Who are the Russells in The Gilded Age based on? Details from the HBO drama, explored 

The Gilded Age transports viewers into the glittering world of 1880s New York, but the characters aren't just made up. The Russells, the ambitious railroad family at the center of the series, are actually inspired by one of America's real-life powerhouses the Vanderbilts.

As David Crockett, Executive Producer, told Vogue, using historical figures;

"...helps to give proper context and ups the stakes for our fictional characters."

From Bertha's fierce drive to be accepted by high society to George's rise in the railroad business, their story pulls directly from this influential family's legacy.

So, who exactly mirrors who? The show gives hints, and the real stories go even deeper.

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The Gilded Age: Bertha, George, and the chase for social power

In The Gilded Age, Bertha Russell is determined to climb her way into New York's most exclusive and elite circles. Her character closely follows Alva Vanderbilt, the Southern wife of William Kissam Vanderbilt.

Alva's push for social recognition is legendary, especially when she celebrates an over-the-top masquerade ball that cost a fortune and forced Caroline Astor to finally accept her. Alva's mission? Make her place at the top, no matter what the cost may be.

The show's George Russell, Bertha's husband, draws heavy inspiration from Cornelius "Commodore" Vanderbilt. Much like George, Cornelius built his fortune through sheer grit starting with $100 borrowed from his mother and creating a steamboat business that later expanded into railroads.

As his wealth grew, so did the whispers of disapproval from old money elites. Despite the power he held, the real Cornelius never chased society's approval like George does in the show.

While George in The Gilded Age is polished and strategic, the real Vanderbilt is anything but refined. Still, both figures represent the disruptive energy of new money entering elite circles.

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Larry and Gladys mirror the younger Vanderbilts

The Russell children in The Gilded Age also carry traits lifted straight from history. Larry Russell, the couple's son, shares parallels with Cornelius Vanderbilt Ill. Known for defying family expectations, the real Cornelius Ill married against his parents' wishes and was cut off financially. But he went on to create inventions, earn engineering patents, and even serve in World War I.

Larry's storyline of pushing back against his mother's societal plans closely echoes this independent streak. Gladys Russell, on the other hand, is almost a direct stand-in for Consuelo Vanderbilt. In the show, Gladys is shielded by her mother and seen as a pawn in a strategic marriage.

In reality, Consuelo was forced into marrying the Duke of Marlborough despite being in love with someone else. Her mother, Alva, even went as far as faking a heart attack to get her way. The marriage brought the family a noble title but came at the cost of Consuelo's happiness.

Her story, just like Gladys', is a look into how much control the society and family structures held over young women during that specific era.

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The Gilded Age uses the medium of TV fiction to look at actual truths about power, ambition, and status of the past. The Russells may not be entirely real, but their story does closely follow the rise of a real family called the Vanderbilts.

With each episode, the blurred lines between history and fiction make the storytelling even more compelling.

Also read: Still hooked to The Gilded Age? Watch these 5 drama shows next (and wouldn't regret it)

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