Achievements do not come alone; behind all the victories are hardships, dedication, and the stage of failure. Without breaking down, no one can lead the world. Hence see some of the business tycoons list belonging to diverse fields and careers with their ventures that may inspire you to rise.
The world is not short of business magnets to inspire and astonish us with their story, but what they have achieved and how in a lifetime is not a cup of tea for everyone. The tycoons are well known for their zealous and bestowed personalities around the globe.
The pandemic year has been a roller coaster ride for everyone, bringing down many companies, businesses, and industries. But this did not stop courageous and dedicated individuals; the pandemic is like a blessing in disguise for them. Even all the big businesses, industries, and institutions chose the way option; online. But individuals get a chance to start their businesses or startup and make a name for themselves in the business world or become entrepreneurs.
Summing up the list of some business persons of 2022 who have taken the world by storm, there is a lot to learn about business strategies and decision-making from these industrialists.
1. Elon Musk – Godfather of Business Tycoons
“Failure is an option here. If things are not failing, you are not innovating enough.”
Profile
- Co-founder and CEO: Tesla
- Assets: $228 billion
- Tesla Ownership Stake: 15% ($99.3 billion)
- Other Chattels: Space Exploration Technologies ($46.9 billion private asset), The Boring Company ($3.33 billion private asset), Twitter ($3.8 billion public asset), and $17.8 billion in cash.
Ventures & Net worth Details
Often termed as “Man from the future,” Elon Musk’s integrity toward his dreams is commendable. Musk delayed attendance to launch Zip2 while graduating, one of the most primitive online navigation services. He reinvested a portion of the proceeds from this startup to create X.com, the online payment system that was sold to eBay (EBAY) and ultimately became PayPal Holdings (PYPL).
In 2004, Musk became a foremost funder of Tesla Motors (now Tesla), which led to his existing position as CEO of the electric vehicle company. In addition to its line of electric automobiles, Tesla also produces energy storage devices, automobile accessories, and, through its acquisition of SolarCity in 2016, solar power systems.
Musk is also CEO and chief engineer of Space Exploration Technologies (SpaceX), a developer of space launch rockets. He is also a co-founder of Neuralink and OpenAI.
Thanks to the pitch in Tesla shares in 2021 and private transactions boosting the reported valuation of SpaceX, Musk’s lead in the global wealth rankings have continued to grow. His cash flow hit a high of $340 billion in November 2021 which makes him the godfather of business tycoons.
Musk began a campaign to take Twitter private, culminating in a $44 billion invasion in April 2022. Musk considered funding the compact with $21 billion of his own capital. In the run-up to the buyout announcement, Musk sold 9.6 million shares of Tesla, valued at roughly $8.5 billion.
In July 2022, Musk decided to back out of the Twitter takeover. As a result, Twitter filed a lawsuit against Musk to force the buyout to go through—then Musk countersued the company. He is the world’s wealthiest individual, with an estimated net worth of roughly US$219 billion as of June 2022.
2. Jeff Bezos – Godfather of eCommerce Business Tycoons
“If you’re not stubborn, you’ll give up on experiments too soon.
Profile
- Founder and Executive Chair: Amazon (AMZN)
- Assets: $144 billion
- Amazon Ownership Stake: 10% ($121 billion)
- Other Chattels: Blue Origin ($9.15 billion private asset), The Washington Post ($250 million private asset), and $14.1 billion in cash.
Ventures & Net worth Details
In 1994, Jeff Bezos founded Amazon in Seattle, shortly after he resigned from the hedge fund giant D.E. Shaw. He had originally leaned the idea of an online bookstore to his ex-boss David E. Shaw, who wasn’t interested.
Though Amazon originally started selling books, it has become a one-stop shop for everything under the root and is arguably the world’s largest retailer. Amazon’s pattern of constant diversification is evident in some of its unexpected expansions, which include acquiring Whole Foods in 2017 and entering the pharmacy business the same year.
