Gilded Age True Story: Who George Russell Is Based On & Why That Matters
Warning: SPOILERS for The Gilded Age season 1.
In HBO's Official Podcast for The Gilded Age, Julian Fellowes revealed that the wealthy railroad tycoon George Russell (Morgan Spector) is based on the true story of a real-life person, and that could be significant for the show. Fellowes drew inspiration from a number of historical figures for his latest period drama, which begins in 1882 New York City. George's connection to an infamous real-life robber baron may foreshadow a long road to acceptance into high society for his family, judging from the historical biography of the real person who inspired the character. Indeed, The Gilded Age's true story inspiration could shine a light on what's in store for the wealthy industrialist George Russell.
George has already displayed a fierce approach to getting the attention of others. Even by The Gilded Age episode 2, George is making waves among the upper elite of New York City, and it seems as though the series is only setting him up for future extravagant shows of power. This has already placed him in opposition to the old money families, who look down on him, and this is especially evident with Donna Murphy's Mrs. Astor. The revelation of the historical inspiration for George Russell reveals a lot about how this story might unfold, foreshadowing the future of the Russells in The Gilded Age season 2.
Related: Gilded Age True Story: How The Real Vanderbilt Family Was Different
Who is the character George Russell in The Gilded Age based on? According to showrunners, George was based on the real-life robber baron Jay Gould, who often butted heads with old money families. Mrs. Astor's Four Hundred Club was an exclusive group of people that had been carefully curated by the
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