In a city like New York, [P 015 / real estate developers are always looking up]. One who did so was [L3 206 / John Jacob Raskob]. Raskob had risen far in the world. He was at one time secretary to Pierre S duPont. He used the ladder of the duPont chemical company, participating in the huge profits they made selling gunpowder during World War I. He went on to be a co-founder and vice-president of General Motors. He helped reap millions for the giant automaker by creating the system whereby people could purchase cars under an installment plan. In 1929 he organized [L3 207 / Empire State, Inc], to finance and construct the Empire State Building. In addition to Raskob, backers of the building included Coleman duPont and Pierre duPont, cousins and members of the duPont chemical family, and two lesser tycoons, Ellis P Earle and Louis Kaufman.
