What does it take to become a famous entrepreneur? Well, it’s one thing to be successful; but it is a different ball game to be famous. There are a lot of successful entrepreneurs around the globe but there are only a handful of famous entrepreneurs; I mean entrepreneurs that changed the world with their businesses.
Today, I decided to compile my list of famous entrepreneurs that have impacted my life and thousands of others. I am listing famous entrepreneurs that have revolutionized the way we think and act. If you are ready to be inspired, then below is my list of famous entrepreneurs in no particular order.
My List of Famous Entrepreneurs That Changed the World
1. John D. Rockefeller: – He started from scratch and built Standard oil to become one of the largest oil and gas distribution companies worldwide. John D. Rockefeller during his time was the richest man in the world and he still remains one of the richest men in history. The foundation he founded “Rockefeller foundation” is one of the largest foundations in terms of funds distributed.
“The person who starts simply with the idea of getting rich won’t succeed; you must have a larger ambition.” – John D. Rockefeller
2. Henry Ford: – After experiencing two business failures, Henry Ford went on to become the richest man in the world in his time. But that is not his greatest achievement; Henry Ford will forever be remembered for democratizing the automobile by making it available for the masses.
“Thinking is the hardest work to do, that’s why so few people are engaged in it.” – Henry Ford
3. Andrew Carnegie: – After experiencing extreme poverty in his early life, Andrew Carnegie went on to build Carnegie Steel; one of the largest steel companies of its time. But what stands Andrew Carnegie out was that he gave away everything he had before his death.
“I began to learn what poverty meant. It was burnt in my heart then that my father had to beg for work and there came the resolve that I would cure that when I got to be a man.” – Andrew Carnegie
4. Steve Jobs: – When computers were bulky and expensive, with IBM stating clearly that a small computer was impractical; Steve Jobs made a resolve to put a computer on every table and today, his resolve is now a reality. Steve Jobs started Apple from scratch and built it to become one of the world’s most valuable brands.
Respected as an innovator and a stickler for quality and perfection; Steve Jobs will forever be remembered for his passion towards technology; he ran Apple successfully until his death.
“Being the richest man in the cemetery doesn’t matter to me… Going to bed at night saying we’ve done something wonderful… that’s what matters to me.” – Steve Jobs
5. Sir Richard Branson: – What will say of an entrepreneur who owns 400+ companies worldwide? Well, you’ve just met Richard Branson, the founder of Virgin Group. A down-to-earth drop out billionaire and bestselling author; Richard Branson is most respected for his love for adventurous ventures.
“My interest in life comes from setting myself huge, apparently accepting unachievable challenges and trying to rise above them.” – Richard Branson
6. Donald Trump: – He is one of the biggest real estate developers in the U.S, a billionaire and celebrity host of The Apprentice. Donald Trump is popular for his “Thinking big” philosophy and his magnificent buildings.
“Most people think small because most people are afraid of success, afraid of making decisions, afraid of winning. And that gives people like me a great advantage.” – Donald Trump
7. Warren Buffett: – Warren Buffett is the world’s richest investor and founder of Berkshire Hathaway. His investment philosophy has revolutionized the way people invest and he plans to give away all his wealth upon his death.
“Risk comes from not knowing what you are doing.” – Warren Buffett
8. Aliko Dangote: – He is the richest black man in the world and has a goal to be Africa’s greatest industrialist.
9. Bill Gates: – He is the co-founder of Microsoft and the revolutionary of the software industry. He held the position of the world richest man for 13 consecutive years. He is currently the running the largest foundation in the world “Bill and Melinda Gates foundation.”
“To win big, you sometimes have to take big risks.” – Bill Gates
10. Mark Zuckerberg: – He changed the way people socialized with “Facebook” and went on to become the youngest billionaire in the world.
11. Robert Kiyosaki: – A self help and personal finance expert, Robert is an entrepreneur that has transformed millions of life throughout the world with his teachings; and I am a living testimony to the result of his teachings. Robert is the famous controversial author of the book “Rich Dad Poor Dad” and other books.
“In today’s rapidly changing world, the people who are not taking risk are the risk takers.” – Robert Kiyosaki
12. Jeff Bezos: – Jeff gave up the security of his plum job and started selling books online from his garage and from that humble beginning; Amazon, the world largest bookstore was born. But Jeff has shunned conventional wisdom and taken Amazon beyond books to becoming the biggest online retail outlet. Little wonder Jeff Bezos is a billionaire.
“If there’s one reason we have done better than of our peers in the Internet space over the last six years, it is because we have focused like a laser on customer experience, and that really does matter, I think, in any business. It certainly matters online, where word of mouth is so very, very powerful.” – Jeff Bezos
13. Larry Page and Sergey Brin: – These two started out as friends, founded Google; the dominant player on the internet and went on to become billionaires. But aside the billions of dollars, Larry and Sergey have changed the way we access information because they’ve made it available to us at the speed of web.
14. Thomas Edison: – He is responsible for the invention of the light bulb and other electrical appliances. From being labeled dumb by his school teachers to dropping out of school; he founded General Electric, one of the most powerful companies in the world.
“I have friends in overalls whose friendship I would not swap for the favor of the kings of the world.” – Thomas Edison
15. Michael Dell: – Dropped out of college to pursue his dream to sell assembled computer directly to the customers; Michael has made a name in the computer industry and is worth a billion dollars.
16. Oprah Winfrey: – She discovered her passion for speaking and created a billion dollar empire out of it. She’s the richest black woman in the world but more important is the way she affected lives around the world through her show “The Oprah Winfrey Show.”
“You know you are on the road to success if you would do your job and not get paid for it.” – Oprah Winfrey
17. Ray Kroc: – Take a look around and you will observe that’s there’s a McDonald’s at every corner. Well, that’s the vision of Ray Kroc when he bought out the company from the founders. Today, McDonald’s is a billion dollar company. Not bad for a milkshake salesman that recognized opportunity that others could not see.
18. Mary Kay Ash: – The brand “Mary Kay” is one of the most recognized brands in the cosmetic industry but Mary Kay Ash didn’t just build a cosmetic company; she empowered women, raised multimillionaires and gave a lot of women a purpose to live.
“When you reach an obstacle, turn it into an opportunity. You have the choice. You can overcome and be a winner, or you can allow it to overcome you and be a loser. The choice is yours and yours alone. Refuse to throw in the towel. Go that extra mile that failures refuse to travel. It is far better to be exhausted from success than to be rested from failure.” – Mary Kay Ash
19. J. Paul Getty: – This entrepreneur controlled two hundred companies in his lifetime and was the richest man in his time. He founded Getty Company and the billion dollar foundation “Getty Foundation.”
“Without the element of uncertainty, the bringing off of even, the greatest business triumph would be dull, routine and eminently unsatisfying.” – J. Paul Getty
20. Larry Ellison: – A long standing rival of Bill Gates, Larry Ellison is the founder of Oracle; the second largest software company in the world. He’s famous for his flamboyant lifestyle.
“The most important aspect of my personality as far as determining my success goes; has been my questioning conventional wisdom, doubting experts and questioning authority. While that can be painful in your relationships with your parents and teachers, it’s enormously useful in life.” – Larry Ellison