The Biggest Social Climbers In History

A glamorous "psychic healer," magician, and occultist, "Count Alessandro di Cagliostro" frequented just about every royal court in Europe, from Russia to France, impressing high society with his powers and talents (rich people love bullshit wellness trends). Like Madame du Barry, he enjoyed enormous success in Paris. Real name Giuseppe Balsamo, he was born to a poor family in Sicily and after learning chemistry and some spiritual rites, became a swindler. He eventually came under the tutelage of another con man and forger, whom he paid by allowing him to sleep with his wife. Worth it, we guess, because afterwards he was able to fashion himself into quite the celebrity. Eventually he was named a heretic by the Inquisition and lived out the rest of his life in jail. 

[Photo via Wiki]