Famous Entrepreneurs: Bill Gates, Jeff Bezos, and More PDF

Jack Ma Bill Gates  Bill Gates is worth nearly $130 billion. But it took him some time to get there… His computer journey began early; he co-founded Microsoft with Paul Allen in 1975. At the time, Gates was just 20. The duo bet big on software for a new microcomputer most peop...

Jack Ma Bill Gates  Bill Gates is worth nearly $130 billion. But it took him some time to get there… His computer journey began early; he co-founded Microsoft with Paul Allen in 1975. At the time, Gates was just 20. The duo bet big on software for a new microcomputer most people hadn’t even heard of. Seeing potential, Gates dropped out of Harvard and went all-in on Microsoft. And by 1976, its revenue hit $16,005 Start working on your business ASAP. Gates founded Microsoft at an early age. While you don’t have to be in your 20s to start, the message is clear: The best time to begin is now.  Jeff Bezos is the founder of Amazon, the largest eCommerce marketplace. His company has made him the third richest man on earth. What’s his current net worth? Nearly $200 billion. Not bad for a small online book store he once started in his garage… Here’s how Bezos made it happen: Amazon kicked off in 1994. Within a month, it wasn’t just selling books across the US but also in 45 other countries. But Bezos didn’t stop there… He started adding more items like CDs, videos, clothes, electronics, toys, and so on. What’s the big lesson? Start with one thing. Nail it, then expand.  Raymond Albert Kroc was an American businessman. He purchased the fast food company McDonald's in 1961 from the McDonald brothers and was its CEO from 1967 to 1973. Kroc is credited with the global expansion of McDonald's, turning it into the most successful fast food corporation in the world by revenue.  Elon Musk is the second richest person in the world and an all-round entrepreneur who (co-)founded and runs several companies: PayPal SpaceX Tesla X (Twitter) What sets Musk apart is his massive impact across different sectors. Musk is known for taking risks. For instance, what would you do if you had $200 million from selling a company? Most of us would think we’re settled in life, right? Well, Musk went a different road… Instead of sitting back and relaxing, he re-invested what he made with Paypal into three different projects: SpaceX Tesla Solar City Why? Because he saw a future others didn’t. And it paid off. You see: Taking calculated risks as an entrepreneur helps you stand out. It’s the difference between creating your own opportunities versus waiting for them.  Mark Zuckerberg started Facebook (now called Meta) from his college dorm in 2004. Fast forward to today, and it’s the biggest social network globally, with over 3 billion people using it every month. Plus, Meta owns Instagram and WhatsApp too. Sitting at a net worth of $170 billion, Zuckerberg ranks as the world’s fourth richest person. But here’s the thing — his true impact extends far beyond his bank account. Zuckerberg has completely changed how we connect, share, and even do business online. What drove Zuckerberg’s success? A willingness to take risks. What does this mean for you? It’s simple: Don’t be afraid to try new things. Have an idea? Then dive in, and take that chance. The world’s moving fast, and to succeed you often have to step out of your comfort zone. SAM WALTON  As the inventor of Walmart, Sam Walton transformed retail. Walton was born in 1918 in Oklahoma. After running a successful chain of stores with his brother, he wanted to set up some discount stores in small towns. His bosses rejected his idea. But instead of giving up, Walton went ahead and started his own chain: Walmart. At the time, big discount stores usually opened in big cities. But Walton believed small towns could also generate enough profit. He turned out to be right. Walmart became huge under Walton. And by 1990, it had evolved from a single store to the world’s largest retailer. Walton’s strategy was simple yet revolutionary: Keep prices low to keep customers happy and coming back. LARRY ELLISON  Lawrence (Larry) Joseph Ellison is the co-founder of Oracle Corporation. He’s currently listed as the fifth richest person in the world, with a net worth of over $155 billion. But Ellison’s journey to success was anything but straightforward… Born to a single teenage mom, he was adopted by his aunt and uncle. Without finishing college, Ellison worked on computer code for years. His big break came from an idea about organizing data better, inspired by an IBM paper. In 1977, he co-founded Software Development Laboratories with just $2,000. This company would later be called Oracle. Ellison was great at spotting opportunities and expanding by buying other companies. That’s how Oracle quickly became the top name for database software. Despite some tough times, the company hit it big with the release of Oracle 7 in 1992, making Ellison a billionaire. In 2014, Ellison stepped back, but he stayed as Oracle’s executive chairman and tech chief.