Final answer:
Carnegie differed from Vanderbilt and Rockefeller by focusing on steel production, controlling every aspect of his business, and being notably philanthropic later in life, donating much of his fortune to public causes.
Step-by-step explanation:
Andrew Carnegie was different from other industrialists like Vanderbilt or Rockefeller in several ways. While Rockefeller focused on oil and Vanderbilt on railroads, Carnegie focused primarily on steel production, seeking to control every aspect of the production process. He invested in mines and transportation to reduce costs and ensure quality, ultimately outproducing even the British Empire in steel. Unlike Rockefeller's indirect method of controlling competing firms, Carnegie's approach was to supervise all raw materials, manufacturing, and distribution facets directly.
Moreover, Carnegie is distinguished by his significant philanthropic contributions later in life. He donated a vast portion of his fortune to public causes, including libraries, schools, and institutions of higher education, reflecting a philanthropic nature that was more publicly celebrated than that of Rockefeller and Vanderbilt.