Financial geniuses of the world. The history of successful people in the world

Many famous people have their own inspiring stories, but these 15 people will surprise you with their downfalls and setbacks.

"If you decide to go through hell, go."- Winston Churchill

Way to success is quite complex and quite often leads us to failures that turn into falls in our lives. Success requires a lot of hard work, patience and courage to face challenges and all possible obstacles. Success is something that doesn't come easy. Failure on the road to success is the norm, but the fact remains that this is just a step towards success. Many famous people had to overcome numerous obstacles in their path, to become successful. Failure has brought them to the lowest points of their lives. However, their hard labour gave them what they fought for and their perseverance is now an inspiration to many. If you have ever felt down in life and needed a little inspiration to get through this period, here are some people who were pressed by hard times, and who became famous.

Walt Disney's inspiring story began with his share of failures - he was fired from his job at the Kansas City Star newspaper because "he lacked imagination and had no good ideas"; his Mickey Mouse cartoons were rejected for being "too scary for women"; The Three Little Pigs was also rejected because it only had four characters; his first business venture, the animation studio Laugh-O-Gram, went out of business due to bankruptcy. Stepping over failure, he built the Walt Disney Company, which is now raking in billions. Rumor has it that Disney was turned down 302 times before finally getting funding for The Walt Disney Company.

Before Harrison Ford became Han Solo and Indiana Jones, at 30 he was a self-taught carpenter, taking care of his family to the best of his ability. He had small roles in television shows but it was barely enough to support his family. That is why he decided to become a carpenter. Ford was building a closet at George Lucas's home when he offered him a supporting role in American Graffiti at the age of 29. But only 6 years later he became Han Solo, created by the same George Lucas.

Hollywood star Sylvester Stallone inspires us with his unique history. At the age of 20, he was an ordinary salesman in a grocery store. He was so broke that he had to sell his wife's jewelry in order to somehow feed his family. At one point, he was so desperate that he was forced to sell his dog to a stranger at a liquor store for $25. He says the biggest downfall of his life was when he started crying. Then he did "Rocky" and this creepy part his life was closed. Guess what he did with his first paycheck? He bought his dog back for $15,000.

Currently one of the richest women in the world. Her inspiring story began in complete poverty, when she was a divorcee and raised a child alone. JK Rowling has gone through a series of downfalls. Rowling was so poor that she didn't even have the money to print the Harry Potter manuscript, so she typed all 9000+ words on an old typewriter manually to submit to the publisher.

The President and Editor-in-Chief of The Huffington Post is a prominent figure in American politics, but she tasted a bitter taste of failure when she finished fifth with a margin of just 0.55% in the 2003 California gubernatorial race. Although she successfully sold her first book, her second book was rejected 36 times. She has now published 13 books and the success of The Huffington Post is incredible - everything suggests that she learned a lot from her failures and her story is truly inspiring.

Donald Trump owed $1 billion in the early 1990s, and journalists insisted that this money could be forgotten, it could not be paid back. One day he said to his daughter, passing by a homeless man: “Do you think this is a bum? He has one billion dollars more than me." Back then, Trump says, he was at the lowest point of his life. Then he makes the largest financial turnover in history, after which he is listed in the Guinness Book of Records. He once owed $1 billion, but Donald Trump's net worth is now estimated at $4.5 billion.

Michael Jordan is undeniably the most famous basketball player in the world. As a child, he understood that he loved basketball and wanted to make a career out of it, but the coach would not take him because he was short. The basketball legend wasn't even selected for his high school's varsity basketball team. Jordan has moved forward through all of these setbacks that have defined his success and are truly inspiring now.

Albert Einstein could not speak until he was four and did not read until he was seven. His parents and teachers thought that he was not just slow, but mentally retarded and antisocial. He was expelled from school, and he was also denied admission to the Zurich Polytechnic. Einstein is now a household name, synonymous with "genius" - credited for changing the world with his discoveries.

The inspiring story of Abraham Lincoln began when he was young, when he held the rank of captain, but soon lost it. Then he tried to open many businesses, all of which failed. Coming from a very poor family, he went on through many hardships to become a successful lawyer. Lincoln then lost several races for public office, but none of which could stop him from running for President of the United States.

