Read on to see how the worlds richest man has come to be.

Carlos Slim is currently the world’s richest man. Carlos has been an entrepreneur since the age of 12, when he first decided to purchase shares in a Mexican bank. Now Carlos Slim is worth billions upon billions ($75.5 Billion to be exact).

Carlos Slim – The World’s Richest Man

Carlos Slim Helu’s father, Julian, was a Lebanese immigrant to Mexico where he operated a dry goods store and invested in commercial real estate in Mexico City, which made him wealthy.

Julian seemed to have been aware that Carlos was going to be good at commerce and would educate him on business dealings. Although he was only 12 years old when his father died, Carlos inherited his fathers business talents, whose work ethic and business acumen was extraordinary.

Carlos first worked at the family company before studying civil engineering and eventually becoming a stock broker in his own brokerage firm. He invested wisely in a variety of businesses so that by the time he was 26 he was already worth forty million dollars. However, Carlos never wanted to be a stock trader, preferring to be a good businessman. Carlos Slim’s mastery of numbers is legendary. In the 1960s, his studies of linear programming gave him a formidable edge in the business world. Using this amazing talent, In 1981, Carlos did his homework and decided to buy into the second largest tobacco company in Mexico, Cigatam, who made Marlboro cigarettes. With the money he made, he was able to begin buying companies.

As oil prices declined in 1982, the Mexican economy started to go downhill . That’s when Carlos wisely invested the Cigatam profits in the Mexican divisions of American businesses such as Reynolds Aluminum and Hershey Corporation, as well as Mexican financial services. Basically, Carlos Slim earned his fortune and his power by putting monopolies together, especially in communications. He is a ruthless businessman, buying companies cheaply, organizing them and quickly driving competition out of business. Gathering many businesses with interests in construction, mining, printing, tobacco, food, and retail, he formed a conglomerate.

In the late Eighties Carlos Slim added other companies that traded in copper, aluminum and chemicals, after which he sold shares in his conglomerate, Grupo Carso, as a public company. He also bought Telmex, the telecommunications company. Along with Telcel, his mobile phone company, they handle most of Mexico’s phone and mobile lines.

In the Nineties, after buying the Mexican division of Sears Roebuck, Carlos began expanding his business empire out of Latin America by setting up Telmex USA and by joining Microsoft to begin a portal called ProdigyMSN.

One of the few business mistakes Carlos made was buying a stake in CompUSA in 1999 for $800 million. Unfortunately, the sales of personal computers were slowing down at the time because they were more and more obsolete as new technology became available. Carlos tried everything to keep them afloat, including changing CEO’s and other various strategies, but eventually the chain closed more than half its stores and sold the rest.

Carlos says that he has lost count of the “more than two hundred companies” he now controls. If he dines out in a restaurant, chances are that he owns it. Believe it or not, he does not even use a computer himself, preferring the old skool way, “a pen and paper!”

Carlos Slim has a mansion in Mexico City where he has hosted American presidents and famous Mexican novelists. He claims to live a rather rustic life, not traveling much and enjoying baseball as he roots for the New York Yankees. Rather, he enjoys staying at home and reading about the military strategies of Genghis Khan.

Although Carlos Slim is the largest private employer in Mexico and the world’s richest man, he is thrifty and not at all flamboyant as many businessmen of his social status tend to become. Described by his business associates and competitors as being very aggressive, he is a power to be reckoned with. That power extends to the Mexican legislature. His lawyers have successfully blocked any legislation that threatens his companies.

Carlos Slim’s 10 Keys To Business Success

1. Have a simple organizational structure
2. Maintain austerity
3. Focus on growth
4. Minimize non-productive things
5. Work together
6. Reinvest profits
7. Be charitable
8. Keep optimistic
9. Work hard
10. Create wealth

In one of his latest newspaper interviews, Mr. Slim states that he believes the retirement age should be expanded to 70 years old since originally the retirement age was based more on physical work but now it should be based on services provided rather than hard physical labor.

Having had a heart attack in the late Nineties, Carlos has slowed things down, allowing his six children and their spouses to take more responsibility, although he remains “Honorary Lifetime Chairman” of his businesses.

Focusing now on Mexican and Latin American education, health and employment, Carlos is Chairman of five Boards involving this work.

Carlos Slim’s Net Worth is now $75.5 billion dollars, making him the world’s richest man.

