Jack Kinov

Jack Theodore Kinov, born Iakob Fyodorovich Kinov (: Якоб Федорович Кинов; December 25, 1826 – January 13, 1914) was a Stasnovan-born Odentian, , and. He is considered to be the wealthiest person in modern history. By the time of his death in 1914, his company, Elysian General Industrial Company, had significant operations in Acronia, Odentia, (add yer countries here).

Born into a poor family in urban Stasnov, he became a general laborer on the Vastava-Noyabrynsk line at age 14 before moving to Odentia to find work at 18. In 1852, he founded the Elysian Steam Navigation Company, commonly known as the Blue Band Line. The success of the Blue Band Line allowed him to expand into railways with the Murgris & Madesclaire Line and steel with the construction of the Barré-Karrigan Industrial City. In 1866, he merged the Murgris & Madesclaire Line into the Blue Band Line and founded the Elysian General Industrial Company to manage a rapidly-growing network of factories and refineries.

By the late 1860s, Kinov had begun drafting plans for what would become the Pan-Vesperian Railroad. He publicly announced these plans in 1869 in a presentation before King Marcus II of Odentia, who gave the project his enthusiastic support. Kinov's original plan for the line would run through Stasnov, Gorbatov, Vazandia, Tenburg, Volgaria, Verdesa before terminating in Barré-Karrigan with expansion service to destinations in Acronia. However, at the behest of the Acronian government, the line was rerouted to split near the Acerrian-Verdesan border with one spur running to Acronia and the other to Odentia and Lyonia.

Kinov was initially resistant to this plan, worrying privately that he stood to lose profit to Acronian companies. However, in 1872, the Elysian General Industrial Company, in what may be the largest business deal in history, purchased over 20 Acronian steel mills, while the Blue Band Line established luxury locomotive and rolling stock factories in both Acronia and Odentia. Kinov allowed the split route to be constructed.

The 1884 completion of the Pan-Vesperian Railroad, largely with Elysian General steel, and the subsequent economic growth of countries along its route increased the demand for steel and trains greatly; by this time, Kinov was the richest man in the world.

Kinov retired in 1886 to his mansion in Madesclaire to focus on philanthropy. He donated heavily in Acronia and Odentia, creating foundations in education, scientific research, and the arts and awarding them hefty endowments.