Search
00
GBAF Logo
trophy
Top StoriesInterviewsBusinessFinanceBankingTechnologyInvestingTradingVideosAwardsMagazinesHeadlinesTrends

Subscribe to our newsletter

Get the latest news and updates from our team.

Global Banking & Finance Review®

Global Banking & Finance Review® - Subscribe to our newsletter

Company

    GBAF Logo
    • About Us
    • Profile
    • Privacy & Cookie Policy
    • Terms of Use
    • Contact Us
    • Advertising
    • Submit Post
    • Latest News
    • Research Reports
    • Press Release
    • Awards▾
      • About the Awards
      • Awards TimeTable
      • Submit Nominations
      • Testimonials
      • Media Room
      • Award Winners
      • FAQ
    • Magazines▾
      • Global Banking & Finance Review Magazine Issue 79
      • Global Banking & Finance Review Magazine Issue 78
      • Global Banking & Finance Review Magazine Issue 77
      • Global Banking & Finance Review Magazine Issue 76
      • Global Banking & Finance Review Magazine Issue 75
      • Global Banking & Finance Review Magazine Issue 73
      • Global Banking & Finance Review Magazine Issue 71
      • Global Banking & Finance Review Magazine Issue 70
      • Global Banking & Finance Review Magazine Issue 69
      • Global Banking & Finance Review Magazine Issue 66
    Top StoriesInterviewsBusinessFinanceBankingTechnologyInvestingTradingVideosAwardsMagazinesHeadlinesTrends

    Global Banking & Finance Review® is a leading financial portal and online magazine offering News, Analysis, Opinion, Reviews, Interviews & Videos from the world of Banking, Finance, Business, Trading, Technology, Investing, Brokerage, Foreign Exchange, Tax & Legal, Islamic Finance, Asset & Wealth Management.
    Copyright © 2010-2026 GBAF Publications Ltd - All Rights Reserved. | Sitemap | Tags | Developed By eCorpIT

    Editorial & Advertiser disclosure

    Global Banking & Finance Review® is an online platform offering news, analysis, and opinion on the latest trends, developments, and innovations in the banking and finance industry worldwide. The platform covers a diverse range of topics, including banking, insurance, investment, wealth management, fintech, and regulatory issues. The website publishes news, press releases, opinion and advertorials on various financial organizations, products and services which are commissioned from various Companies, Organizations, PR agencies, Bloggers etc. These commissioned articles are commercial in nature. This is not to be considered as financial advice and should be considered only for information purposes. It does not reflect the views or opinion of our website and is not to be considered an endorsement or a recommendation. We cannot guarantee the accuracy or applicability of any information provided with respect to your individual or personal circumstances. Please seek Professional advice from a qualified professional before making any financial decisions. We link to various third-party websites, affiliate sales networks, and to our advertising partners websites. When you view or click on certain links available on our articles, our partners may compensate us for displaying the content to you or make a purchase or fill a form. This will not incur any additional charges to you. To make things simpler for you to identity or distinguish advertised or sponsored articles or links, you may consider all articles or links hosted on our site as a commercial article placement. We will not be responsible for any loss you may suffer as a result of any omission or inaccuracy on the website.

    Home > Business > Most Popular Figures in the Business World
    Business

    Most Popular Figures in the Business World

    Published by Wanda Rich

    Posted on February 20, 2023

    5 min read

    Last updated: February 2, 2026

    A group of prominent business leaders discussing innovation and entrepreneurship at a conference, highlighting key figures in the business world as mentioned in the article.
    Business leaders speaking at a conference showcasing influential figures - Global Banking & Finance Review
    Why waste money on news and opinion when you can access them for free?

    Take advantage of our newsletter subscription and stay informed on the go!