Carlos Slim Quotes

“All times are good time for those who know how to work and have the tools to do so.” – Carlos Slim

“Do not allow negative feelings and emotions to control your mind. Emotional harm does not come from others; it is conceived and developed within ourselves.” - Carlos Slim

“Live the present intensely and fully, do not let the past be a burden, and let the future be an incentive. Each person forges his or her own destiny.” – Carlos Slim

“When there is a crisis, that’s when some are interested in getting out and that’s when we are interested in getting in.” - Carlos Slim

“When we decide to do something, we do it quickly.” - Carlos Slim

“I think one of the big errors people are making right now is thinking that old-style businesses will be obsolete, when actually they will be an important part of this new civilization. Some retail groups are introducing e-commerce and think that the “bricks” are no longer useful. But they will continue to be important.” - Carlos Slim

“When you live for others’ opinions, you are dead. I don’t want to live thinking about how I’ll be remembered.” - Carlos Slim

Article By Joel Brown | Addicted2Success.com

What comes into mind when thinking about Bernie Ecclestone or Richard Branson? They are wealthy people, of course. Their name may not mean much to you, but taking a look at their life and achievements may inspire you. Going from rags to riches as an entrepreneur is something special and knowing how they did it is essential.

This list includes 10 European entrepreneurs who found success and saw a spectacular rise from humble beginnings to incredible wealth.

Europe’s Top 10 Self Made Billionaires

1. Armancio Ortega Gaona

Armancio Ortega Gaona is a Spanish entrepreneur who manages the popular fashion stores Zara, Massimo Dutti, Tempe and Pull and Bear and Bershka. Armancio Ortega Gaona’s net worth is $46.6 billion USD. He started out as a gofer for textile companies and in 1972 he founded his own company, named Confecciones Goa, which produced bathrobes.

Now, at 76, Armancio keeps a low profile, rarely appearing only at fashion shows, wearing jeans and t shirts.

2. Ingvar Kamprad

IKEA’s founder, Ingvar Kamprad started selling matches to his neighbors when he was only 14 in his hometown of Agunnaryd. He continued selling fish, Christmas decorations, pens, pencils and seeds. His breakthrough came at 17, when his father gave him a present for excellent academic achievements. Ingvar used this money to found IKEA, which is an acronym derived from his name, the name of the farm where he was born and the hometown (Ingvar Kamprad, Elmtaryd, Agunnaryd).

This Swedish entrepreneur, Ingvar Kamprad has a net worth of $42.2 billion USD.

3. Karl and Theo Albrecht

Karl and Theo Albrecht are two entrepreneur brothers from Germany who were born in a middle class community in Essen. After the end of World War II, where they both served, they took over their mother’s business, a small convenience store. In 1961 they opened the first Aldi discount store. Now, the store operates in 9,221 locations and boasts an annual revenue exceeding $65 billion USD.

Karl and Theo Albrecht have a combined net worth of $16.7 billion USD.

4. Hasso Plattner

Co-founder of software company SAP AG, Hasso Plattner is a German entrepreneur who started as an engineer for a local company in Bavaria. In 2001, Time magazine listed Plattner as one of the most influential IT business persons. His portfolio of software products includes a wide range of communication and social services solutions.

Hasso Plattner’s current net worth is $7.3 billion USD.

5. Bernie Ecclestone

Bernie Ecclestone is known primarily for his involvement in F1 racing, known by his nickname “F1 Supremo”. He was born in a small hamlet near Suffolk in England, in a humble family and his father was a fisherman. At the age of 16 he quit school and worked as a motorcycle repairman. After the war he founded Compton&Ecclestone, a motorcycle parts dealer and started racing in the Formula 3 series. After an accident he was forced to retire, but his connection to the motor sports didn’t stop. He started investing in real estate and other lucrative endeavors, and in 1957 he became Stuart Lewis-Evans’ manager, a successful racing driver.

Bernie Ecclestone‘s entrepreneur career rose spectacularly, becoming CEO of various racing teams, and he founded F1 racing as part of Formula One Group, the governing body of the sport. Bernie Ecclestone’s net worth is $4.2 Billion USD.

6. Richard Branson

The founder of Virgin, Richard Branson, started out by selling records to his friends and acquaintances. He founded Virgin initially to sell his records for a low price, with the name being suggested by a friend, indicating that they were new to the entrepreneur business. His business model was simple: sell the records at the lowest price possible. Later, he created the Virgin record label and signed controversial bands such as The Sex Pistols and Can. He also founded Virgin Airlines and other business ventures bearing the same name. His business interests now include Virgin Health Bank, Virgin Racing and Virgin Media among many others.

Richard Branson is one of the richest entrepreneurs in Europe, with a net worth exceeding $4.2 billion USD.

7. Xavier Niel

Xavier Niel is a French technology entrepreneur known as the creator of Free, a French internet provider founded in 1999. Now, he is the majority shareholder of Iliad, a major internet provider in France. He also co-owns Le Monde, a major French newspaper. His business empire now spans 18 countries and is a major player in the communications market.

Xavier Niel’s net worth is estimated at over $4.2 billion USD, making him one of the richest people in France.