Bezos owned as much as 16% of Amazon in 2019 before transferring 4% to his former wife, MacKenzie Scott, as part of the divorce proceedings. In 2020, Amazon’s share price jumped 76% on the heightened demand for online shopping during the COVID-19 pandemic. Bezos stepped down as CEO of the e-commerce giant, becoming its executive chair On July 5, 2021.
Bezos’ other projects include aerospace company Blue Origin, The Washington Post (which he purchased in 2013), and the 10,000-year clock—also known as the Long Now.
On July 20, 2021, Bezos, his brother Mark, aviation pioneer Wally Funk, and Dutch student Oliver Daemen completed Blue Origin’s first successful crewed flight, reaching an altitude of more than 66 miles before landing safely. Bezos’ wealth peaked at $211 billion in the same month. Therefore, Bezos is the 2nd Tycoon on the Top Business Tycoons list.
Bezos’s space company Blue Origin is working in sync with SpaceX, Boeing, and NASA on a project, ‘Humans on Moon by 2024’ and colonies on Mars by 2030s. Next is one of the greatest investors and the mentor and inspiration for all who wish to have a career in equities and investments.
3. Bill Gates-Godfather of Microsoft
“It’s fine to celebrate success but it is more important to heed the lessons of failure.”
Profile
- Co-founder: Microsoft (MSFT)
- Assets: $111 billion
- Microsoft Ownership Stake: 1.3% ($25.6 billion)
- Other Chattels: Cascade Investment LLC ($51.8 billion public chattels), $52.4 billion in cash.
Ventures & Net worth Details
Bill Gates, an American Business Magnate, serves as Microsoft’s chairman, CEO, president, and chief software architect. At 21, he became a Billionaire with unconditional intelligence and passion for his work.
The largest software company Microsoft also produces its line of personal computers, publishes books in the course of Microsoft Press, provides email services through its Exchange server, and sells video game systems and associated peripheral devices. Originally Microsoft’s chief software architect, Gates shifted to board chair in 2008. He joined Berkshire Hathaway’s board in 2004. He stepped down from both boards on March 13, 2020.
Gates has much of his cash flow in Cascade Investment LLC. Cascade is a privately-held investment vehicle that owns a variety of stocks, including Canadian National Railway (CNR), Deere (DE), and Republic Services (RSG), also private investments in real estate and energy.
In 2000, Gates’ two philanthropic organizations—the William H. Gates Foundation and the Gates Learning Foundation—merged to create the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, still co-chaired by Gates and his ex-wife, Melinda French Gates. The divorce proceedings in 2021 transferred roughly $5 billion in equities to French Gates.
Through the foundation, they have spent billions to fight polio and malaria. The foundation guaranteed $50 million in 2014 to help fight Ebola. As of 2021, the foundation had spent more than $1.9 billion fighting the COVID-19 pandemic.
In 2010, alongside Warren Buffett, Bill Gates launched the Giving Pledge, a campaign encouraging the wealthy to donate most of their wealth to philanthropic causes. Gates is also the largest private farmland owner in the U.S., with over 268,000 acres.
An American businessman Bill Gates is #3 on our list of biggest tycoons in the world. Bill Gates has been included for four years in the Forbes list of the world’s wealthiest people.
4. Warren Buffett-Godfather of Top Shareholder Business Tycoons
“Price is what you pay. Value is what you get.”
Profile
- CEO: Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.A)
- Assets: $98.2 billion
- Berkshire Hathaway Ownership Stake: 16% ($97.1 billion)
- Other Chattels: $1.03 billion in cash
Ventures & Net worth Details
Warren Edward Buffett, Chairman, and CEO of Berkshire Hathaway and the best business tycoon grab the investor’s attention. He is the most victorious investor in the world, with withdrawals of US $118 billion. A buffet is also known as the ‘Oracle of Omaha.’
More newly, Berkshire Hathaway has invested in large, illustrious corporations. Its wholly-owned subordinates include interests in insurance, railroads, energy distribution, and consumer products. Buffett is a renowned Bitcoin skeptic.