This successful comedian lived with his family for a while in a Volkswagen bus parked all over Canada. As a child, his family was so poor that he had to leave high school to find a job. He took a job as a janitor just to support his family. inspiring because it was during these financially difficult times that he developed his sense of humor, from which he later earned millions.

We all know about the success of this horror master. Only a few of us know true story his success, which now inspires many new writers to create their own masterpieces. King's first bestseller, Carrie, was rejected 30 times before the book was published. In fact, out of desperation, he threw the manuscript into the trash. He came from a poor family and worked as a teacher in English, selling short stories for magazines to supplement your income. To date, he has over 50 novels that have sold over 350 million copies.

Thomas Edison's teachers said he was "too stupid to learn anything" for his mother to pick him up from school and teach him herself. He was also fired from his first two jobs for not being "productive enough". Ironically, Thomas Edison is now considered one of the greatest innovators of all time. His inspiring story is that his success, after over 10,000 failed attempts to invent a commercially viable light bulb, established good example that perseverance is really worth it.

Steven Spielberg is considered to be one of the greatest filmmakers of our time, having given us films like Jaws, Jurassic Park, Saving Private Ryan and a few others. It seems incredible, but he was expelled from the University of Southern California School of Cinematic Arts - not once, but twice. Spielberg's story is inspiring because, despite it, he didn't let himself be thrown off track and backtracked on his dream of making films; he persevered and is now successful enough to donate money to the construction of the University from which he was once expelled.

Henry Ford built one of the most successful car companies of all time, but he's no stranger to failure. The history of Henry Ford began in 1899 when he formed the Detroit automobile company, which went bankrupt after a short period of time. Again in 1901 he formed the Henry Ford Company. And she also went bankrupt. His third attempt called "Ford Motor Company" is really inspiring, it was she who pushed Henry Ford to the pinnacle of success and revolutionized the automotive industry.

This TV star has a very tragic past. Oprah was born into a poor family, and at the age of 14 she herself gave birth to a child and lost him. She was molested by her cousins ​​and family friends. She left everything and went to work on television. She is now one of the richest women in the world with a net worth of $2.9 billion. These inspirational stories are mostly based on hard times and low falls. famous people who today are successful and wealthy. All of them have achieved their success from scratch, having nothing but their talents and abilities, which they have developed and honed over the years. I hope these stories really inspire you for serious feats in life, because it is important to understand that the path to success will already be passed by many, which means it can be passed by us too!

Today, these people are on the Forbes list, but the beginning of their lives did not portend such a development. Many billionaires have made their fortunes by overcoming social, political, and psychological barriers. Inspirational examples of the richest people in the world.

Participants of the Forbes list are considered to be the minions of fate, who pulled out happy ticket and not knowing the hardships of a simple life. However, many billionaires have made their fortunes by climbing out of poverty and overcoming incredible social, political and psychological barriers. The most inspiring stories of the 2015 world ranking in our selection.

Moed Altrad

• Net worth: $1 billion
• Country: France

The story of the 67-year-old French billionaire, who entered the Forbes ranking for the first time this year, is like a fairy tale. Born to a Bedouin family in the Syrian desert, Moed lost his mother at the age of four. His father regularly beat him, and eventually abandoned his son altogether. The orphaned child was raised by his grandmother. Out of superstition, she forbade Moed to attend school, so that the boy actually had to do it in secret.

The craving for knowledge was so great that Altrad received a scholarship to study in France. He moved to his new homeland 46 years ago without a penny in his pocket and without knowing the language. At first, Moed ate no more than once a day the most meager food. But the talent for physics and mathematics gradually helped him out of poverty. He received a degree in information technology and began his career with internships in technology and oil companies.

In 1985, Altrad decided to go into business himself, for which he bought a bankrupt construction plant in the south of France. Despite the lack of experience in the industry, the aspiring entrepreneur very quickly learned the basics of business, made his company profitable and engaged in an expansion that has not ended to this day.