8. Andreas von Bechtolsheim

Andreas von Bechtolsheim is a German entrepreneur from Bavaria. He was born in a small village in the Alps, and because he had no television, he began to experiment with electrics and electronics. At only 16 he designed a controller for industrial operations which allowed him to finance his studies. He studied at the University of Technology in Munich and earned a Master’s Degree from Carnegie University. While studying for his PhD at Stanford, Andreas  designed the SUN workstation, which in 1988, after only 6 years on the market, was worth over $1 billion USD. He is also known as one of the first investors in Google, writing a check of $100,000 USD in 1998. Other investments include Tasmania Network Systems, Brightmail, Brocade and Mirapoint.

Andreas von Bechtolsheim net worth is listed at $2.3 billion USD.

9. Niklas Zennstrom

Niklas Zennstrom is the entrepreneur who created the legendary Kazaa, Joost and the well-known message service Skype. Born in a middle class family in Sweden, he started his career working for Tele2, a European communications operator. In 2001, Niklas together with a friend, created the peer-to-peer file sharing platform named Kazaa, which proved hugely successful. Niklas was CEO of Skype until 2007, when he became its chairman. Other investments include Atomico, Fon, Rovio, Klarna, Fab and Jawbone. Niklas Zennstrom‘s portfolio of businesses makes him one of the richest tech entrepreneurs in Europe, with a net worth of $1.3 billion USD.

10. Yuri Milner

Born in Moscow in 1961, Yuri Milner was influenced by his intellectual parents and studied physics at Moscow State University. He received a degree from Wharton School of Business in 1990. In 1999 he founded NetBridge and created companies such as Mail.ru, List.ru and a website based on ebay.com, named Molotok.ru. Yuri Milner’s investments also include stakes in Twitter, Airbnb, Alibaba and Spotify.

Yuri Milner’s net worth of over $1 billion USD, Yuri is one of the richest technology entrepreneurs in Russia.

Article By Joel Brown | Addicted2Success.com

This years list of the worlds richest celebrity couples is pretty impressive.

With a collective net worth of $4.1 Billion between these 17 cashed up couples there is more than enough money for them to buy a few Ambani skyscraper homes and all move in together.

The Top 17 Richest Couples By Combined Net Worth

17. Judd Apatow and Leslie Mann

Net Worth $98 Million

16. Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner

Net Worth $100 Million

15. Chris Martin and Gwyneth Paltrow

 Net Worth $100 Million

14. Gavin Rossdale and Gwen Stefani

Net Worth $115 Million

13. Kurt Russell and Goldie Hawn

Net Worth $130 Million

12. Sarah Jessica Parker and Matthew Broderick

Net Worth $135 Million

11. Tim McGraw and Faith Hill

Net Worth $135 Million

10. Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban

Net Worth $155 Million

9. John Travolta and Kelly Preston

Net Worth $170 Million

8. Will and Jada Pinkett Smith

Net Worth $208 Million

7. Harrison Ford and Calista Flockhart

Net Worth $224 Million

6. David Beckham and Victoria Beckham

Net Worth $255 Million

5. Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt

Net Worth $270 Million

4. Tom Brady and Gisele Bundchen

Net Worth $350 Million

3. Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood

Net Worth $365 Million

2. Mariah Carey and Nick Cannon

Net Worth $515 Million

1. Jay-Z and Beyonce Knowles

Net Worth $775 Million

Net Worth figures compiled by CelebrityNetWorth.com

With a #1 album, over 200 million Youtube views and netting well over 1.5 million dollars in record sales with no major record label behind him, Mac Miller is definitely ‘somethin else’.

Here are some lessons that every entrepreneur can learn from Mac Miller:

Lessons From Mac Miller

Determine Your Field Of Specialization

There are plenty of activities that Mac Miller was involved in as a high school teenager. However he made a choice to focus all his attention into music, and not just any music. He was certain of his genre, hip hop.

As an entrepreneur you must choose the specific business you want to engage in, depending on your capabilities. After making your decision do not allow yourself to be distracted by what seems like opportunities in other fields. Concentrate on being the best among your competitors.

Pay Attention To The Foundation

The formative stages of any business are crucial as they set the stage for future operations. Mac Miller says of his hip hop foundation; “once I hit 15, I got real serious……hip hop is almost like a job, that’s all I did”. He must have missed out on plenty of activities as a teenage boy, but he understood he had to pay the price.

For your business to take off successfully you must be ready to invest a lot of time and energy. You will have to sacrifice some things, but in the long run it will be well worth the effort.

Make The Clients Your Friends

Mac Miller has managed to turn his fans into friends. He involves them in his music decisions through social media and other avenues.

As an entrepreneur make sure that your clients feel appreciated and valued. Engage with them through email, social media and any other suitable means. Ensure that their views and concerns are taken into account so that your products and services reflect their contribution.

Avoid Stagnation

In this age of technology things move pretty fast, Mac Miller learnt not to leave the fans listening to an old track for ages, but to release new tracks whenever he found quality time available to hit the studio and release his records.

