Gilded Age Jack's Clock Sale Sparks Surprise
In 'The Gilded Age,' Jack Trotter, a young footman, sells a patent for a new alarm clock for $600,000 in 1883, which is roughly equivalent to $19 million in 2025 dollars. This makes him extremely wealthy, comparable to a millionaire of today, though not among the ultra-rich like the Vanderbilts. The story explores whether such a high valuation for an invention was realistic at the time and how Jack's newfound wealth compares to other characters, as well as his ability to afford luxury items like opera boxes.