Li Ka-shin

• Wealth: $33.3 billion
• Country: Hong Kong

The richest man in Asia, Li Ka-shing knows firsthand what life is like on the edge of poverty. At the age of 12, he had to drop out of school and work in a watch band factory to support his family. By 1950, he had amassed his first capital and entered the trade in plastic toys and related products. Later, Li Ka-shing bought the factory himself, and things went uphill. Since then, the billionaire's business has grown into a diversified holding with assets in real estate, ports, technology and a host of other industries. Li Ka-shin employs 270,000 people in 52 countries.

Leonardo Del Vecchio

• Wealth: $20.4 billion
• Country: Italy

The mother of the future billionaire sent her son to Orphanage When Leonardo was seven years old, the family did not have enough money to raise a child. After going through a tough orphanage school, at 14 Del Vecchio got a job as an apprentice in a factory that produced eyeglass frames and auto parts. After another eleven years, he founded his own company - Luxxotica. Today it is the world's largest manufacturer of sunglasses and prescription eyewear, owning the Ray Ban and Oakley brands and making products for Burberry, Bulgari, Chanel, DKNY, Dolce & Gabbana, Armani, Prada, Ralph Lauren, Tiffany, Versache and many other companies. Del Vecchio in his homeland is deservedly called the "king of points".

Roman Abramovich

• Wealth: $9.1 billion
• Country Russia

The world's most famous billionaire from Russia 14 was orphaned when he was four years old and raised by relatives. Having not received a higher education, he went to serve in the army, and upon his return he started his first business - selling toys from his own apartment. Later, the enterprising entrepreneur made a fortune on oil deals and in 1995 acquired the then powerful Boris Berezovsky as a business partner. In tandem, they bought Sibneft from the state at a more than modest price tag, which became the basis of Abramovich's fortune.

David Murdoch

• Wealth: $3.1 billion
• Country: USA

Dyslexic David did not finish his studies at school and was forced to start working at a gas station from his teenage years until he joined the army in 1943. Returning from the front, he borrowed $1,800 from friends and opened a diner restaurant. Since then, Murdoch's business has grown at an incredible rate. Today he runs the world's largest fruit and vegetable producer and exporter, Dole Food Corporation.

Sheldon Adelson

• Wealth: $31.4 billion
• Country: USA

The son of a taxi driver, Adelson grew up in a small apartment in a "social" house on the outskirts of Boston. He had to sleep on the floor, and his grandmother became the main teacher of the boy. At the age of 12, Sheldon borrowed $200 from his uncle and started selling newspapers and magazines. Since then, the business has grown exponentially. Over the decades of his entrepreneurial career, Adelson has experienced ups and downs - he sold vending machines, advertising publications, consulting services, a service for organizing large conferences, etc. In the end, the businessman found his niche in gambling business- he became the "King of Las Vegas", the owner of the largest casino management company Las Vegas Sands, which has a representative office not only in the United States, but also in Macau, China.

John Paul Dejoria

• Wealth: $2.8 billion
• Country: USA

In the early 1980s, DeJoria found himself homeless and sleeping in his car on Sunset Boulevard in Los Angeles. A Vietnam War veteran, he was selling shampoo door-to-door at the time. The businessman has since turned his $ 700 savings into John Paul Mitchell Systems, one of the largest hair care product manufacturers in the country, which he founded together with Paul Mitchell. Today, the company sells a wide range of products, from familiar shampoos to exotic product categories such as tequila (Patrón Spirits brand) and Cell phones(ROK Mobile).

Jan Kum

The iconic TV presenter, producer and women's rights activist was born when her mother was still a minor. She was raised by her grandmother on a farm in Mississippi. Winfrey made her first steps in television in Nashville, Baltimore. She then moved to Chicago, where she forcibly turned a third-rate morning show into the number one federal talk show. Over time, Oprah left the frame, preparing for herself real business an empire that today includes many businesses, from producing Hollywood films to publishing bestsellers.

