Standard Oil

Also known as the Standard Oil Trust

Cause of death

Killed by lawsuit

Made by

Standard Oil Co. of New Jersey

The Supreme Court upheld a decree ordering the trust dissolved and gave it six months to break itself apart.

By 1879 Standard Oil owned or controlled 90% of American petroleum production, shipping, refining and sales, assembled through secret railroad rebates and the quiet purchase of anyone who could not match its prices. On 15 May 1911 the Supreme Court upheld the order to dissolve it, inventing the rule of reason on the way and giving the trust six months. The 34 companies that fell out include the ancestors of Exxon, Mobil and Chevron, several of which have since merged back together.