There is no doubt that to be successful in life one has to find an area where they can best exploit their talents and abilities. Whereas, there are those who are rewarded handsomely for offering their service in employment, there are those who go an extra mile and take a risk, by starting their own ventures. For example, when Bill Gates started Microsoft, nobody believed in his venture but today he is a force to be reckoned with in the software industry. It is difficult to make a mark when you are operating underneath somebody else’s wings. In a bid to try and encourage you to start your own venture, this article aims at looking at some of the most top ten powerful business men in the world today. For some it has taken them decades to be where they are today.
1. Steve Jobs
He is the chairman and chief executive officer (CEO) of Apple. His career spans 30 years as the Apple Inc. founder. He is well renowned for having initiated the PC era back in 1977 and the first graphical user interface that has been the platform for other software developers. Other developments he is well renowned for include creating the first DTP software and laser printer. Currently he’s innovations are well entrenched in the consumer electronic goods, i.e. iPod and iPhone.
As an entrepreneur, he has been able to alter the computing, entertainment, retail, music and cell phone industries.
2. Ropert Murdoch
Ropert Murdoch is the chairman and CEO of News Corp. The company is well known in the film, print and online industries. Having recently acquired the Dow Jones, his value is estimated to be in billions. His career in corporate business world can be traced back to the 50s when he inherited two major Australian newspapers. Thereafter, he expanded his emperor to the United States and Britain. If you are familiar with Sun and New York Post newspapers, they are a few of his valuable possessions.
3. Lloyd Blankfein
Lloyd Blankfein is the chairman and CEO of Goldman Sachs has been accredited to having guided Goldman to success after success while other corporate organizations were reporting loses.
4. Eric Schmidt, Larry Page and Sergei Brin
Eric Schmidt and Sergei Brin are co founders of Google, the worlds largest search engine. When it comes to profits generated by advertising, no other business entrepreneur reaps what the two business personalities get each year. Other than the internet industry, the two have ambitions to claiming stake in altering mobile telephony and fixing the current climatic disasters. Whereas, many predicted that Google would not last long, the two in conjunction with their witted CEO have managed to wade through misfortunes and competition that has come their way over the past decades
5. Warren Buffett
Warren Buffett who is the chairman and CEO of Berkshire Hathway Inc. commands respect everywhere that he goes. Leading business personalities are known to consult him on delicate business matters and are known to have been involved in some of the biggest mergers. What makes Warren Buffet stand out from the rest is his simplicity. Most people in third world countries recognize him not for his business acumen but his generosity. He has given billions of dollars to charitable organizations worldwide in a bid to alleviate poverty.
Until recently, he was the top-salaried CEO in the San Francisco Bay area, taking home a whopping $56.8 million per year, however beginning in 2008 his annual paycheck now amounts exactly $1. As published in documents made public by the US Securities Commission, for the next three years, he will be eligible to receive an annual bonus of up to one million shares, in addition to the option to purchase an extra six million shares at the fixed price of $31.59 each. This incentive for retention was approved by the board of directors of the company under its management compensation agreements.
One of the original founders of Google, until 2005 he received market-competitive salaries however has since opted to turn down his formerly enormous pay package, receiving only $1 per year. Of course, he is compensated in the form of company shares.
Also a founder of Google, after 2005 Brin decided to go the same route as his colleague and friend Larry Page. He now takes home a paltry $1 per year though that amount is fattened somewhat by shares in a little company that you might have heard of, Google.
The CEO of Apple Inc., Jobs was the first CEO in the world to accept a $1 per year salary, setting the trend. He has been talking $1 as his annual salary for a number of years already, despite several other Apple executives still pulling in fat yearly paychecks. Jobs did receive, however, an outright compensation package of a million restricted shares in the company and is now the owner of approximately 1.2% of Apple’s outstanding shares.
Yet another Google boss who receives a salary of $1 per year. Just like Sergey Brin and Larry Page, Schmidt made the decision after 2005 to trade in the generous paychecks for a package of company stock, based upon the over all performance of Google on the market.
Everybody knows who Harry Potter is and hence, everybody knows who Daniel Radcliffe is. He has been nominated for countless awards since the first movie and has won as many! He was a part of Equus, a stage show, for which he was nominated for the prestigious Drama Desk Award. Daniel Radcliffe is one of the wealthiest young men in Britain with a net worth of $60 million.
After the massive success of the Harry Potter movies, Emma Watson who plays the role of Hermione Granger practically became a superstar overnight. Emma Watson’s 2009 earnings are recorded at $30 million (£19 million), having bagged $15 million each for her two most recent outings as Harry Potter’s Hermione. She is the face of Chanel and models for Burberry as well. Her performances in all six Harry Potter films earned her recognition and awards and have enabled her to amass a net worth of more than $50 million.