    Subscribe

    Tags:innovationtechnologyfinancial services

    Quick Summary

    While the number of jobs that can make you rich is limited, everyone can

    Table of Contents

    • Larry Page and Sergey Brin
    • Steve Jobs
    • Elon Musk
    • Bill Gates
    • Jeff Bezos
    • Jack Ma
    • Conclusion

    While the number of jobs that can make you rich is limited, everyone can start their own business. No one is better positioned than a business owner to amass wealth and success.

    Of course, the economic power of Silicon Valley is well-known. But who are the brains behind all of these technological giants? Some of the world’s most influential business leaders are listed below.

    Larry Page and Sergey Brin

    As far as search engines go, Google is by far the most user-friendly and hassle-free option. You may look up a music video by your favourite band and even avail financing options like CreditNinja personal loan, among others. Perhaps you found your way here from a Google search.

    Google was created by its two current co-CEOs, Larry Page and Sergey Brin. The two became roommates at Stanford and quickly became close friends. In 1998, they established Google to catalogue all human knowledge and make it readily available to everyone.

    As billionaires and philanthropists, Page and Brin have donated millions to a wide range of causes, including scientific research, education outreach initiatives around the world, environmental causes (including clean energy), disaster relief efforts, and the development of new technology designed to combat global challenges like climate change or disease outbreaks (such as Ebola).

    Steve Jobs

    Steve Jobs was a business magnate, inventor, and industrial designer from the United States. He founded Apple Inc. and served as its first chairman and CEO. In addition to Apple, Jobs co-founded and led Pixar Animation Studios. After Disney purchased the company in 2006, Jobs joined Disney’s board of directors.

    While born in San Francisco, Jobs spent his formative years in Los Altos, California. He started at Reed College in Oregon but withdrew after the first semester due to financial troubles. He decided to change his major and enrol at Grahm Junior College to study calligraphy.

    He then began working for Atari Inc., eventually running into Steve Wozniak (who would later become his partner). As Wozniak’s favourite fruit, an apple inspired the duo to develop their personal computer, which they eventually dubbed the Apple I.

    Jobs was diagnosed with a neuroendocrine tumour of the pancreas in 2003. On October 5, 2011, he died of a tumour-related respiratory arrest at the age of 56.

    Elon Musk

    Elon Musk is an entrepreneur, investor, and engineer born in South Africa. His resume includes co-founding and leading SpaceX as CEO and chief designer; co-founding and leading Tesla Inc. as CEO and product architect; co-founding and leading Neuralink as CEO; and co-founding and leading PayPal as co-CEO. With these achievements, Time Magazine named Elon Musk the “Person of the Year” in 2021.

    Musk has said that his vision for the future of the world and humanity influences the missions of Tesla, SolarCity (now a single entity), and SpaceX. A sustainable energy production system and a Martian colony are two of his top priorities in the fight against global warming and the “danger of human extinction.”

    In 2016, Musk also established The Boring Company, an infrastructure company, to create tunnel technology to accommodate growing cities.

    Bill Gates

    Bill Gates, one of the wealthiest persons in the world and co-founder of Microsoft, is a multibillionaire. With his $90 billion fortune, he could buy 344 million Big Macs or provide food for every resident of California for 1,000 years.

    Gates has committed to giving away 99% of his money before he dies, and he has already contributed billions of dollars to charity during his career. He also established a charity focusing on combating global health issues like AIDS and malaria through the advancement of global education.

    Jeff Bezos

    Jeff Bezos started Amazon, the largest e-commerce company, and serves as its CEO. His $150 billion in wealth makes him the fifth wealthiest individual on the planet.

    Bezos is also known for his charitable contributions to various causes like schools, hospitals, and research centres. Together with his then-wife MacKenzie, now its president, he established The Bezos Family Foundation in 1994. The pair has just promised $2 billion to fund scholarships for 1 million Dreamers, or undocumented immigrants brought to the United States as minors.

    Bezos, the son of an American mother and a Cuban refugee father, was born on January 12, 1964, in Albuquerque, New Mexico, but he spent most of his adolescent and juvenile years in Houston, where he earned his high school diploma and his undergraduate degree from Princeton University in 1986 and his master’s degree in business administration from Harvard Business School in 1988.

