Great American Business Leaders of the 20th Century
John F. Dryden
Prudential Life Insurance Company
1881–1911
1881–1911
Prudential Life Insurance Company
1881–1911
1881–1911
In 1881, Dryden became head of the company he helped found six years prior. He grew the company from less than $4 million in receipts in 1879 to more than $17 million in receipts by 1899, and from 1 million policies in 1885 to 10 million in 1911 by tapping the mass market for life insurance. In 1875, less than 2% of Americans had life insurance, which was considered a luxury item. By 1899, that number had grown to 17%. Dryden also pioneered “industrial” life insurance by making small industrial policies available to factory workers for only pennies a week.
Personal
- Born-Died: 1839–1911
- Birthplace: Maine
- Race: White
- Gender: Male
- Father: Farmer / Rancher