Before becoming one of the oldest names in European finance, the Rothschilds began their operations over 250 years ago by trading rare coins in Frankfurt. Today, this historical legacy is transforming into large-scale international projects, including recent high-ستوى negotiations.
On September 11 in Paris, Finance Minister Ngo Van Tuan held a meeting with executives of Rothschild & Co. as part of the visit to France by General Secretary and President To Lam. During the meeting, the French financial group Rothschild & Co. offered to support Vietnam in mobilizing resources for major infrastructure projects, including the North-South high-speed railway and energy projects under the VIII National Power Development Plan. Currently, the group employs approximately 4,800 people across 70 offices in more than 50 countries, with consolidated assets reaching nearly 20 billion euros at the end of 2025.
Historical Origins and the Rise of the Empire
Mayer Amschel Rothschild (1744–1812, German) was the man who laid the foundation for the sprawling Rothschild banking empire across Europe. Over 200 years ago, long before global banks with thousands of employees, he began his career in a rare coin shop in Frankfurt am Main. In 1757, he became an apprentice at the Simon Wolf Oppenheimer bank in Hanover, gaining crucial exposure to international trade and currency exchange. Returning to Frankfurt in 1763, he started his own business, using rare coins to gain access to elite clients such as Prince Wilhelm of Hesse-Kassel.
The Napoleonic Wars and the Turning Point
Wider opportunities opened at the beginning of the 19th century when Europe was engulfed in the Napoleonic Wars. In 1757, Hesse was attacked by Napoleon, and Wilhelm IX was forced into exile, transferring a significant portion of his assets to the Rothschild family for safekeeping. Mayer Amschel instructed his son Nathan, working in England, to invest 550,000 pounds sterling in British government bonds and gold bullion. These transactions generated tremendous profits, establishing the dynasty's reputation as reliable wealth managers amidst geopolitical turmoil.
Financial Scale and Modern Metrics
The scale of Rothschild & Co.'s modern operations demonstrates a massive gap from the family business's origins. The 2025 consolidated report recorded a net banking income of nearly 2.99 billion euros and a consolidated net profit of 573.9 million euros. In the asset management and investment segments alone, total assets under management reached approximately 143 billion euros by the end of 2025, confirming its status as a global financial heavyweight.
