Top 50 Entrepreneurs (Non-Computer Tech)

This is not an exhaustive list, there are many great entrepreneurs that will and must be added. From this list we will exclude entrepreneurs that are in the computer tech business, whether it is software ,hardware or even online services and websites. We will create a separate list for tech entrepreneurs. Without further ado…

The Top 50 Entrepreneurs are (not in order):

1. Henry Ford: American industrialist and business magnate, founder of the Ford Motor Company, which revolutionized the automobile industry by using assembly line production.
2. John D. Rockefeller: American industrialist and philanthropist, founder of Standard Oil Company, which became one of the largest oil refining businesses in the world. He was a prominent philanthropist, giving away over $537 million to various causes over the course of his lifetime.
3. Andrew Carnegie: American industrialist and philanthropist, founder of the Carnegie Steel Company, which was the largest steel producer in the world and a major force in American business.
4. Cornelius Vanderbilt: American business magnate who built his wealth in railroads and shipping.
5. J.P. Morgan: American financier and banker who founded J.P. Morgan & Co., a prominent investment bank. He played a key role in the formation of several major U.S. corporations.
6. Charles Schwab: American steel magnate, businessman, and philanthropist. He led the consolidation of the American steel industry in the late 19th century, and became one of the wealthiest men in the world.
7. John Jacob Astor: American businessman, merchant, fur trader, and investor who was the first prominent member of the Astor family and the first multi-millionaire in the United States.
8. James J. Hill: American railroad executive who, with his two partners, created the Great Northern Railway.
9. George Westinghouse: American inventor, industrialist, and businessman who held over four hundred patents, many of them in the electrical field, he founded the Westinghouse Electric Corporation.
10. Jay Gould: American financier and railroad developer, He built the Western Union Telegraph Company and the Erie Railroad, becoming one of the wealthiest men in America in the late 19th century.
11. Samuel Insull: American businessman, investor, and philanthropist. He built a business empire that included utilities and public transportation and led the consolidation of the electric power industry.
12. Edward Harriman: American railroad executive, he was one of the wealthiest men in America in the late 19th century and early 20th century. He built the Union Pacific Railroad, one of the most important railroads in the United States.
13. John Wanamaker: American merchant and religious, civic and political figure, he is considered the father of modern advertising and a “pioneer in marketing”. He founded one of the first department stores, Wanamaker’s.
14. Frank Woolworth: American businessman who founded F. W. Woolworth Company, a retail company that was one of the first to sell fixed-price merchandise and pioneered the now-common practices of buying merchandise directly from manufacturers and advertising low prices.
15. George Eastman: American inventor, businessman and philanthropist who founded Eastman Kodak, one of the largest photography companies in the world. He also developed the first successful photographic film in roll form and he later made the first motion picture film on celluloid.
16. Thomas Edison: American inventor and businessman, who is credited with developing many devices that greatly influenced life around the world, including the phonograph, the motion picture camera, and a long-lasting, practical electric light bulb.
17. Alexander Graham Bell: Scottish-born inventor, scientist, and engineer who is credited with patenting the first practical telephone. He also co-founded the American Telephone and Telegraph Company (AT&T).
18. Charles Merrill: American financier and businessman, who founded the securities brokerage firm Merrill Lynch. He is considered the father of the modern brokerage industry and one of the pioneers of the modern mutual fund.
19. E. H. Harriman: American business magnate who, during the late 19th and early 20th century, controlled the Union Pacific railroad. He was one of the wealthiest and most powerful men in the country and was known for his influence in politics and business.
20. W. K. Vanderbilt: American businessman and philanthropist, He was a member of the prominent Vanderbilt family and was one of the richest Americans in the late 19th century. He built Vanderbilt Mansion on Fifth Avenue and his estate at Staten Island.
21. James B. Duke: American tobacco and electric power industrialist best known for the introduction of modern cigarette manufacture and marketing, and his involvement with Duke University. He also donated large sums of money to the university and helped establish the Duke Endowment.
22. James Mellon: American businessman, philanthropist and member of the Mellon banking family. He was involved in various business ventures, including the founding of Gulf Oil, which became one of the largest oil companies in the United States.
23. J. Howard Pew: American businessman, industrialist and philanthropist, co-founder of Sun Oil Company, which became the fourth-largest oil company in the United States. He was also a major philanthropist, donating millions of dollars to various religious and educational causes.
24. John Paul Getty: American-British industrialist, founder of the Getty Oil Company, one of the world’s leading oil companies, and one of the wealthiest men in the world in the 1960s.
25. Pierre du Pont: American businessman, engineer, and philanthropist, member of the Du Pont family, best known as the co-founder of DuPont, a global chemical and engineering company. He played a key role in the growth and development of the company.
26. Charles Revson: American businessman, founder and President of Revlon, one of the world’s leading cosmetics and beauty companies. He was known for his innovative marketing strategies and for the high-profile campaigns he used to promote his products.
27. Joseph P. Kennedy: American businessman, investor, and politician, father of U.S. President John F. Kennedy. He made his fortune through a variety of business ventures, including banking, stock market speculation, and the film industry.
