot and Plunder: Like most conquerors before him Napoleon ratcheted up his fortune and that of his empire through looting. He took large sums of money, art and treasures during his military campaigns. Much of this wealth was used to keep paying for his continued expansion and his army, but some of it ended up in his bank.

Control of European Territories: Napoleon’s empire included Italy Spain and parts of Germany. That control allowed him to take wealth from these territories through taxes and resources. The Napoleonic Wars were enormously expensive but they also raised considerable revenues from the territories he ruled or was able to influence.

Personal Investments: Napoleon’s personal wealth records are quite rare, but we know he also invested in several properties while he was around. When he was exiled to the island of Elba he led a life in a small palace from a considerable personal income that he had bought with various assets.

The Decline of Napoleon’s Wealth

But even after his triumphs in battle in the years that followed Napoleon was losing his fortune and losing his power despite his vast power and the wealth that came with it. The French treasury was drained during the Napoleonic Wars so much so that the country was left ruined. His empire was simply stretched too thin and the wars kept us all going all out costing him everything he had as well as our morale.

In 1813 Napoleon was defeated at the Battle of Leipzig and forced to abdicate and was exiled to the Island of Elba in 1814. Although he held some wealth and status as ruler of Elba his finances were nothing to do with the Praetorian sums he was used to. After his final defeat at the Battle of Waterloo he was exiled to the remotest of islands  the South Atlantic Ocean island of Saint Helena.

Napoleon’s Wealth After Exile

Napoleon spent a large part of his life in relative isolation on the British controlled island of Saint Helena. By the time he died the money he made in America had been nearly swallowed up and he had to rely on his French estate, along with a small British government pension. By the time he died in 1821 Napoleon’s personal fortune had been cut to a fraction of its imperial times.

However, Napoleon’s incarnation remains associated with huge wealth, both personalized and imperial. His reign had a marked effect not only on European politics culture and legal systems but also on civil law systems throughout the world, most notably with the Napoleonic Code.

How Much Was Napoleon Bonaparte’s Net Worth?

Napoleon’s net worth has been estimated at various levels, but knowing who ruled Europe at the height of his power several million dollars (when adjusted for inflation) are probably reasonable. According to some historians his assets including the wealth he extracted from the occupied territories may have amounted to the equivalent of some $100 million USD today.

Unfortunately with the chaotic nature of his reign and minimal financial records it’s hard to know exactly. However what is clear is that Napoleon’s wealth was not simply earned in the way of his military genius but in fact in the acquisition of resources of a vast empire.

Conclusion

There are no easy methods to determine Napoleon Bonaparte’s wealth for example. Napoleon’s finances were central to the sustenance of his empire, making it central to the looting of Europe and from the control of massive French treasury to the despoiling of Europe. Yet in his case as in many others, the downfall and exile resulted in most of the wealth he had accumulated being lost. But for all that Napoleon’s legacy endures his name evoking power ambition if not influence.

For a more detailed exploration of Napoleon’s life, wealth, and legacy, check out this informative video on YouTube: Napoleon Bonaparte: The Man Who Ruled an Empire.