They Bought the World, But Refused to Buy a Life: The Fateful Moment of the Titanic’s Two Richest Men. .m

On the night of April 14, 1912, the great Titanic struck an iceberg. Instead of being a symbol of luxury and power, it became a place where the true character of man was tested. In that moment of life and death, two of the richest men in the world made a choice that would shock all of humanity.

Millionaire John Jacob Astor IV, who owned enough wealth to build 30 Titanics, was faced with the chance to survive. But he did something few expected: he gave up his place in a lifeboat to two frightened children, even though he could have “bought” a place. For him, money could build great ships, but it could not buy dignity.

Isidor Straus, the boss of the retail empire Macy’s, also refused his privilege. “I will never get on a lifeboat while there are women and children on board,” he declared. The decision was not his alone. His wife, Ida Straus, also refused to get on the boat, giving her place to the maid, Ellen Bird. She chose to stay, holding her husband’s hand, saying the last emotional words: “Wherever you go, I will go with you.”

They did not die because of lack of money, but because they chose death to retain values ​​that were more noble than money and life: courage, sacrifice and true love. Their story is not a tragedy, but an epic about humanity, about the beauty of civilization and human nature.

So, if you were faced with that choice, what would you do?