Do not keep supplying the same old products and services to the market. Come up with new and improved formulas targeting the evolving needs of your clients.

Reduce Bureaucracy

Mac Miller works with a small team making it possible for decisions to be made faster. This has seen him go ahead of his competitors whose tracks end up leaking to fans before they are released officially due to the lengthy procedures.

Bureaucracies only slow things down, delaying implementation of essential business strategies.

Keep Promises

Most entrepreneurs offer attractive sounding packages to clients, only to go back on their word when the client comes on board. Mac Miller promised his fans that if his ‘Blue Slide Park‘ attained 50,000 pre-orders, he would drop the album immediately.

The strategy worked for him, and he released the album just as promised. Clients take note of every small promise, and you will only ignore it at your own peril.

Learn from others

Before starting out on your own you can take time to work with or for others who are established in a similar business. Miller started out as part of the rap group The III Spoken before he broke off to start a solo career.

Working with others gives you a chance to learn the ropes of the business.

Have a Mentor

A mentor most likely doubles up as a friend who will offer advice on matters of business and beyond.

Mac Miller has received valuable guidance from Atlantic Records artist Wiz Khalifa. Find your mentor and make history together!

Be Creative

Mac Miller released a track about the famous Donald Trump which was an instant hit attracting millions of views. Donald Trump himself spoke highly of Mac Miller further boosting his popularity on and offline.

Such creative strategies are essential in business.

Expect Criticism

Miller has several critics, but he has learnt to take constructive criticism and ignore the negative ones.

There are always going to be haters, aslong as you carry good morals and deliver with good ethics the rest is just jealousy coming from the other side of the table.

Checkout this Forbes interview with Mac Miller and get Familiar with this Young Musical Millionaire!

Mac Miller Interview With Forbes

Article By Joel Brown | Addicted2Success

Mukesh Ambani is “India’s richest man“. According to Forbes magazine, Mukesh Ambani has an estimated net worth of 22.6 billion dollars.

The Ambani family consists of Mukesh, his wife Nita and their three children Akash, Isha and Anant. A number of interesting stories and facts are connected to the richest Indian family. Here are 10 interesting things you may not know about the wealthiest family in India. 

Facts About The Billionaire Ambani Family

The Most Expensive House in the World

Ambani’s new house is called Antilia and according to a number of reputable publications, it is the most expensive home in the world. Antilia is actually the first house to exceed a net worth of one billion dollars.

Antilia was built in downtown Mumbai, a city that is known for its exceptional poverty. The 60-storey house has a garage for 168 cars, an independent health club for each family member, a cinema and a staff of 600 people.

Anant Ambani’s Sacred White Elephant

Anant Ambani, the 17-year old son of India’s richest man, is exceptionally spiritual. Numerous reports state that Anant Ambani is visiting the Lord Balaji temple as frequently, as possible.

To prove his faith, the affluent teenager decided to make a special donation for the temple. Anant Ambani ended up providing a sacred white elephant as a special present to Lord Balaji.

The Importance of the Family

In 2009, Nita and Mukesh Ambani celebrated 25 years of marriage. Mukesh has often stated in interviews that his family is of exceptional importance. No matter how busy his schedule is, Mukesh spends Sundays with his mother, wife and children.

The manner in which the Ambani family is decorated is also strongly evident of the family ties. A family photo or a photo of Mukesh Ambani’s father is available in each of the house’s rooms.

Special Birthday Presents

Mukesh Ambani hates celebrating his birthday. The only exception he has ever made was on the occasion of his 50th birthday.

On the other hand, Mukesh loves showering family members with love and affection. On the occasion of one of her birthdays, Nita Ambani received a jet plane worth 62 million dollars.

A Family of Billionaires

India’s richest man has one brother, Anil.

Anil Ambani is one of the other wealthiest individuals in India. Prior to their father’s death, the two brothers worked together. They eventually entered a dispute about the company, which led to the separation of their business activities.

Word is that they have crushed their problems and have found some sort of middle ground once again.

Philanthropic Activities

Nita Ambani is involved in a number of philanthropic activities and charity projects. The areas that she is mostly active in include disaster relief, education and proper human resources management.

Nita had always wanted to be a dancer, but she instead holds degrees in interior design and teaching. Today, she is the chairperson of Dhirubhari Ambani International School.

It’s a Rich Man’s World

Despite the fact he is the wealthiest individual in India, Mukesh is known for his modest behavior. He enjoys traditional Indian dishes and he is a vegetarian. The family can be spotted in some of the country’s little and less pretentious restaurants that serve traditional cuisine.

In addition, Mukesh Ambani has absolutely no knowledge of fashion brands. He says that he is willing to wear anything that feels comfortable.

