Hetty Green “The Witch of Wall Street” Original Brown Brothers Photo – Mug Shot

Henrietta “Hetty” Howland Robinson Green (November 21, 1834 – July 3, 1916) was an American financier and businesswoman hailed as “the richest woman in America” (during the Gilded Age. At her peak, her fortune exceeded $100 million (over $3 billion today).

Admired by those who knew her as the “Queen of Wall Street,” she earned her fortune through disciplined, conservative investments and by lending money, often at fair rates to financiers and cities during financial crises. Operating in a world dominated by men, she maintained her independence, avoided lavish society life, and shunned extravagance. Her financial acumen helped stabilize Wall Street during the Panic of 1907, when she extended credit as banks failed. Despite her brilliance, Green’s frugality and austere appearance earned her the tabloid nickname “the Witch of Wall Street.”

Known for her frugality, she famously wore the same black dress and avoided unnecessary expenses. Though caricatured as miserly, modern views portray her as a pragmatic, self-reliant investor whose restraint and foresight set her apart from the reckless opulence of her era’s elite.

Despite her stingy reputation, she was a master strategist who lent money to cities and businessmen during crises, often securing huge profits. Hetty Green’s legacy endures as one of America’s earliest and most formidable female financiers, a paradox of ruthless thrift and unmatched financial brilliance.

Offered is an original 5” x  7” original photograph stamped on the back by Brown Brothers (this is a 1940s/50s print taken off an original negative).  Nice profile picture that looks like a mug shot.  This photo was used in various publications over the ages.

Any vintage photographs of Green are a rare sight to be seen!