    Jack Ma

    The estimated net worth of Jack Ma, founder of Alibaba and one of China’s wealthiest individuals, is $40 billion. When he started Alibaba in 1999, he became China’s first billionaire. In 2018, the company’s sales surpassed those of Amazon, making it the largest online retailer in the world.

    Ma and Jeff Bezos (founder and CEO of Amazon) met in 2005 to examine the potential for collaboration and competition between their respective businesses.

    Conclusion

    These individuals have placed a mark on the world that will continue to reverberate even long after they are gone. They consistently rank among the world’s wealthiest individuals, and their businesses generate billions in annual revenue. Hard to say if any of them would have been successful without their special abilities or experiences, but they all had a vision.

    These businesspeople have significantly transformed our daily routines with initiative, creativity, and sheer grit.

    Frequently Asked Questions about Most Popular Figures in the Business World

    1What is philanthropy?

    Philanthropy refers to the act of donating money, resources, or time to promote the welfare of others, often through charitable organizations or initiatives.

    2What is e-commerce?

    E-commerce is the buying and selling of goods or services using the internet, allowing businesses and consumers to conduct transactions online.

    3What is a co-founder?

    A co-founder is an individual who, along with one or more partners, establishes a business or organization, sharing the responsibilities and ownership.

    4What is a technology startup?

    A technology startup is a newly established company focused on developing and bringing to market innovative technology products or services.

    More from Business

    Explore more articles in the Business category

    Image for Empire Lending helps SMEs secure capital faster, without bank delays
    Empire Lending helps SMEs secure capital faster, without bank delays
    Image for Why Leen Kawas is Prioritizing Strategic Leadership at Propel Bio Partners
    Why Leen Kawas is Prioritizing Strategic Leadership at Propel Bio Partners
    Image for How Commercial Lending Software Platforms Are Structured and Utilized
    How Commercial Lending Software Platforms Are Structured and Utilized
    Image for Oil Traders vs. Tech Startups: Surprising Lessons from Two High-Stakes Worlds | Said Addi
    Oil Traders vs. Tech Startups: Surprising Lessons from Two High-Stakes Worlds | Said Addi
    Image for Why More Mortgage Brokers Are Choosing to Join a Network
    Why More Mortgage Brokers Are Choosing to Join a Network
    Image for From Recession Survivor to Industry Pioneer: Ed Lewis's Data Revolution
    From Recession Survivor to Industry Pioneer: Ed Lewis's Data Revolution
    Image for From Optometry to Soul Vision: The Doctor Helping Entrepreneurs Lead With Purpose
    From Optometry to Soul Vision: The Doctor Helping Entrepreneurs Lead With Purpose
    Image for Global Rankings Revealed: Top PMO Certifications Worldwide
    Global Rankings Revealed: Top PMO Certifications Worldwide
    Image for World Premiere of Midnight in the War Room to be Hosted at Black Hat Vegas
    World Premiere of Midnight in the War Room to be Hosted at Black Hat Vegas
    Image for Role of Personal Accident Cover in 2-Wheeler Insurance for Owners and Riders
    Role of Personal Accident Cover in 2-Wheeler Insurance for Owners and Riders
    Image for The Young Rich Lister Who Also Teaches: How Aaron Sansoni Built a Brand Around Execution
    The Young Rich Lister Who Also Teaches: How Aaron Sansoni Built a Brand Around Execution
    Image for Q3 2025 Priority Leadership: Tom Priore and Tim O'Leary Balance Near-Term Challenges with Long-Term Strategic Wins
    Q3 2025 Priority Leadership: Tom Priore and Tim O'Leary Balance Near-Term Challenges with Long-Term Strategic Wins
    View All Business Posts
    Previous Business Post5 Ways Freelancers Can Improve Their Financial Health
    Next Business PostHow can HR and finance teams collaborate for better business outcomes?