The Youngest Billionaire Heiress

Isha Ambani, the daughter of Mukesh and Nita, and is the youngest billionaire heiress. Isha, who was only 16 at the time, ranked second in the Forbes list of top ten billionaire heiresses in 2008. At that tender age, Isha was the owner of an 80-million dollar share of Reliance Industries.

Currently, Isha Ambani is a student at Yale. Her majors are South Asian Studies and Psychology.

 Mukesh Ambani’s Awards

Mukesh Ambani holds a number of awards and records. Fortune magazine gave him the 13th place in a ranking of Asia’s Most Powerful People in Business.

In 2012, he was included in a list of the most powerful Digital Indians. Harvard Business Review gave Mukesh the fifth spot in a ranking of the best performing CEOs in the world.

Like Father, Like Son

Akash Ambani is the family’s oldest son. He is the twin brother of Isha and the elder brother of Anant Ambani.

According to numerous reports, Akash has attended the signing of several important Reliance Industries deals. His participation in such affairs is seen as his father’s attempt to get Akash ready for involvement in the family business.

Article By Joel Brown

Sara Blakely turned $5,000 into 1 Billion dollars when she launched her female footless pantyhose line, Spanx. Selling over 8,000 in six minutes her fame and business success sky rocketed in a matter of days.

Wayne Dyer, Oprah Winfrey & Richard Branson are a few of Sara Blakely’s mentors in her success. Read on for a great Forbes interview with Sarah Blakely and some great advice from the youngest female billionaire in the world.

Forbes Interview With The Youngest Female Billionaire Sara Blakely

Spanx Founder Sara Blakely Shares Her Business Advice

Brazilian Billionaire, “Eike Batista” is the 8th richest man in the world. He is a self made billionaire who saw great opportunity in gold and cashed in for $6 Million dollars at the age of 23.

This video here shows you how Eike came about his billions and what it takes to be Brazil’s richest man, Eike Batista. 

Eike Batista’s 10 Life Rules To Live By

1. “Nobody is happy alone. To share experiences is always a good thing.”

2. “You grown as a person when you face your own challenges, or stressful moments, as I like to say. A good entrepreneur must be prepared to evolve in adversity.”

3. “The good seller is the one who is also a good listener.”

4.“Believe in yourself. If you doubt in yourself, you won’t be able to face your co-workers. Or the market, for that matter.”

5. “Don’t quit on the first adversity. Believe in your intuition, but try to be down to earth as well, paying attention to research and polls.”

6. “Don’t think you are unstoppable or foolproof. Don’t think that the only way your business will work is through perfection. Don’t aim for perfection. Aim for success.”

7. “To have a dream is one step closer to achieving something in life. The difference between the dreamer and the maker, though, is that the latter actually makes it happen.”

8. “Look forward; focus on what people don’t see at first sight.”

9. “Look at a business in all its depth and think of every detail with maximum accuracy and minimum risk.”

10. “Luck is important, as it is part of any project. But luck will only be present when the project is well designed.”

Eike’s Advice originally featured on Forbes.com

Eike Batista The Brazilian Billionaire Shares His Story

If owning mansions, cars & yachts is not enough, then a handful of the worlds super rich millionaires and billionaires are into purchasing their own private islands.

Here is a list of the super rich millionaires & billionaires who own their own private getaway.

1) Necker Island

Owner: Sir Richard Branson - Net worth: $4.2 billion

Sir Richard Branson, who heads the Virgin Group comprising of more than a few hundred companies, owns this pristine island, located among the British Virgin Islands. Comprising of beautiful turquoise waters, coral reefs and warm sandy beaches, along with a staff of 60 people and troupe of 24 guests. Branson originally bought the island back in the 70′s for $200,000, nowadays this island can be yours for $53,000 a night. A great investment for Branson if you ask me.

2) Musha Cay Islands, Bahamas

Owner: David Copperfield - Net worth: $150 million

David Copperfield is best known as a compelling illusionist and magician who has used his skills to mesmerize many an audience. Located 85 miles from south-east of Nassau, Bahamas, this island played host to Google founder Sergey Brin’s wedding in 2007.

For $32,250 a night, there are five themed luxury villas, with David Copperfield’s private art collection to admire.

3) Little Halls Ponds Cay, Bahamas

Johnny Depp was moved by the lifestyle of people living on the Bahamas islands during the shooting of  ‘Pirates Of The Carribean’ and decided to purchase this spot for $3.6 Million. As per recent announcements, this private island will meet its power requirements through the use of solar power, to reduce carbon footprint and maintain the eco-friendly atmosphere that the island is known for.

4) Blackadore Cay, Belize

Leonardo Di Caprio is also an American Actor, known for his performance in award-winning movies like Titanic, which went into history as one of the greatest to have ever being made. This 104-acre retreat was bought for a reported price of $1.75M million by the actor-producer. Just like his fellow actor Johnny Depp, Leonardo has also taken a step in the direction of making his island eco-friendly with his plans to use solar power to meet energy needs of the island, including his plans to build an eco-resort on the island.

