Note: The following entrepreneurs were selected for their inarguable impact on business and world history. Their inclusion on this list, however, does not imply endorsement of their products, philosophies or beliefs by either Entrepreneurs.com or WebMagic, Inc.
Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz
- Husband and wife used their show-business savvy to build Desilu Productions into an industry powerhouse.
Helen Gurley Brown
- Successful author transformed the publishing world and helped launched the sexual revolution in America with tenure as editor of Cosmopolitan magazine.
Walt and Roy O. Disney
- Midwestern brothers launched a worldwide business empire from the success of their early cartoon efforts.
Thomas Edison
- Visionary inventor whose ideas helped change the face of technology.
Henry Ford
- Took the automobile, invented in Europe, and shepherded a new form of transportation in America.
Benjamin Franklin
- Statesman and inventor.
Bill Gates
- Recently stepped down as CEO of Microsoft Corp. to focus on the software giant's strategic direction.
Hugh Hefner
- Set out to create an alternative to the sleazy men's magazines of the day and came up with Playboy, now part of a diversified company with ventures in video, cable television and the Internet.
Steve Jobs
- CEO of Apple Computer and Pixar, whose return to Apple has sent the firm's stock soaring.
Ray Kroc
- Took a single McDonald's hamburger stand and built it into a global brand.
Akio Morita
- Helped turn Sony into a worldwide force in the electronics industry.
Ross Perot
- After success in the computer industry, ran for president unsuccessfully in 1992 and 1996 and launched the growing Reform Party.
Mary Pickford
- Early screen star used her phenomenal success to launch United Artists with Douglas Fairbanks, Charles Chaplin and D.W. Griffith.
David Sarnoff
- Broadcast pioneer's early 20th century embrace of wireless technology gave rise to the radio and television industries.
Donald Trump
- Flamboyant real estate developer and author who recently flirted with a run for the White House.
Ted Turner
- Built Atlanta, Ga.-based CNN and TBS into cable industry powerhouse, now part of the proposed AOL-Time Warner merger.
Sam Walton
- Folksy founder of Wal-Mart and Sam's Club chains.
Oprah Winfrey
- Chicago-based broadcaster went from talk show to titan via the rapid success of her Harpo Entertainment Group. Recently partnered with other entertainment industry executives to launch the Oxygen cable network.
Wilbur and Orville Wright
- Brothers made history with the first powered airplane flight at Kitty Hawk, N.C., in 1903.
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