Christos Lazari

• Wealth: $2.1 billion
• Country: UK

Now one of London's most influential real estate investors, Lazari arrived in the British capital at the age of 16 from his small village in Cyprus with £20 in his pocket. At first, he washed dishes and served guests in restaurants, thus saving money for studying design courses. Later, Christos created his own brand Drendie Girl, but the fashion industry did not work out - and in 1978 the aspiring entrepreneur switched to the real estate market. Today, his Lazari Investments owns 2.5 million square feet of office space in prestigious areas of London.

Miki Jagtiani

• Wealth: $5.2 billion
• Country: India

In his youth, Jagtiani dropped out of college and tried to gain a foothold in London, not disdaining the work of a cleaner at a hotel and a taxi driver. He ended up leaving Britain for Bahrain to help the family run a children's goods store. Soon, within just one year, Miki lost all his close relatives - his mother, father and brother. Business management fell entirely on his shoulders. But Jagtiani did it - and turned the humble store into a $5 billion Landmark Group retail chain with 1,900 points of sale in the Middle East, Africa and India.

Many people dream of fame, wealth and happiness. However, not everyone succeeds in achieving something in life. From the article you will learn about how successful people became successful, how to find the main secrets and principles of luck.

Age-old mystery

Thousands of thinkers, scientists and ordinary people trying to create a universal path to victory. Some people believe that the only way to achieve your goals in life is through hard work. Others are sure that people receive a "ticket" from fortune from birth. Still others are convinced that a person becomes great only because of mystical coincidences. But people who have actually succeeded know that only all of the named points together will help to catch the "firebird".

Absolutely everyone is sure that everything depends on specific person and his ability to recognize and use the chances that fate offers. Of course, it is impossible to reach heights in one hour or several lessons on the topic “How to become a successful person” from a famous lucky person. But if you strive for this and read the relevant literature, communicate with interesting people, that is, every chance to change your life for the better.

In any case, there are rules that unite all the rich and handsome men and women among themselves. The first secret is to set goals and priorities correctly. Immediately think about who you want to be, for example, in 10-20 years, what you need to do to achieve what you want. Start with small tasks. If they are successful, then continue to work in the same spirit.

The second secret: when you go to the goal, do not waste time on things that make you vulnerable and insecure. Try to avoid people who do not share your intentions. The ability to deal with difficulties, criticism and temptations are the main qualities of a successful person. Remember that no matter how hard you try, there will be people who will not appreciate your work.

The third secret: do not put things off until later. Enthusiasm and ideas often lose to laziness and lack of initiative, so try to cultivate punctuality and patience in yourself. After all, men and women with such traits are valued in the world.

Computer genius

The idol of many dreamers is Bill Gates. The story of this man is fascinating and instructive. He was born into a wealthy family. My father worked as a successful lawyer, and my mother was actively involved in charity work. The boy lived in a good area and attended an excellent school. From childhood, parents tried to instill in their son the spirit of competition. Relatives made sure that the boy aspired to science. Little Bill liked to play various games, in which he was often the winner.

Already at the age of 10, the boy decided that he would enter the circle in which there are successful people. His father was a role model. Therefore, instead of sports games and fun with friends the boy read a lot and spent time studying.

Ironically, the school had one of the very first computers. Even then, he was interested in a unique machine. Intuitively, he felt that the world will change the program, not the devices on which they are installed. It was at this time that Bill created the first projects. The director encouraged the students with bonuses. For his work, the boy received the first 500 dollars at the age of 15. After graduating from school, the guy set himself the goal of making money on programming. It should be noted that not all the people around him believed in Bill's powers.

Target and means

Parents who knew nothing about computers were against such a desire. They believed that successful people could not do such a thing, and saw their son as a lawyer. The young man entered Harvard. On the machines of the university, he continued to write programs. The money that I got for my ideas I invested in the business. In 1975, Bill and his friend opened their own company, which they called Microsoft. Often a genius worked so hard and diligently that he fell asleep right in the office. The guy dropped out of Harvard. Parents did not share his choice, but the computer genius did not give up.

Bill Gates knew how to become a successful person. The secret of the man was hard work and fabulous ambitions.

In 1978, there were already 11 people in the Microsoft office. Today, the program that his company created has 90% of computer users.

