The Rothschild family is very real, and there really was an Illuminati, but it is not clear that they ever had anything to do with each other. The Rothschild family took their name from the red shield decorating the house they lived in in Franfort. They were not particularly prosperous in the 17th century, but made a moderately successful living as moneylenders (one of the few things Jews were allowed to do) during the 18th century. As revolutions and counterrevolutions swept Europe after the French Revolution, the Rothschilds managed to make some very wise choices, among others, sinking much of the hugely leveraged family fortune into backing the British in the battle against Napolean. That bet paid off big when England won, making the Rothschilds one of the wealthiest families in Europe.