He certainly was not a manufacturer; nor was he a merchant or a gentleman farmer.

His name was strange to the scientific and learned societies, and he never was known to take part in the sage deliberations of the Royal Institution or the London Institution, the Artisan's Association, or the Institution of Arts and Sciences.

He belonged, in fact, to none of the numerous societies which swarm in the English capital, from the Harmonic to that of the Entomologists, founded mainly for the purpose of abolishing pernicious insects.
Phileas Fogg was a member of the Reform, and that was all.
The way in which he got admission to this exclusive club was simple enough.
He was recommended by the Barings, with whom he had an open credit.
His cheques were regularly paid at sight from his account current, which was always flush.
Was Phileas Fogg rich?
Undoubtedly.

But those who knew him best could not imagine how he had made his fortune, and Mr.Fogg was the last person to whom to apply for the information.

He was not lavish, nor, on the contrary, avaricious; for, whenever he knew that money was needed for a noble, useful, or benevolent purpose, he supplied it quietly and sometimes anonymously.