There were ups and downs in the history of this genius, but he confidently walked towards his goal. Several times Bill Gates topped the list of the richest people in the world. Now the multibillionaire gives significant funds to charity. He donates millions to the poor and disadvantaged. His new goal in life is to save the world.

Grief as an incentive

The most successful people work in different directions. If Bill Gates got the fame of a computer genius, then in the world of the book, J.K. Rowling is the leader.

The future writer was born in a simple family. Her homeland was the county of Gloucestershire, which is located in England. She had younger sister. It was to her that the author read her first stories. At the age of 5-6 Joan wrote a fairy tale. Childhood can not be called sweet. The family often lacked money. The girl was afraid of her father because complex nature. And her mother, whom she loved very much, died when Joan was 25 years old. She took the tragedy very hard. But it was this death that pushed her to work. It should be noted that before cardinal changes, almost all successful people in the world experience something terrible, unusual.

A few months before the disaster, she, racing on a train, imagined a dark-haired boy who had just found out that he was a magician. At that moment, the novelist did not have a pen with her, so more and more new and vivid images surfaced in her head.

Creativity is a pill for depression

She wrote the book very slowly. Behind a short time Rowling survived the death of her mother, a divorce from her abusive husband, and a move back to England. A woman with a small child, whom she gave birth to in 1993, lived very poorly. For some time she suffered from severe depression. Therefore, many dark and evil characters appeared in the draft of the Harry Potter book.

Life successful people is not always easy. But this writer did not give up and continued to create. She was given strength by the dream that her novel would be published. The story that the world admires today was originally Joan's diary. In it, she solved her problems with the help of fantastic situations. The work saved her from pain and suffering. A woman wrote when the child was sleeping after walking.

In 1995, Rowling completed her first book. However, none of the publishers she applied to agreed to publish the story. Once "Harry Potter" fell into the hands of the daughter of one of the editors. It was the interest of this girl that contributed to the fact that the novel saw the light of day. Over 400 million copies have now been sold. The writer is on the list of the richest women in the UK.

Charity

For some time, many friends and even strangers asked the famous author for money. Almost all successful people in the world face this situation. Many women helped. But Joan is of the opinion that big money spoils the personality. The writer herself lives quite modestly and very rarely, even despite her financial situation, allows herself expensive things.

Every week, thousands of letters arrive in the writer's mailbox. Some of them are from fans. Others from various organizations who are asking for help. At first, Rowling gave funds to everyone. But then I realized that it would not be able to help anyone in particular. Later, she decided to create her own charitable foundation. Almost all successful people turn to this practice. Her organization fights against multiple sclerosis, from which her mother died.

No age limits

Everyone has long known that the realization of a dream into reality and a small triumph make a person not only happy, but also improve his health. There is a great example that success can be achieved regardless of age and background. This is a unique person named Grandma Moses.

This American was born in the distant 1860. Since childhood, she loved to draw. All her life she worked hard on the farm. She became an exemplary mother of five children and a good man. She didn't have time for her favorite hobby.

The woman retired and started painting. Grandma was in her 70s when a collector from New York liked her work. Simple, soulful landscapes immediately conquered the world. Exhibitions of paintings by the artist were held around the world. The woman created about 1600 paintings and died at the age of 101.

It should be noted that in 2004 her work "The Old Colorful House, 1862" sold at auction for $60,000. The story of Grandma Moses proves that the activity of a successful person does not depend on age.

Characteristics of goals

Everyone's secret to success is unique. Someone needs a good chance and useful connections to fulfill their dream. Others - a lot of time and a lot of opportunities. But in any case, without colossal work, expenditure of energy and ambition, it is impossible to wake up and become famous in one day.

For many people, happiness and success are not measured in the amount of money in the bank account, not in the army of fans who are on duty at the door. There are people for whom luck is to fulfill their dream, no matter how strange it may seem to others. The former want simple family comfort, the latter - career development, third - the ability to freely travel around the world. For each individual person, triumph has its own characteristics.

Stories about how successful people became successful are a step that can bring you closer to your goal. It doesn't matter what a person puts in front of him. If his aspirations are pure and bright, sincere work and circumstances will contribute to their realization.

