Synopsis
The legendary Levi’s jeans, Heinz Tomato Ketchup, Boeing planes, precious Steinway pianos and the legendary Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in New York.“Pioneers Turned Millionaires” is a five-part series that delves deep into the stories of five German entrepreneurs who redefined American economy and left a major imprint on American culture.
Five visionary entrepreneurs from the ‘old world’ redefined the economy of the ‘new world’ and left a major imprint on American culture. Levi Strauss, Henry E. Steinway, William E. Boeing, John Jacob Astor and Henry J. Heinz – one can hardly ignore their names or products anywhere in the world today.
„Pioneers turned Millionaires“ tells in 5 episodes stories of innovation, courage, persistency, hard work and success in a strange new country. Using high-end reconstructions and exquisite archive footage, this series presents one of the most fascinating and exciting eras of American economic history. How did these five men who all started out as immigrants become archetypical self-made millionaires who even now epitomize the American success story? We visit the companies of Levi Strauss & Co., Steinway & Sons, Heinz and Boeing. We see how each of their founders had novel and brilliant ideas for establishing a company and gaining fame, honour and wealth. These biographies are the definitive portraits of these five entrepreneurial giants; businessmen who have their homeland in common and their place in history secured. They had left for economic, social, political or religious reasons – but all to find a better life in the United States.
• William Edward Boeing - The dream of flying
• Henry Steinway – A legend is born
• John Jacob Astor - America‘s richest man
• Henry John Heinz – A passion for ketchup
• Levi Strauss - A life for jeans