Webthe clandestine endeavor, while questionable, laid a robust financial foundation for the future kennedy fortune. At the same time, in the roaring 1920s,. Webjoe kennedy acquired it in 1945 for just under $13 million, and turned what seemed a gigantic white elephant into a stupendous profit maker. It is now valued at $75 million. Webthe rags to riches stories that horatio alger jr. Wrote in the late nineteenth century helped americans believe the myth that anyone could work hard and become a rich,. Investigative journalist gerald posner did some digging for the daily beast and unearthed some surprising details about the clan’s wealth, which is nearly. Webin 1990, before the stock boom of that decade, forbes estimated the family’s wealth at $850 million. Created a fortune that gave his children and grandchildren. Webbut neither claim holds up to historical scrutiny. Webthe kennedy family’s fortunes began in the late 18th century, when thomas kennedy, a young irish immigrant, arrived in america with nothing but a pocketful of. Webin the booming, unregulated stock market of the 1920s, kennedy made a fortune through insider trading, manipulation, and shrewd (some would say unethical).