5) Abrahamovich island in St. Barts

Multi Billionaire Investor ‘Warren Buffett‘ who once was ‘The Richest Man In The World‘, shares his 5 major rules to living a successful life.

Warren Buffet’s 5 Life Tips

On Earning: “Never depend on a single income. Make Investments to create a second source.”

On Spending: “If you buy things you do not need, soon you will have to sell things you need.”

On Savings: “Do not save what is left after spending, spend what is left after saving.”

On Taking Risks: ”Never test the depths of the river with both of your feet.”

On Expectations: “Honesty is a very expensive gift. Do not expect it from cheap people.”

Here are five lessons that the Oracle of Omaha – Warren Buffett passed on to his son, Peter Buffett.

Stay in Milwaukee

Give Your Kids Opportunity, Not Handouts

Give to Charity, and Get a Lot Back

Invest in Potential

Do What You Love

Moving up during the course of his life from humble circumstances as a fatherless teenager to one of the world’s richest business leaders and most generous philanthropists, Li Ka-shing for many in Asia represents a model of how to succeed in the world.  Books about his approach to life and business — mostly in Chinese and all unauthorized — populate business sections of Chinese-language bookstores around the world, much like books about Warren Buffett do in the United States.

So today we feature 8 great words of advice from Li Ka-Shing himself.

8 Life Tips By From The Asian Billionaire Li Ka-Shing

1. As a leader, one should spend more time than others planning for the future.

2. I do not get overly optimistic when the market is good, nor overly pessimistic when the market is down.

3. A good reputation for yourself and your company is an invaluable asset not reflected in the balance sheets.

4. It doesn’t matter how strong or capable you are; if you don’t have a big heart, you will not succeed.

5. To be a successful manager, attitude and ability are equally important ingredients. A leader inspires others to greatness. A boss dominates his subordinates and makes them feel small.

6. Though a universal formula for success is difficult to come by, caution signs for failure are posted everywhere. Establishing a structure that serves to minimize failure will prove to be a shortcut to success.

7. Successful managers should also have a keen eye for talent. They not only select people who are smarter than themselves, but also avoid picking corporate superstars whose reputation precedes them.

8. The art of good management lies in the capacity to accept change, and the ability to meld new and traditional thinking.

–from the Li Ka Shing Foundation

Article Originally featured on Forbes.com

With the Euro-crisis having its effect across the whole of the continent, Germany’s top 10 richest have nothing to do with the banking or financial sectors. In fact, the top 100 richest Germans have managed to increase their fortunes by 6.5 percent over the past 12 months. Not bad going considering the climate.

Meet the top 10 Richest Germans

#10 Rethmann Family

Worth: €6 billion ($8.2 billion)
How the money’s made: Through the ownership and operation of private water, raw material and waste management company, Remondis.

Tied #8 Oetker Family

Worth: €7 billion ($9.5 billion)
How the money’s made: Through ownership of giant food company, Oetker.

Tied #8 Günter and Daniela Herz

Worth: €7 billion ($9.5 billion)
How the money’s made: By the operation of mega-shipping company Germanischer Lloyd.

#7 Reinhold Family

Worth: €7.2 billion ($9.8 billion)
How the money’s made: Ownership and operation of Würth Elektronik.

Tied #5 Reimann Family

Worth: €8 billion ($10.9 billion)
How the money’s made: Through the operation of Reckitt Benckiser, the manufacturer of several popular household cleaning products. Also on the portfolio is perfume and cologne manufacturer Coty.

Tied #5 Susanne Klatten

Worth: €8 billion ($10.9 billion)
How the money’s made: She’s the heiress to the BMW fortune. She inherited an substantial stake in the car manufacturer after her father’s death and also a majority stake in chemicals company Altana.

#4 Otto Family

Worth: €9 billion ($12.2 billion)
How the money’s made: Through the ownership of private mail order company, Otto mail order.

#3 Dieter Schwarz

Worth: €11.5 billion ($15.6 billion)
How the money’s made: Through the running of supermarket titan Lidl and hypermarket chain Kaufland.

#2 Berthold and Theo Albrecht Jr.

Worth: €16 billion ($21.8 billion)
How the money’s made: Through ownership and operation of Aldi Nord, the supermarket chain.

 

And in at number #1…Karl Albrecht

There are more billionaires in the world than ever before–Forbes puts the figure at 1,210. This article here shows you the #1 Billionaire in each major country in the world.

There were lots of shakeups this year, with lots of former titleholders losing their superlatives, and several titleholders vastly increasing their net worths. It’s interesting to see how some of these Billionaires made their money, read on for some inspiring information on the richest men and women from around the world.