28. Samuel Goldwyn: American film producer, also known as Samuel Goldfish. He was one of the founders of Hollywood studios, such as Goldwyn Pictures, MGM and United Artists. He was known for producing high-quality films and being one of the most successful movie producers of his time.
29. Samuel Newhouse: American businessman and newspaper publisher who built his fortune by owning and operating newspapers and magazines. He was the founder of Advance Publications, one of the largest magazine publishing companies in the United States.
30. Paul Mellon: American philanthropist and art collector, who was one of the wealthiest men in America during his lifetime. He is also known for being a major supporter of the arts, particularly through the establishment of the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C.
31. William S. Paley: American businessman, investor, and philanthropist, he is best known for founding and building the Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS) into one of the largest and most dominant media companies in the United States during the 20th century.
32. Alfred P. Sloan: American businessman, industrialist, and philanthropist, he was a long-time CEO of General Motors Corporation, where he played a key role in the company’s growth and development and helped to establish GM as one of the largest and most profitable companies in the world.
33. Francis Henry Taylor: American art historian, museum director, and curator, he is best known for his role in developing the American art museum and modernizing the ways in which art was exhibited and studied in the United States.
34. Walter P. Chrysler: American industrialist, who is best known as the founder of Chrysler Corporation, an American car manufacturer. He also was the president of Buick, and in turn the founder of the Chrysler Corporation, one of the Big Three American automobile manufacturers.
35. Charles P. Taft: American businessman, philanthropist, and member of the Taft political family. He was a prominent businessman in the city of Cincinnati, Ohio and was known for his philanthropy, particularly his support for education.
36. Howard Hughes: American business magnate, investor, record-setting pilot, engineer, film director, and philanthropist, he became prominent in the aviation industry and was one of the wealthiest people in the world during his lifetime.
37. Daniel Ludwig: American businessman, philanthropist, and industrialist. He was one of the wealthiest men in the world during his lifetime and was known for his business ventures in shipping, real estate, and construction.
38. George Soros: American businessman, investor, philanthropist, and political activist. He is one of the most successful investors in the world, and is known for his philanthropic work through his Open Society Foundations, which support human rights, democracy, and civil society.
39. Armand Hammer: American businessman, philanthropist and art collector, He was the CEO of the Occidental Petroleum Corporation and was involved in a variety of business ventures, and was known for his philanthropy, particularly his support for medical research.
40. Walt Disney: Pioneer in animation and entertainment, co-founded The Walt Disney Company and creating iconic characters such as Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck, and building Disneyland and Disney World theme parks. He revolutionized the animation industry, and his legacy continues to have a major impact on the entertainment industry today.
41. Richard Branson: British business magnate, investor, and philanthropist, He is the founder and chairman of the Virgin Group, which controls more than 400 companies in various fields, including travel, entertainment, and telecommunications.
42. Elon Musk: South African-born American business magnate, industrial designer, and engineer, he is the founder, CEO, and chief engineer/designer of SpaceX; early investor, CEO, and product architect of Tesla, Inc.; and founder of The Boring Company.
43. Ray Kroc: American businessman and franchisee of McDonald’s. He is credited with turning the small chain of fast-food restaurants founded by the McDonald brothers in San Bernardino, California, into one of the largest and most successful fast-food chains in the world.
44. William C. Durant: American businessman, founder of General Motors and one of the pioneers of the American automobile industry. He played a crucial role in the formation of the modern American automobile industry and was responsible for creating some of America’s most iconic car brands such as Chevrolet, Buick, and Cadillac.
45. John D. Hunter: American businessman and co-founder of Procter & Gamble, a multinational consumer goods corporation. He played a crucial role in building the company and helped it become one of the most successful and well-known companies in the world.
46. Marcus Goldman: German-born American businessman and co-founder of Goldman Sachs, one of the most powerful investment banks in the world. He was a pioneer in the field of investment banking and helped to establish the modern investment banking industry.
47. Sam Walton: American businessman, founder of Walmart, which grew to be the world’s largest company by revenue, as well as the largest private employer in the world. He is widely credited with revolutionizing the retail industry and popularizing the concept of discount retailing.
48. Dave Thomas: American businessman and founder of Wendy’s, a fast-food restaurant chain. He played a key role in building Wendy’s into one of the most successful fast-food chains in the world.
49. Ingvar Kamprad: Swedish businessman and founder of IKEA, a multinational furniture retailer. He built IKEA into one of the world’s largest and most successful furniture retailers, known for its low prices and innovative designs.
50. R.H. Macy: American businessman and founder of Macy’s, one of the largest department store chains in the United States. He played a key role in popularizing the department store concept and helping to establish the modern retail industry.
51. James Cash Penney: American businessman, and founder of J.C. Penney, a department store chain. He was known for his innovative retailing methods and was one of the pioneers of the department store concept.