The robber baron built his fortune by crushing all his competitors.
robber baron
idiomEspecially in the 19th and early 20th centuries, a business tycoon who had great wealth and influence but whose methods were morally questionable and often unethical.
Historians often describe the industrialist as a robber baron because he used ruthless tactics to gain total control over the railroad industry.
While the city benefited from his massive infrastructure projects, many critics labeled him a robber baron for his exploitative labor practices and disregard for the public good.