John Jacob Astor IV was an American businessman, real estate developer, investor, writer, and prominent social figure born on July 13, 1864. He was a member of the wealthy Astor family, known for their significant influence in the fur trade and real estate. Astor IV is best remembered for his role in the development of the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in New York City. In addition to his business ventures, Astor IV was an inventor and an author, writing several plays and novels. He gained notoriety for his tragic fate as one of the passengers on the RMS Titanic, where he perished during its sinking on April 15, 1912.