Summary

• The character of George Russell in HBO's The Gilded Age is based on the real-life robber baron Jay Gould, who faced challenges in being accepted by high society.
• The show draws inspiration from historical figures and events, with the Russell family's struggle to enter high society mirroring the real-life Astor family's reluctance to accept Jay Gould.
• In season 2, the show explores the theme of unions and workers' rights, drawing from the real-life Great Southwest railroad strike that affected Jay Gould's industrial interests.

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 — a character detail that is significant for the show. Fellowes drew inspiration from several historical figures for The Gilded Age, which is set in 1882 in 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, and The Gilded Age's true story inspiration could shine a light on what's in store for the wealthy industrialist George Russell.

The Gilded Age's George Russell 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 real-life Ward McAllister (Nathan Lane in The Gilded Age). Mrs. Astor did not approve of Jay Gould or his ways and refused to acknowledge them as her equals. It wasn't until much later that Mrs. Astor finally allowed the Gould family into high society. With the fictional Astor not too keen on George Russell, his story could be highly similar to what happened to Jay Gould.

The Gilded Age is available to stream on Max.

George Russell Is Based On Real Robber Baron Jay Gould

Julian Fellowes Revealed The Inspiration Behind Morgan Spector's Gilded Age Character

The Gilded Age's true story inspiration for George Russell, Jay Gould, was not only a ruthless robber baron, but was also a devoted family man, despite the powerful, rich Astor family looking down on them. George Russell shares both of these traits with his real-life counterpart. While she means to keep an eye on the Russells, Mrs. Astor tells her daughter Carrie (Amy Forsyth) that they are certainly not welcome into high society just yet, echoing the real Mrs. Astor's sentiments about Jay Gould.

Given that the fictional Mrs. Astor was intrigued, though generally unimpressed by George's actions at the charity bazaar, the Russell family's struggle to get into New York's high society hasn't been easy. As Julian Fellowes notes in the first episode of the Official The Gilded Age Podcast for the show, eventually Mrs. Astor let in Jay Gould's children once he had died.

The idea of allowing in someone's kin after they have passed is an interesting one. In The Gilded Age episode 1, the new money Larry Russell (Harry Richardson) says to Marian Brook (Louisa Jacobson), who herself is of old money. While George and Bertha Russell (Carrie Coon) have little chance of being truly accepted by their old-money peers, it seems that the show is setting up a sort of truce between those of the younger generation.

This is supported by the events in The Gilded Age season 1 finale, during which George and Bertha convince the old money crowd to attend their daughter Gladys' (Taissa Farmiga) debutante ball, indicating that Mrs. Astor is giving Bertha entry into New York high society. The parallels with The Gilded Age's true story underscores how deeply the show is rooted in real history.

Though based on real history, The Gilded Age has the luxury of having some creative leeway through its storytelling. As The Gilded Age season 1 finale reveals, the old money crowd might be willing to accept George and Bertha after all instead of just their children — a luxury which the real Jay Gould didn't enjoy.

How George Russell's Story Changes In The Gilded Age Season 2

The Show Is Still Inspired By The Real Life Jay Gould

While George Russell's Gilded Age character is based on Jay Gould, George, and his family are faring slightly better than the Goulds in The Gilded Age season 2, although the Russells' acceptance into high society has come with its own challenges. With season 2, Fellowes is also looking deeper into The Gilded Age's true story inspiration to bring more history-inspired events and actual people from the late 19th century.

The Gilded Age's true story details are crucial to why the show is such a compelling period drama, although Fellowes has once again taken inspiration from certain events in Jay Gould's life while shaping the future of George Russell in his family. Unions have become a big problem for George Russell's industrial interests in The Gilded Age season 2. This is yet another parallel with the true story, as the Great Southwest railroad strike of 1886 — wherein many of Gould's workers went on strike — resulted in the deaths of 10 people.

While striking and unions is a timely choice of subject for The Gilded Age season 2 given that they're still relevant in the modern era, exploring this side of 19th century industry isn't purely a social commentary by Fellowes. The real Jay Gould, and other industrialists like him, were ruthless when trying to squash or stifle workers' rights. These George Russell storylines, while dramatic and incredibly engaging, are also inspired by an equally captivating piece of real history.

How George Russell Actor Morgan Spector Sees His Character

The Gilded Age Star Has Many Thoughts On The True Story

The Gilded Age's true story inspiration has provided George Russell actor, Morgan Spector, with more than enough material to properly flesh out the character. "I had been told that he was a little bit based on Jay Gould and [Cornelius] Vanderbilt, so I read up on those people and their biographies, to some extent. I’ve found as much first-person writing by those robber barons," said Spector (via Den of Geek). He went on to explain:

"[Andrew] Carnegie has a book and there’s [John D.] Rockefeller who’s put together a sort of book at the end of his life. I ended up reading a big doorstop book about the era called The Republic For Which It Stands, which is about Reconstruction into the Gilded Age."

Notably, Gould and Vanderbilt, on whom George Russell is also based, are two of several historic tycoons who didn't write their own biographies. Moreover, unlike Rockefeller who got rich through oil, and Carnegie whose fortune is from the steel business, Jay Gould and Cornelius Vanderbilt were railroad and shipping tycoons. Though Gould continues to be lauded today for his business acumen, both Gould and Vanderbilt were ultimately overshadowed by bigger tycoons in history. Whether the same fate awaits George Russell or not is a question that can only be answered in The Gilded Age season 2.