The stories of great fortunes seem fictional - we are convinced that it is impossible to get rich by honest work. There are white spots in the biographies of millionaires, but there are also clearly visible common features character. They are purposeful, persistent and enterprising.

Most rich and successful people were born into ordinary families with an average income. Just like most of us. And since childhood, they were in equal conditions with their peers, had equal opportunities with them.

But then why did some become rich and others not? Why did some manage to get rich, while others did not, other things being equal?

Clan Rothschild

The Rothschild family tree began in Frankfurt am Main, Germany, where for generations they lived in a nondescript house on the Judengasse. The Jewish street was fenced off from the city on both sides, and a red sign hung on the house. It is to this circumstance that the family owes its surname: translated from German, Rothschild means a red shield.

Mayer Rothschild, born in 1744, still a young man found the strength to change the habitual bleak existence that his ancestors dragged out, and left for Hanover, which is more tolerant of Jews. Mayer studied banking with the Oppenheimer bankers for several years, and returning to native home, found the family completely impoverished. The house under the red sign had to be changed to a shack with a frying pan on the facade. In this miserable building, Mayer opened a firm selling old coins. The young Rothschild was engaged in compiling catalogs and delivering coins to all corners of Germany. Collectors in those days were aristocrats, so Meyer acquired useful contacts in the highest circles of German society. One of Rothschild's clients was Wilhelm, Duke of Hanau, who purchased some expensive coins. Thanks to this “gesheft”, Rothschild was able to equip a shop in the “house under the pan”, where merchants exchanged the currency of different principalities of Germany.

The first Rothschild bank huddled on four square meters, but Meyer was purposeful and full of plans: he continued to engage in collectible coins and bought out the shops of burned-out money changers. The ancestor of the banking house tirelessly traveled through numerous duchies and principalities, concluding deals and getting to know influential people. Efforts were not in vain: already in 1769, the coat of arms of the Dukes of Hesse-Hanau flaunted over the Rothschild house with a golden inscription saying that Mayer Rothschild was the Duke's manager.

Wilhelm was not a typical aristocrat - he did not shy away from issuing loans at interest and renting out entire companies of killer mercenaries. In a word, the duke was extremely money-loving, and half of the European rulers owed him money.

Mayer Rothschild, who carried out the orders of the duke-possessor, warmed his hands well in collecting debts. The family moved to good house under the green sign and the Rothschilds began to be called Grunschilds. True, it was decided not to change the name. The described events can be considered the foundation of the future prosperity of the family, but the real breakthrough was made by Mayer's five sons, raised by Pope Rothschild. The offspring turned into real financial tycoons in Europe. As the biographer of the Rothschild clan wrote, the family grew rich whenever any of the states collapsed.

The first was the Kingdom of Denmark, which went bankrupt in 1804. Wilhelm, already familiar to us, borrowed money from his uncle, the King of Denmark. In order not to sully his aristocratic name, Wilhelm instructed five Rothschild juniors to collect interest on the loan, and they coped with the debut brilliantly. This is how the Rodschild banking house was founded, which opened a Swiss branch 150 years later. Since then, the Rothschilds have not gone out of the ranks of the richest people in the world, retaining their corporate style of doing business. A bank in Zurich, for example, only accepts clients with a net worth of over 1 million Swiss francs.

The Rothschilds work with exceptional clients, not exchanging for "little things." In their tenacious hands are the largest banks in France and Great Britain, railway complexes, mining concerns, oil companies, diamond mines and much more. At the same time, representatives of a noble family actively influence world politics, while remaining in the shadows.

The Rothschild Empire is indestructible and omnipotent. The secret of power, of course, is in business sense, passed down from generation to generation. But no less significant factor is devotion to the family idea. All members of the family, with rare exceptions, increased the fortune of the clan. For more than two hundred years, the world has been watching the prosperity of the Rothschild clan, many hate them, but everyone needs the protection and money of the clan.

François Pinault

One of the most influential and wealthy citizens of France: a collector who owns the Christie's auction house, the Gucci brand, the Chateau-Latour vineyards and the Marigny theater in the capital.

