How did the Montgolfier brothers finance their balloon experiments?

The Montgolfier brothers, Joseph-Michel and Jacques-Étienne, financed their early balloon experiments primarily with support from their wealthy family. They were part of a family that owned a paper manufacturing business, which provided them with the means to explore their passion for aerostatic flight. This familial backing allowed them to invest time and resources into their pioneering work without the immediate need for external funding or commercial endeavors.

Their experiments eventually led to significant milestones in aviation history, such as the first manned flight in 1783, but it was their family's financial support that initially enabled them to carry out their innovative ideas. Without this support, the development of their early balloon designs and the subsequent public demonstrations might not have occurred as seamlessly as they did.