With a combination of good luck and business savvy, these 10 men have redefined modern conceptions of wealth. Here are just a few of their secrets so you can start building your own fortune.
1. Stef Wertheimer
The head of Israel’s richest family, Stef Wertheimer actually dropped out of school when he was 16. He relied on self-education to get him where he is today: the billionaire owner of multiple industrial parks.
2. Steve Wynn
Stephen Wynn grew up in bingo parlors, and they provided a nice foundation for his eventual success as a casino builder and renovator. He’s now worth a cool $4 billion thanks to years of expanding the Vegas Strip, and his bank accounts are growing by the day.
3. Yan Bin
As a wealthy businessman, Yan Bin has made a lot of investments over the years, but his most successful was in a little company called Red Bull. He’s now worth somewhere between $6 and $8 billion, so the brand definitely gave him wings.
4. Larry Ellison
Larry Ellison attended two different colleges and graduated from neither, yet he eventually rose to prominence as the leader of the Oracle Corporation. With nothing but ambition and a willingness to work hard, he’s made himself the third-richest man in the world.
5. Sheldon Adelson
The son of a taxi driver, Sheldon Adelson started a variety of businesses before eventually gaining traction with resorts, casinos and charter tours. Not bad for a teenager who once borrowed $200 so he could buy and sell newspapers!
6. Hiroshi Mikitani
Despite being one of the richest men in Japan, Hiroshi Mikitani came from humble roots. He mostly accumulated his wealth by making the right investments at the right time, attaching himself to brands like Kobo, Pininterest and Buy.com. He now rests his laurels on $6 billion.
7. Roman Abramovich
Another college dropout, Roman Abramovich has been everything from a soldier to a factory worker. He eventually struck gold as the owner of Millhouse LLC, an investment company, and today he lives large as a billionaire and owner of football teams.
8. Michael Dell
Michael Dell was dismantling computers by age 15. Within a few years he’d graduated to building them, and a few years after that he was selling computers out of his condo. He’s now worth $16 billion as the co-founder and CEO of Dell Inc.
9. Leonard Lauder
You may not recognize him by sight, but you definitely know his brand. The Estée Lauder Company is worth billions worldwide, and it’s all thanks to the tireless efforts of this 81-year-old tycoon who still reigns as chairman today.
10. Sulaiman Al Rajhi
In the 1950s, Sulaiman Al Rajhi proposed a radical idea: a bank without interest rates. Despite the naysayers, he decided to follow his dream and create the Al Rajhi Bank, which is now one of the largest in Saudi Arabia with one of the richest CEOs.
These are just 10 of the wealthiest men in the world. They may have started their lives in taxis and bingo parlors, but their determination should serve as a lesson to anyone seeking fame and fortune: If you have a dream and a willingness to roll up your sleeves, you can achieve greatness, to.