In 1936, in French Brittany, a son was born in the family of a simple forester. The father struggled to make ends meet, but turned inside out so that Francois became a graduate. The young man did not appreciate the parental efforts, and at the age of 16 he left his studies and left home. Pino did not want to study, he only wanted to do what he likes and can bring good profit. Studying would have taken too much time, and he is still proud that his only diploma is a license to drive a car. Francois Pinault did not want to drag out the gray existence of a worker, and his relatives vied with each other to teach him how to live. Having quarreled with everyone and striving for an independent life, the young man left for Algeria.

What the future millionaire did in the French colony is unknown. There was a war in Algeria, and, according to Pino's enemies, he traded weapons and drugs for three years. We are unlikely to ever know the details of the Algerian period of the life of François, but now it does not matter. In any case, Pino returned to France a different person - he had money, self-confidence and grandiose plans.

François, 27, opened the Pinault group, a timber trading company. Business contacts and useful acquaintances began to be established. One of these promising contacts was an acquaintance with the promising politician Jacques Chirac. No one can say for sure what united the impulsive Chirac and the rational Pinault, perhaps the first was struck by François's unmistakable business sense. His stock market predictions are legendary. Before the collapse stock market in 1973, Pinault suddenly sold the prosperous Pinault Group for 30 million francs, and a year later he bought his offspring for only 5 million. Thus, during the year he managed to earn an amount exceeding his income for the previous 5 years. And in 1976, Francois dissuaded Prime Minister Jacques Chirac from a business trip. Soon it turned out that the train was mined by terrorists. Since then, Chirac is sure that he owes his life to Francois. Perhaps this is a coincidence, but after that incident, the business of the Pino company went even better.

A measured life became boring to a respectable 52-year-old father of four children, and he set about making his youthful dream come true. He wanted great wealth, and he chose the game on the stock exchange as a way to enrich himself.

Paris Bourse and François Pinault

It is quite natural that the famous flair of Pino made him one of the most successful speculators on the stock exchange: he bought and sold enterprises with invariable success (see ""). The morality of his operations raises doubts, however, such categories are alien to stockbrokers.

In 1989, Paul Paoli, chairman of the board of directors of the Franco-African trade union, invited François Pinault to participate in the capital. Pinault started with 20%, and a few months later decided to add Acquisition to the Pinault group. The directors, including Paoli, were immediately fired, and the Pino company took up the African supply of electrical equipment.

The successful takeover spurred Pino on, and in 1991 he acquired American Executive Life in violation of the law. The profit from the transaction amounted to from 1 to 2 billion dollars, and the fine was only $185 million. With the billions earned, Pino bought the Conforama retail chain, and a year later, the largest Printemps department store, then the La Redoute chain and Fnac bookstores. Every time he fired top managers, putting his people in their place. The François Pinault Pinault-Printemps-Redoute group is now one of the most powerful retail associations in France. But the billionaire does not stop, continuing to buy everything in a row, for which he deserves the nickname Octopus.

Pinot in "art"

Nouveau riche Pinot became interested in collecting and fashion. Starting out buying paintings, in 1998 he decided to take ownership of Christie's. This auction house together with Sotheby's controls 90% of all transactions. Approaching the world of art did not change Francois' methods of work: he fired almost the entire management, and set up a hotel at Christie's headquarters. Everyone was talking about the uncleanliness of Francois Pinault, who drowns competitors indiscriminately, but Christie's revenue of $ 1.4 billion, apparently, left no doubt about the correctness of the chosen path.

In the world of high fashion, the billionaire also does not stand on ceremony. Acting in his favorite way, Octopus acquired Gucci Group, Yves Saint Laurent, Sergio Rossi, Bedat & Co, Stella McCartney, Balenciaga and Puma and others. He has a controlling stake in the Redcats catalog and the largest FNAC chain of stores. It is difficult to say what Pino did not get to, but there is no doubt that he will not fail to chop off everything that lies badly and deserves attention.

