February 25th in history:

The U.S. Steel corporation was founded on February 25th, 1901. Businessmen J.P. Morgan, Elbert Gary and Andrew Carnegie combined smaller steel companies into one large firm.  Upon its formation, U.S. Steel became the first company worth one billion dollars.

Two actors famous for playing very rich men were both born on February 25th in 1913.  German actor Gert Fröbe had the title role in the James Bond adventure Goldfinger in 1964.  That same year, Jim Backus began playing millionaire Thurston Howell III on “Gilligan’s Island.”  Backus’s other famous roles include James Dean’s father in Rebel Without a Cause, and the voice of nearsighted cartoon character Mister Magoo.

On this day in 1964, boxer Cassius Clay, and anybody who bet on him, was in the money after Clay upset heavyweight champ Sonny Liston at Miami.  Liston had had enough after six rounds, and Clay became the surprise champ by TKO.  Clay declared himself “the greatest,” and became known as Muhammad Ali.