The richest Dane: Kjeld Kirk Kristiansen

Net worth:$4.7 billionForbes rank: 223

Background: He is the grandson of the inventor of Legos, the ubiquitous kids’ building block. Kristiansen ran the company for 25 years before stepping down in 2004.

 

The richest Greek: Spiro Latsis

Image: Wikipedia

Net worth:$4.8 billionForbes rank: 219

Background: Latsis made his fortune in the shipping industry, but he has taken a real hit as Greece’s economy has collapsed.

 

The richest Austrian: Dietrich Mateschitz

Image: Sportsbuisness.com

Net worth:$5 billionForbes rank: 208

Background: Mateschitz is the creator of Red Bull, the energy drink that is popular worldwide.

He also owns stakes in two soccer teams, a Formula One racing team, and a luxury resort in Fiji.

 

The richest Argentines: Carlos and Alejandro Bulgheroni

Net worth: $5.1 billionForbes rank: 200

Background: The brothers turned Bridas, their father’s oil services company, into Argentina’s second-largest oil and gas company.

They overtook the former richest person in Argentina, Gregorio Perez Companc, whose net worth fell from $2 billion to $1.4 billion this year.

 

The richest Egyptian: Nassef Sawiris

Image: AP Images

Networth: $5.6 billionForbes rank: 182

Background: Nassef Sawiris’ father, Onsi, founded Orascom conglomerate. Nassef took over the company’s construction and fertilizer division in 1998.

 

The richest Taiwanese: Cher Wang & Wenchi Chen

Pictured: Cher Wang

Image: Wikimedia Commons

Net worth: $6.8 billionForbes rank: 143

Background: The husband and wife duo run HTC, one of the biggest tech companies in the world. Wang was also born into wealth.

They replaced Terry Gou, an electronics magnate who was previously the richest person in Taiwan.

 

The richest Dutch: Charlene de Carvalho-Heineken

Image: Courtesy of Heineken International

Net worth: $7.5 billionForbes rank: 124

Background: Charlene de Carvalho-Heineken took over Heineken when her father, Henry Heineken, passed away leaving her his fortune. Carvalho-Heineken lives her life out of the spotlight. Unlike her father, who was known to show off his wealth, she lives an anonymous life with her husband and five kids.

 

The richest Japanese: Masayoshi Son

Image: Ap

Networth: $8.1 billionForbes rank: 113

Background: Son is the founder of the internet and telecom firm SoftBank. He owns stakes in several major internet companies, and beat out Tadashi Yanai to become the richest person in Japan.

The richest South Korean: Lee Kun-Hee

Image: AP Images

Net worth: $8.6 billionForbes rank: 105

Background: Lee Kun-Hee is the chairman of Samsung. In 2008, he stepped down as chairman due to charges of tax evasion and breach of trust. But after being pardoned at the end of 2009, he resumed his position in March of 2010.

 

The richest Australian: Gina Rinehart

Image: The Sydney Morning Herald

Net worth:$9 billionForbes rank: 100

Background: Gina Rinehart owns all the shares of her father’s mining company, Hancock Mining. Given the recent boom in the value of her iron mines, she’s on track to become the richest woman in the world.

She overtook the former wealthiest Australian, Andrew Forrest, who also owns an iron ore company.

The richest Czech: Petr Kellner

Image: Courtesy of PPF Group

Net worth: $9.2 billionForbes rank: 97

Background: Petr Kellner is the major shareholder in Dutch holding company PPF Group N.V., which controls the PPF Group, founded by him in 1991. He was born in the Czech Republic and graduated from the University of Economics, Prague in 1986.

 

The richest Chinese: Liang Wengen

Net worth: $9.3 billionForbes rank: 114 (as of March 2011)

Background: Wengen, chairman of machinery manufacturer Sany Group, just overtook Baidu founder Robin Li to become the titleholder of the richest man in China. Forbes puts his fortune at $9.3 billion, while HuRun report says its closer to $11 billion.

 

The richest Swiss: Ernesto Bertarelli

Image: AP Images

Net worth: $10 billionForbes rank: 81

Background: Ernesto Bertarelli inherited his father’s company, Serono, SA in 1996 which his family sold in 2007.  Today he is involved with Kedge Capital and Ares Life Sciences. Ernesto also founded a yachting team in 2000 and they won the America’s Cup in 2003. Ernesto serves as navigator of the team.

 

The richest Israeli: Sammy Ofer

Net worth: $10.3 billionForbes rank: 73

Background: Sammy Ofer is one of the world’s biggest shipping tycoons. In 2008 he was knighted in London after a $20 million contribution to Britain’s National Maritime Museum.

 

The richest Kuwaiti: Nasser Al-Kharafi

Net worth: $10.4 billionForbes rank: 77

Background: Nasser Al-Kharafi inherited his fortune from his father’s company, M.A. Kharafi & Sons. Much of the company’s profit comes from construction but they are also involved in investing and manufacturing.