True, in 2003, Pinault handed over the reins to his eldest son Francois-Henri and took up the world's best vineyard "Chateau-Latour" and collecting works of art. François Pinault achieved perfection in the ability to "occupy all the burners with his pots." This French proverb fully characterizes the lifestyle of this billionaire: take advantage of all opportunities.

Ingmar Kamprad

The name IKEA is known to everyone, but few know the name of the founder of the company. Many generations of the Kamprads succeeded in business, so we can assume that Ingmar inherited the entrepreneurial spirit. True, there were black stripes in the history of the family. So, the grandfather of the founder of IKEA committed suicide when his company was threatened with bankruptcy. Grandma then took matters into her own hands and was able to keep the business going. Ingvar loves to tell this story, considering it the best proof that hard work and perseverance help overcome all obstacles.

Ingvar Kamprad appeared on the account in 1926 in the Swedish province of Smaland. From a young age, he showed commercial inclinations: at school he sold matches, pencils and other small things bought in bulk. While his classmates were just getting ready to enter adulthood, Ingvar earned money for his first company, which he opened at the age of 15.

It's hard to believe, but Kamprad founded when he was only 17 years old - in 1943. The name of the company consists of the initial letters of his first and last name, the third letter E - from Elmtaryd (the family farm was called), the ending A - Agunnaryd (the village closest to the farm).

At first, IKEA was engaged in the sale of various little things like paper clips and socks. Ingmar published a catalog and orders began to arrive by mail, delivered by the milkman, who made the rounds every day anyway. 1951 can be considered the beginning of the Kamprad furniture business - an idle factory was bought, production was launched and the first catalog was published. Just a couple of years later, the first store selling IKEA furniture opened its doors, and five years later a huge complex with an area of ​​​​about 7,000 square meters opened its doors. m.

Prices for furniture from the very beginning were low, which was not to the liking of other furniture makers. Many refused to supply their goods to Ingmar stores, but this only strengthened the position of IKEA. Compard's innovative strategy was to buy parts and components from countries with cheap production. IKEA furniture is traditionally democratic, inexpensive and comfortable. The combination of these qualities makes IKEA products super popular.

The founder of IKEA does not like luxury, and his stinginess is well known. Going on business trips, the billionaire always stays in 3-star hotels, uses public transport, eats in cafes and inexpensive restaurants, and always haggles in supermarkets. He himself says that in this way he studies the requests of ordinary people who make up the bulk of IKEA buyers.

Now Ingvar Kamprad is 89 years old, and he handed over the management of the business to his sons. The billionaire himself believes that his success is due to the constant dissatisfaction with what has been achieved. He always treated his company like a child: sometimes a weighted slap on the back of the head does not at all mean a lack of love.

The founder of IKEA does not have a higher education diploma, and school teachers hardly taught him to read and write. But a talented entrepreneur has always brilliantly coped with the most difficult tasks, unmistakably finding original marketing moves. Ingvar Kamprad's enthusiasm, humility and sharp mind have raised him to a level that few have been able to achieve. Ingmar likes to be put on a par with Henry Ford, who also made affordable items that were considered luxuries for most people.

John Paul Dejoria

John Paul Dejoria's company produces the famous JPM Systems (John Paul Mitchell Systems) shampoo with an annual turnover of $900,000,000. Billionaire Dejoria is respected by all charitable foundations in the world, and he also took care of pets by developing a line of care products for them. In a word, John Paul readily helps anyone who needs his support. As it often happens, a person who has not been favored by fate since childhood, is sympathetic to the problems of other people.

John Paul's parents separated when he was barely 2 years old, so already in childhood the boy was forced to earn extra money, selling greeting cards by Christmas. After 10 years, the child took to her foster family. The beginning of the life of the future billionaire was not cloudless: he was in a Los Angeles gang and only military service saved him from a criminal future. After serving, Dejorio set out to go into business, but he had neither money nor relatives who could lend.

John Paul borrowed $700 from the bank and started a shampoo company. He personally had to sell products, literally, moving from office to office. The car was both his home and his means of transportation, but John Paul is not one to back down from difficulties. He was confident in the quality of his shampoo, purposeful and persistent. Now we already know that these qualities, along with talent and inspiration, made DeJoria a billionaire.