Staffing America's Largest Home In the days when George, Edith, and Cornelia Vanderbilt resided at Biltmore, they employed up to 40 staff members who each played a crucial role in the day-to-day operations of the house and stable.

During the Biltmore Estate's "Golden Age" under George Vanderbilt, the house was maintained by a staff of approximately 30 to 40 permanent domestic servants who lived and worked within the 250-room chateau. However, when the house was filled with guests for grand parties, the total staff count for the entire estate—including gardeners, stable hands, and carriage drivers—would swell to roughly 80 to 100 employees. Domestic roles were highly specialized and followed a strict hierarchy, ranging from the butler and head housekeeper to lady's maids, footmen, and scullery maids. The servants were intended to be "invisible" to the guests, utilizing a hidden network of back hallways and a complex system of "slave" (secondary) clocks and call buttons to ensure the 175,000-square-foot home ran perfectly. Despite the massive workload, historical accounts suggest the Vanderbilts were considered relatively benevolent employers, providing their staff with modern (for the time) living quarters and fair treatment.