12 greatest entrepreneurs of our time

Some names are obvious. Some are not. In this Forbes list, we take a look at entrepreneurs who have made a significant impact on the people and the economy.

  • Some names are obvious. Some are not. In this Forbes list, we take a look at entrepreneurs who have made a significant impact on the people and the economy. <br><br>
Rank 1 | Steve Jobs<br><br>
This does not come as a surprise. Steve Jobs was the co-founder of Apple, the maker of the Mac, iPhone and iPad, among other revolutionary products.
    Some names are obvious. Some are not. In this Forbes list, we take a look at entrepreneurs who have made a significant impact on the people and the economy.

    Rank 1 | Steve Jobs

    This does not come as a surprise. Steve Jobs was the co-founder of Apple, the maker of the Mac, iPhone and iPad, among other revolutionary products.
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  • Rank 2 | Bill Gates<br><br>
Gates is the co-founder and chairman of Microsoft and is consistently ranked among the world's richest people. He is also the co-chairman of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.
    Rank 2 | Bill Gates

    Gates is the co-founder and chairman of Microsoft and is consistently ranked among the world's richest people. He is also the co-chairman of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.
  • Rank 3 | Fred Smith <br><br>
Smith is the founder and chief executive of FedEx, a global courier delivery service headquartered in Memphis, Tennessee.
    Rank 3 | Fred Smith

    Smith is the founder and chief executive of FedEx, a global courier delivery service headquartered in Memphis, Tennessee.
  • Rank 4 | Jeff Bezos<br><br>
Bezos is the founder and CEO of online company Amazon.com, the largest retailer on the Internet. He was also the Time Person of the Year in 1999.
    Rank 4 | Jeff Bezos

    Bezos is the founder and CEO of online company Amazon.com, the largest retailer on the Internet. He was also the Time Person of the Year in 1999.
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  • Rank 5 | Larry Page and Sergey Brin<br><br>
They are the founders of search engine giant Google, a company they set up while attending Stanford University. Page is now the chief executive of the company, while Brin handles special projects.
    Rank 5 | Larry Page and Sergey Brin

    They are the founders of search engine giant Google, a company they set up while attending Stanford University. Page is now the chief executive of the company, while Brin handles special projects.
  • Rank 6 | Howard Schultz<br><br>
Schultz is the chairman and chief executive of Starbucks, the world's largest coffee chain, which has over 20,000 stores in 61 countries.
    Rank 6 | Howard Schultz

    Schultz is the chairman and chief executive of Starbucks, the world's largest coffee chain, which has over 20,000 stores in 61 countries.
  • Rank 7 | Mark Zuckerberg<br><br>
Zuckerberg is the co-founder, chairman and chief executive of social networking site Facebook. The company began trading on the Nasdaq in May this year.
    Rank 7 | Mark Zuckerberg

    Zuckerberg is the co-founder, chairman and chief executive of social networking site Facebook. The company began trading on the Nasdaq in May this year.
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  • Rank 8 | John Mackey<br><br>
Mackey is the co-founder of Whole Foods Market, a food supermarket chain based in Texas, and also one of the most influential advocates in the movement for organic food.
    Rank 8 | John Mackey

    Mackey is the co-founder of Whole Foods Market, a food supermarket chain based in Texas, and also one of the most influential advocates in the movement for organic food.
  • Rank 9 | Herb Kelleher<br><br>
Kelleher is the co-founder and former chief executive of Southwest Airlines, the largest low-cost carrier in the United States.
    Rank 9 | Herb Kelleher

    Kelleher is the co-founder and former chief executive of Southwest Airlines, the largest low-cost carrier in the United States.
  • Rank 10 | N.R. Narayana Murthy<br><br>
Murthy is one of the seven co-founders of Infosys, and served as the CEO of the company from 1981 to 2002, and then as chairman till 2011. He is now chairman-emeritus.
    Rank 10 | N.R. Narayana Murthy

    Murthy is one of the seven co-founders of Infosys, and served as the CEO of the company from 1981 to 2002, and then as chairman till 2011. He is now chairman-emeritus.
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  • Rank 11 | Sam Walton<br><br>
Walton was the founder of Walmart, one of the world's largest department stores. The company is the world's third largest firm by revenue, behind Exxon Mobil and Royal Dutch Shell.
    Rank 11 | Sam Walton

    Walton was the founder of Walmart, one of the world's largest department stores. The company is the world's third largest firm by revenue, behind Exxon Mobil and Royal Dutch Shell.
  • Rank 12 | Muhammad Yunus<br><br>
Yunus is the founder of Grameen Bank and a Nobel Peace Prize winner. The concepts of microfinance and microcredit, which are now shaping lives in over 100 countries, are his brainchild.
    Rank 12 | Muhammad Yunus

    Yunus is the founder of Grameen Bank and a Nobel Peace Prize winner. The concepts of microfinance and microcredit, which are now shaping lives in over 100 countries, are his brainchild.