World's Most Influential Entrepreneurs

Sep 11, 2024

Top 10 Most Successful Entrepreneurs in the World

Introduction

  • Entrepreneurship requires dedication of time and money back into the business.
  • Successful entrepreneurs often start businesses to provide valuable services and improve lives, rather than solely for profit.

10. Vera Wang

  • Background: Born in 1949, Manhattan, New York; privileged upbringing.
  • Early Career: Figure skater; failed to make the Olympic team.
  • Fashion Career:
    • Degree in Art History.
    • Worked at Vogue (Fashion Editor for 15 years).
    • Design Director for Ralph Lauren.
  • Entrepreneurial Journey:
    • Opened bridal boutique due to a scarcity of unique bridal gowns.
    • Famous clientele includes celebrities like Kate Hudson and Victoria Beckham.
    • Wedding dress prices range from $7,500 to $23,000.

9. Mark Cuban

  • Net Worth: $4.3 billion USD.
  • Early Ventures: Sold garbage bags at 12; owned a bar in college.
  • Business Successes:
    • Founded MicroSolutions; sold for $6 million.
    • Launched Audionet/Broadcast.com; sold for $13.5 million.
    • Bought stake in Dallas Mavericks; became NBA champions.
  • Investments: Active startup investor, featured on "Shark Tank."

8. Steve Jobs

  • Co-Founder of Apple.
  • Early Interests: Electronics; intern at Hewlett Packard.
  • Apple Formation:
    • Garage startup with Steve Wozniak.
    • Apple II brought $200 million in two years.
  • Other Ventures:
    • Founded NeXT; sold to Apple.
    • Pixar Animation Studios: created "Toy Story."
  • Legacy: Rejoined Apple, leading to revolutionary products.
  • Death: Resigned in 2011; passed away from cancer.

7. Sergey Brin

  • Net Worth: $66 billion USD.
  • Background: Born in Moscow, moved to the USA in 1979.
  • Stanford University: Met Larry Page; developed PageRank.
  • Google:
    • Founded in 1998; became the world's leading search engine.
    • Acquired YouTube for $1.6 billion in 2006.
  • Stepped Down: From Google's parent company in December 2019.

6. Larry Ellison

  • Net Worth: $72.9 billion USD.
  • Background: Raised in Chicago; dropped out of the University of Illinois.
  • Career:
    • Developed computer skills; worked on IBM-compatible systems.
    • Founded Oracle in 1977; experienced rapid growth.
  • Wealth: Oracle's success led him to become one of the richest people.

5. Mark Zuckerberg

  • Founder of Facebook.
  • Early Interest: Programming; created software in high school.
  • Facebook Creation:
    • Started at Harvard; launched from his dorm.
    • Rapid user growth; now over 2.4 billion active users.
  • Net Worth: $96 billion USD.

4. Elon Musk

  • Background: Born in South Africa; interested in programming.
  • Early Ventures:
    • Founded Zip2; sold for $307 million.
    • Created XCOM, became PayPal; sold to eBay for $1.5 billion.
  • SpaceX and Tesla:
    • Founded SpaceX; first private spacecraft to space.
    • Co-founder of Tesla, focusing on electric cars.
  • Net Worth: $83.6 billion USD.

3. Bill Gates

  • Founder of Microsoft.
  • Background: Born in Seattle; passion for programming.
  • Microsoft Genesis:
    • Co-founded with Paul Allen; significant success with Windows.
  • Wealth: $114 billion USD.

2. Jeff Bezos

  • Founder of Amazon.com.
  • Background: Born in 1964; worked at D.E. Shaw & Co.
  • Creation of Amazon:
    • Started in his garage; quickly grew in sales and product offerings.
  • Net Worth: $190.6 billion USD.

1. John D. Rockefeller

  • Revolutionized the oil industry.
  • Background: Born in 1839; worked in a bookstore.
  • Oil Industry:
    • Dominated oil refining; Cleveland's largest refinery.
  • Wealth: Estimated at $418 billion USD in 2019.

Explore more about these entrepreneurs in available business videos.