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Description
John Jacob Astor was the richest man on board the Titanic during its fatal maiden voyage. At the time of his death, he had a net worth of US $87 million (equivalent to $2.13 billion in 2015). Astor boarded the Titanic with his wife, his manservant, his wife's maid, his wife's private nurse, and an Airedale named Kitty. When Titanic hit the iceberg, Astor left his wife to investigate and when he returned he reported that the ship had struck ice. He told her the damage did not appear serious. Of course this was because the impact was below the water line. Once people started to come up to the higher decks the Astors played in the gymnasium. Astor found a spare lifebelt and cut it open with his pen knife to show his wife what it was made of. Even as the situation became more serious, Astor was reluctant to trade what seemed like the solid ground of the Titanic for a little lifeboat, saying "we are safer here than in that little boat."

Astor helped his wife into Lifeboat 4, and asked if he could enter too to comfort her. He was denied, being told all women had to be evacuated before any men could enter a lifeboat. Astor asked what the lifeboat number was so he would know which to look for when it was all over, and then stood back as the lifeboat was lowered without him. Astor was apparently last seen alive on the starboard bridge wing smoking a cigarette with Jacques Futrelle a half hour before Titanic disappeared under the water. After that there is a claim that someone saw him clenching to a raft with William Thomas Stead, and their feet became frozen and they slipped underwater as they kicked to stay afloat. Astor's body was found a week later and the description of his body was used to draw the figure above with the lifebelt.

Use any aspect of this artwork with credits.

Description
John Jacob Astor was the richest man on board the Titanic during its fatal maiden voyage. At the time of his death, he had a net worth of US $87 million (equivalent to $2.13 billion in 2015). Astor boarded the Titanic with his wife, his manservant, his wife's maid, his wife's private nurse, and an Airedale named Kitty. When Titanic hit the iceberg, Astor left his wife to investigate and when he returned he reported that the ship had struck ice. He told her the damage did not appear serious. Of course this was because the impact was below the water line. Once people started to come up to the higher decks the Astors played in the gymnasium. Astor found a spare lifebelt and cut it open with his pen knife to show his wife what it was made of. Even as the situation became more serious, Astor was reluctant to trade what seemed like the solid ground of the Titanic for a little lifeboat, saying "we are safer here than in that little boat."

Astor helped his wife into Lifeboat 4, and asked if he could enter too to comfort her. He was denied, being told all women had to be evacuated before any men could enter a lifeboat. Astor asked what the lifeboat number was so he would know which to look for when it was all over, and then stood back as the lifeboat was lowered without him. Astor was apparently last seen alive on the starboard bridge wing smoking a cigarette with Jacques Futrelle a half hour before Titanic disappeared under the water. After that there is a claim that someone saw him clenching to a raft with William Thomas Stead, and their feet became frozen and they slipped underwater as they kicked to stay afloat. Astor's body was found a week later and the description of his body was used to draw the figure above with the lifebelt.

Use any aspect of this artwork with credits.