2. Kublai Khan (1215-1294)

Occupation: Conqueror and heir

Source of wealth: Inheritance

Assets: Gold and jewels

Claim to fame: Inspired Xanadu

Kublai Khan, grandson of Genghis Khan, failed in military campaigns against Japan, Southeast Asia and Indonesia, but he established the Yuan dynasty in China and built a sumptuous court of gilded cane at Ta-tu (now Beijing). Marco Polo marveled at the jeweled splendor of Kublai Khan’s summer palace, Shang-tu — the inspiration for the “Xanadu” of English poet Coleridge’s work. Polo was also amazed by the indulgent feasting and hunting, and by Kublai Khan’s ships, which were large enough to carry 1,000 men and “made the passengers feel as if they were on dry land.” Kublai Khan zealously promoted paper money, forcing its use under penalty of punishment and confiscating everyone else’s gold and silver.

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