Born Destiny Hope Cyrus, Miley has become a role model for little girls all over the world. Her Disney show “Hannah Montana” is hugely successful and as if that wasn’t enough, she also has a good number of movies lined up. At 17, this young starlet makes about 6000 dollars every day.
The Olsen twins started their career when they were 6 months old on Full House as the adorable Michelle Tanner. After the show ended, they started their own clothing line and released all kinds of merchandise. Needles to say, it all sold and they are worth 150 million dollars each even though they have not been a part of too many movies recently.
This 22 year old has released four extremely successful albums. She has also endorses well-known brands like Clinique, Reebok and Secret deodorant. What’s more, she is also a CoverGirl. Born in Barbados as Robyn Rihanna Fenty, Rihanna has a net-worth of $25 million dollars.
The recent recession and the economic meltdown had a great impact on J.Christopher Flowers’ company whose total worth has been estimated at $500 million recently. This is a great fall from the $2.3 billion that they reported in 2004.
Matthew Bucksbaum operated and maintained over 200 malls in the United States of America. This massive empire collapsed in April 2008 and Bucksbuam had to pay off a straggering debt of 30 billion dollars. Naturally, he filed for bankruptcy.
This entrepreneur reported his net worth in March 2008 which was over 1.4 billion dollars. He co-founded Carphone Warehouse and it has been said, started funding investment for real estate with his shares. Unfortunately, when the value of property dropped, he faced many complications and his current worth is about 150 million dollars.
Tulsi Tanti owns Suzlon Energy which looks after wind energy. In March 2008, his net worth had been estimated at about 3 billion dollars. However, due to reports which detailed the faults of his wind turbine blades, the company had to create large reserves for in order to fix this problem. His net worth currently is 500 million dollars.
Larry Yung is a well-known capitalist in China and his net worth in March 2008 was estimated at 3 billion dollars. However, due to debts related to bad currency, there was a major drop in stocks and even though some of the lost glory has been regained, this tycoon is no longer a billionaire with a net worth of 750 million dollars.
Bill Gates is one of the two founders of Microsoft and was the richest man in the world at one point. His fortunes have been estimated at $50 billion, making him the most famous individual in the world who dropped out of college. Microsoft was immensely successful when Bill Gates held the reigns. His charitable foundation, the “Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation” is the second largest in the world.
When one thinks of Apple, one is always reminded of Steve Jobs, the entrepreneur who started the company, lost it and then regained the initial glory and magnified it. In the past, he created hacking devices and is known for his infamous prank calls to the Pope. This self-made billionaire is worth 4.4 billion dollars and counting.
Michael Dell started taking apart computers and rebuilding them as an experiment. He got enrolled in a university in Texas where he started to sell the computers he built on his own. Once he realized how successful his business was becoming, he dropped out and started working full-time. He is among the top 10 richest men in the United States and is worth over $15.5 billion.
Ralph Lauren was born Ralph Lifschitz. He changed his last name at 16 as he felt that it would be more appropriate when he became successful. This ambitious young man dropped out of a college in New York and after working as a salesman for a few years, he launched his label, “Polo”. Ralph Lauren is worth over $3.6 billion.
Marc Zuckerberg is the founder of everybody’s favorite social networking website- Facebook. He started the website along with his roommates in Harvard after he realized that he loved creating computer programs. This 23 year old was voted the youngest billionaire by Forbes magazine and is worth over 1.5 billion dollars.
Born to unwed parents in Mississippi, Oprah was brought up by her grandmother who was poor but she did teach Oprah how taught her to read. Academically she was strong and became a great television host. Today, she has her own channel and television show, as well as a magazine.
Andrew Carnegie was a poor boy from Scotland who became a great person during the industrial age. His family went through great financial crisis and Andrew worked as a telegraph messenger in America. He made investments in the railroad companies, and then proceeded to invest in the steel industry. Finally he started his own steel company.
Born in Ontario, Canada, Carrey wanted to become a comedian. His family went through troubled times financially. Eventually Jim decided to do what he loved doing most – being a comedian. He dropped out of high school and was able to get a part on a play called The Duck Factory. Today he is one of the most highly paid comedians.
Born in Chicago, Illinois, Wayne had a troubled childhood. Wayne went to high school and afterwards dropped out of college. He trained to be a part of the Army reserves. Subsequently he returned to Florida, bought a truck built a highly successful garbage business. He is well known for finding three Fortune 500 Companies.
Chris did not know who his real father was. He soon became a salesman of medical supplies and worked in that position for some time. Soon he took interest in stock broking. His son was a great motivation for him. After getting through the licensing exam, he received a job at Bear Sterns. In 1987, he started his own brokerage firm called Gardner Rich & Co.
