Vanderbilt family, one of the wealthiest and most prominent families in the United States. The third generation of Vanderbilts—following Cornelius and William Henry Vanderbilt—was led by three of William Henry's four sons: Cornelius (1843–99), William Kissam (1849–1920), and George Washington (1862–1914).

The Vanderbilt family is one of America's most iconic industrial dynasties, rising to prominence during the Gilded Age and leaving an indelible mark on New York City's landscape. The family's fortune began with "Commodore" Cornelius Vanderbilt, who built a massive shipping and railroad empire in the mid-19th century, eventually controlling the New York Central Railroad. At their peak, the Vanderbilts were the wealthiest family in the world, symbolized by their opulent "mansions" along Fifth Avenue—most of which were tragically demolished in the mid-20th century. Their legacy in New York remains visible today through major landmarks like Grand Central Terminal, which was built by the family, and the Whitney Museum of American Art, founded by Gertrude Vanderbilt Whitney. While the family's vast railroad wealth was largely dissipated over subsequent generations due to lavish spending and changes in the transport industry, high-profile descendants like the late Gloria Vanderbilt and her son, journalist Anderson Cooper, have kept the family name in the public consciousness as a symbol of New York’s historic elite.