He holds more than 60 ventures, including insurer Geico, battery maker Duracell, and restaurant chain Dairy Queen. In 2010, he and Gates launched the ‘Giving Pledge’ asking billionaires to commit and donate half their wealth to a charitable trust.
He initially purchased shares in a textile company called Berkshire Hathaway in 1962, becoming the majority shareholder by 1965. He extended the company to insurance and other investments in 1967. Berkshire Hathaway is a $705 billion-dollar market cap company now, with a single share of stock (Class A shares) trading at more than $439,000 commencing August 5, 2022.
Buffett’s investment philosophy contributed to the world with a bargain-buying strategy for the generation of investors. He said, “If you’re making a good investment in security, it shouldn’t bother you if they closed the stock market for five years.” He is a great role model for investors of the next generation.
5. Larry Page – Godfather of the Alphabet (gooG)
“You need to get one thing done well, or else you don’t have permission to do anything else.”
Profile
- Co-founder and Board Member: Alphabet (GOOG)
- Assets: $93.6 billion
- Alphabet Ownership Stake: 6% ($79.5 billion total)
- Other Chattels: $14.1 billion in cash.
Ventures & Net worth Details
Lawrence Edward Page is popular as a business tycoon, internet entrepreneur, and computer scientist in the United States. Along with Sergey Brin, he is best recognized as one of the co-founders of Google in 1998. He is the Board-member and co-founder of Alphabet, too, and stands in fifth place on the richest person’s list. His assets are estimated to be $111 billion.
Google is the dominant internet search engine, accounting for more than 92% of global search requests. In 2006, the company purchased YouTube, the top platform for user-submitted videos. After acquiring Android in 2005, Google released the Android mobile phone operating system in 2008. Google reorganized in 2015, becoming a subsidiary of Alphabet, a holding company.
Page was among early investors in Planetary Resources, a space exploration, and asteroid-mining company. The company was established in 2009 and was acquired by blockchain firm ConsenSys in 2018 amid funding problems.
He has also shown an interest in flying car companies, investing in Kitty Hawk and Opener. Shares of Google soared almost 50% in 2021, moving Page and Brin up the billionaire list. Page’s net Worth went from just below $52 billion in March 2020 to the current $98.7 billion.
In addition to his other withdrawals, he has $14.6 billion in cash. Google’s stock increased roughly 50% in 2021, propelling Larry into the billionaire club. Larry was also an untimely financier in Planetary Resources, a space exploration, and asteroid mining company.
6. Sergey Brin – Godfather of Google Online Tools
“Solving big problems is easier than solving little problems.”
Profile
- Co-founder and Board Member: Alphabet (GOOG)
- Assets: $89.6 billion
- Alphabet Ownership Stake: 6% ($75.4 billion total)
- Other Assets: $14.2 billion in cash.
Ventures & Net worth Details
Sergey Mikhaylovich Brin is known as an Internet entrepreneur and computer scientist from the United States. Moreover, he, along with Larry Page, co-founded Google. Brin was the CEO of the parent company of Google, Alphabet Inc.
Brin focused most on X 2019, Alphabet’s research division accountable for cutting-edge technology like Waymo self-driving cars and Google Glass smart glasses. However, he’s also united with The Michael J. Fox Foundation to contribute millions of dollars to Parkinson’s disease research.
In addition to its dominant internet search engine, Google offers a suite of online tools and services known as Google Workspace, which means Gmail, Google Drive, Calendar, Meet, Chat, Google Docs, Google Sheets, Google Slides, and more. Google also offers a variety of electronic devices, including Pixel smartphones, computers, tablets, Nest smart home devices, and the Stadia gaming platform.
His net worth is $107 billion as of June 2022, making him the world’s sixth-richest person. He maintained the identical position at the Alphabet holding company after its establishment in 2015 until Sundar Pichai took over as CEO in 2019.