| Who is it? | Author, Lawyer |
| Died On | c. 113 AD (aged c. 52)\nBithynia |
| Occupation | Politician, judge, author |
| Parent(s) | Lucius Caecilius Cilo and Plinia Marcella |
Pliny the Younger, an influential figure in ancient Rome, is estimated to have a net worth ranging from $100K to $1M in 2024. Pliny was not only a prominent Roman statesman but also a renowned author, lawyer, and natural philosopher. He managed vast estates and held several prestigious positions within the Roman government. Pliny's writings and legal expertise brought him considerable wealth, and his vast network of influential connections further enhanced his financial standing. Despite his undeniable wealth and status, Pliny the Younger's legacy primarily revolves around his literary contributions, particularly his letters that provide valuable insights into various aspects of Roman society and history.
I hoped in the first place to encourage our Emperor in his virtues by a sincere tribute and, secondly, to show his successors what path to follow to win the same renown, not by offering instruction but by setting his example before them. To proffer advice on an Emperor's duties might be a noble enterprise, but it would be a heavy responsibility verging on insolence, whereas to praise an excellent ruler (optimum principem) and thereby shine a beacon on the path posterity should follow would be equally effective without appearing presumptuous.
The largest surviving body of Pliny's work is his Epistulae (Letters), a series of personal missives directed to his friends and associates. These letters are a unique testimony of Roman administrative history and everyday life in the 1st century AD. Especially noteworthy among the letters are two in which he describes the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in August 79, during which his uncle Pliny the Elder died (Epistulae VI.16, VI.20), and one in which he asks the Emperor for instructions regarding official policy concerning Christians (Epistulae X.96).
Pliny the Younger wrote hundreds of letters, of which 247 survive and are of great historical value. Some are addressed to reigning emperors or to notables such as the Historian Tacitus. Pliny served as an imperial magistrate under Trajan (reigned 98–117), and his letters to Trajan provide one of the few surviving records of the relationship between the imperial office and provincial governors.
