Fiercely ambitious and with the intellect and savvy to match, Andrew Carnegie left behind grinding poverty in his native Scotland at the age of 12 to start a new life in America.

Despite his impoverished roots, Carnegie became the world's richest person. And unlike some other business tycoons of the Gilded Age period, Carnegie was as generous as he was successful, ultimately giving away his entire fortune.

Read on to discover the deep-pocketed tycoon's incredible journey from poverty to prosperity.

All dollar amounts in US dollars