robber baron
noun
1
: an American capitalist of the latter part of the 19th century who became wealthy through exploitation (as of natural resources, governmental influence, or low wage scales)
2
: a business owner or executive who acquires wealth through ethically questionable tactics
Example Sentences
Recent Examples on the Web The guest rooms are outfitted with furnishings that would fit well in the backwoods manor of a Gilded Age robber baron. 
Boyce Upholt, Outside Online, 10 Aug. 2022 The vision of an aging robber baron named Henry Flagler, the route took thousands of workers seven years to complete. Tony Perrottet, WSJ, 15 Aug. 2022 Tim Scully and Nicholas Sand—were bankrolled by the freaky scions of the Mellon robber baron dynasty. Wired, 28 July 2022 Stories about American capitalism tend to have a recognizable villain: the robber baron, the business tycoon, the financial investor, your boss. Jane Hu, The Atlantic, 26 May 2022 And nonprofits can behave just as poorly as any rapacious robber baron. Darius Tahir, Fortune, 18 May 2022 The charges were dropped and Flagler, bristling at accusations of acting like a heartless robber baron, improved conditions, but the six-day work week on the Keys remained grueling. Tony Perrottet, Smithsonian Magazine, 22 Feb. 2022 As robber baron and new money billionaire, George Russell (Morgan Spector) wields an abundance of power on the HBO series, which has just been renewed for season 2. Maureen Lee Lenker, EW.com, 15 Feb. 2022 Outside of the Rams’ modern-day robber baron owner Stan Kroenke, McVay has more at stake than anyone in the upcoming Super Bowl. Dylan Hernández, Los Angeles Times, 1 Feb. 2022 See More
Boyce Upholt, Outside Online, 10 Aug. 2022 The vision of an aging robber baron named Henry Flagler, the route took thousands of workers seven years to complete. Tony Perrottet, WSJ, 15 Aug. 2022 Tim Scully and Nicholas Sand—were bankrolled by the freaky scions of the Mellon robber baron dynasty. Wired, 28 July 2022 Stories about American capitalism tend to have a recognizable villain: the robber baron, the business tycoon, the financial investor, your boss. Jane Hu, The Atlantic, 26 May 2022 And nonprofits can behave just as poorly as any rapacious robber baron. Darius Tahir, Fortune, 18 May 2022 The charges were dropped and Flagler, bristling at accusations of acting like a heartless robber baron, improved conditions, but the six-day work week on the Keys remained grueling. Tony Perrottet, Smithsonian Magazine, 22 Feb. 2022 As robber baron and new money billionaire, George Russell (Morgan Spector) wields an abundance of power on the HBO series, which has just been renewed for season 2. Maureen Lee Lenker, EW.com, 15 Feb. 2022 Outside of the Rams’ modern-day robber baron owner Stan Kroenke, McVay has more at stake than anyone in the upcoming Super Bowl. Dylan Hernández, Los Angeles Times, 1 Feb. 2022 See More Word History
First Known Use
1878, in the meaning defined at sense 1