Gould family

The Gould family is a wealthy American family that came to prominence in the late 19th century. The family's fortune was primarily earned through a railroad empire built by Jason "Jay" Gould, a notorious "robber baron" during the Gilded Age. At its height, this network comprised the Denver & Rio Grande, Missouri Pacific, Wheeling & Lake Erie, Wabash, Texas Pacific, Western Maryland and International-Great Northern railroads among others. By the early 20th century, the Goulds lost control over virtually all these railroads largely due to mismanagement by Jay's son, George Jay Gould. Despite losing the source of much of their wealth, subsequent generations of the family continued to be involved in business, philanthropy, and politics.