Business Figures are people who have achieved success by creating, buying or selling products or brands, often with great risks. From Bill Gates and Martha Stewart to Walt Disney, Business Figures wield influence and power.
Les Moonves has stepped down as the chairman, president and CEO of CBS Corp after six more women have accused him of sexual misconduct, as reported in The New Yorker. Moonves and CBS will donate $20 million to "one or more organizations that support the #MeToo movement and equality for women in the workplace."
Elizabeth Holmes is the founder and former CEO of Theranos, a health technology company that marketed a new mode of blood testing. After allegations against the company’s technology and business practices, Theranos’ valuation collapsed.
Colonel Tom Parker managed Elvis Presley’s career, turning the singer into one of the first rock superstars.
Mark Zuckerberg has topped Warren Buffett to become the world’s third-richest person, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index. The Facebook co-founder trails only two other tech giants: Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos and Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates.
Virgin Group founder Richard Branson announced Virgin Voyages, the company's new cruise line, laid down the keel for its first ship. The line has three ships costing $2.55 billion and holding 2,800 guests and 1,150 crew. Cruises begin in 2020.
Rupert Murdoch's 21st Century Fox has said it would sell off Sky News to Disney after facing regulatory concerns over Fox’s monopoly on the British news market. Earlier this year, Disney proposed a takeover of all of 21st Century Fox, which has yet to be approved by regulators.
One of America’s richest men is now its no. 2 real estate broker. Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway bought HomeServices of America, Inc. in 2000; the company has since grown through acquisitions, including Long & Foster Cos. last year, to dominate its business sector.
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On Sunday, FX premiered its show ‘Trust,’ about the life of American businessman J. Paul Getty, who built his family’s fortune in oil. Dubbed at one point the richest man in the world, he’s known for his artistic endeavors, miserliness and the kidnapping of his grandson.
Entrepreneur Bill Gates founded the world's largest software business, Microsoft, with Paul Allen, and subsequently became one of the richest men in the world.
Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban has been fined $600,000 for saying "losing is our best option" on a podcast this week. The Mavericks are currently one-half game away from the worst record in the NBA -- also putting them within one game from the top pick in the next draft lottery.
American entrepreneur Jeff Bezos is the founder and chief executive officer of Amazon.com and owner of 'The Washington Post.' His successful business ventures have made him one of the richest people in the world.
Helena Rubinstein was a Polish entrepreneur best known for her global cosmetics empire.
In the 10th edition of their annual letter, Melinda and Bill Gates took on President Trump’s “America First worldview,” with Melinda writing: “I wish our president would treat people, and especially women, with more respect when he speaks and tweets.”
Steve Wynn has resigned as chairman and CEO of Wynn Resorts after decades of sexual misconduct allegations surfaced in a WSJ investigation. The Las Vegas casino mogul denies charges and blamed “an avalanche of negative publicity” for creating “a rush to judgement.”
Former political adviser Roger Ailes transformed the cable news landscape during his reign as chief of the Fox News Channel from 1996 to 2016.
George Soros is calling for “more stringent regulations” on Facebook and Google. The billionaire financier accused the companies of being a “near-monopoly” and of being tempted to “compromise” themselves to enter the authoritarian Chinese market, where they’re banned.
Evan Spiegel is the co-founder and CEO of Snap Inc., named for its flagship product, the photo- and video-sharing app Snapchat.
In 1953, writer and illustrator Hugh Hefner created the men's adult entertainment magazine 'Playboy,' which played a role in the sexual revolution of the 1960s. Hefner built his controversial yet groundbreaking magazine into an international enterprise.
American P.T. Barnum was an immensely successful promoter who founded the circus he coined "The Greatest Show on Earth" in 1871.
Sean Parker is an entrepreneur who co-founded the music file-sharing service Napster and was the founding president of Facebook.
J.P. Morgan founded the banking company J.P. Morgan & Co., one of the leading financial firms in the country, in 1871.
