The Titanic’s First Class passenger list read like a veritable “who’s who” of early 20th-century elite. Affluent industrialists, politicians, and members of European nobility mingled in the opulent surroundings of the ship’s grand staircase and luxurious public rooms. Names like John Jacob Astor IV, Benjamin Guggenheim, and the “Unsinkable” Molly Brown graced the passenger manifest, each bringing their own tales of ambition, fortune, and, in many cases, impending tragedy.

For these privileged few, life aboard the Titanic was a continuation of the lavish existence they enjoyed on land. Suites adorned with fine wood paneling and plush furnishings rivaled the grandeur of five-star hotels. Passengers dined on exquisite multi-course meals, sipped champagne in the Café Parisien, and enjoyed the latest in shipboard amenities, including electric elevators, a swimming pool, and a squash court. Yet, for all their wealth and status, many of these First Class passengers would soon face the same perilous fate as their fellow travelers in Second Class and Third Class.