 

The richest Colombian: Luis Carlos Sarmiento

Net worth: $10.5 billionForbes rank: 75

Background: Sarmiento started out in the construction industry and later expanded his empire into financial services.

He just overtook the former wealthiest man in Chile, Julio Mario Santo Domingo.

 

The richest Cypriot: John Fredriksen

Net worth: $10.7 billionForbes rank: 72

Background: John Fredriksen is a oil-tanker and shipping Tycoon and owns company Frontline Ltd. He is known as a modern-day Aristotle Onassis.

 

The richest Malaysian: Robert Kuok

Net worth: $12.5 billionForbes rank: 61

Background: Kuok made his fortune in the shipping, palm oil and cane sugar fields.

At one point it was rumored that he bought the world’s most expensive yacht–a $4.8 billion, gold-covered monstrosity–but those rumors were quickly debunked.

 

The richest Brit: Gerald Cavendish Grosvenor

Image: Wikimedia Commons

Net worth: $13 billionForbes rank: 57

Background: Gerald Cavendish Grosvenor’s fortune comes from his Grosvenor Property Group. His real estate group has holdings on five continents. Cavendish is also sixth Duke of Westminster.

 

The richest Nigerian: Aliko Dangote

Image: www.pbase.com

Net worth:$13.8 billionForbes rank: 51

Background: The Nigerian’s fortune increased 557% percent in the past year, propelling him up in the rankings.

He started out as a commodities trader and built his Dangote Group into a company with interests in sugar, flour milling, salt processing, cement manufacturing, textiles, real estate, and oil and gas.

 

The richest Ukrainian: Rinat Akhmetov

Image: Wikipedia

Net worth:$16 billionForbes rank: 39

Background: Akhmetov started in the coal and coke fields and expanded it into the conglomerate System Capital Management.

He bought a $221 million penthouse at One Hyde Park in London last year, and built a $400 million soccer stadium in his hometown of Donetsk.

 

The richest Italian: Michele Ferrero

Networth: $18 billionForbes rank: 32

Background: Michele Ferrero owns European chocolate company Ferrero. Ferrero created Tic-Tacs, Kinder Eggs, Nutella, and of course Ferrero Rocher. Unlike most Italian billionaires, Ferrero prefers to live life out of the spotlight and simply has a passion for creating great chocolate.

 

The richest Chilean: Iris Fontbona

Networth: $19.2 billionForbes rank: 27

Background: Iris Fontbona and her family control one of the world’s largest copper mining businesses, Antofagasta. Fontbona was once married to billionaire Andronico Luksic who died in 2005.

 

The richest Saudi Arabian: Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal Alsaud

Net worth: $19.6 billionForbes rank: 26

Background: This prince started young; he was chairman of his own company by the age of 14.

 

The richest Canadian: David Thomson

Net worth: $23 billionForbes rank: 17

Background: David Thomson is the chairman of Thomson Reuters. His grandfather Roy founded the company in 1934.

 

The richest Russian: Vladimir Lisin

Image: European Shooting Confederation

Networth: $24 billionForbes rank: 14

Background: Vladimir Lisin went from rags to riches. Lisin began his career as a mechanic, then a steelworker. He later joined Trans-World Group, traders who had control of the steel and aluminum industry in Russia. After Trans-World Group split up, Lisin received a 13% share, and then a controlling share.

 

The richest Swede: Stefan Persson

Image: Prolineserver2010 via Wikimedia Commons

Net worth: $24.5 billionForbes rank: 13

Background: Persson is the chairman of H&M, the budget retail store that has expanded quickly across Europe and the U.S.

He displaced Ingvar Kamprad, chairman of Ikea, whose wealth dropped from $17 billion to $6 billion this year.

 

The richest German: Karl Albrecht

Image: AP Images

Networth: $25.5 billionForbes rank: 12

Background: Karl Albrecht served in WWII for Germany’s army and used lessons from war and postwar Germany to build successful company ALDI with his brother.

 

The richest Hong Konger: Li Ka-shing

Net worth: $26 billionForbes rank: 11

Background: Li Ka-Shing dropped out of high school at age 15 and sold plastic flowers to help support his family.

 

The richest Brazilian: Eike Batista

Image: Wilson Dias/Abr via Wikimedia Commons

Networth: $30 billionForbes rank: 8

Background: Eike Batista built his fortune through the business of mining. Batista is a fashionable billionaire, as he says he prefers dark suits with pink ties.

 

The richest Spaniard: Amancio Ortega

Net worth: $31 billionForbes rank: 7

Background: Amancio Ortega began his career as a manager at a clothing shop. After noticing only the wealthiest customers could afford the expensive clothing, he decided to make a line of his own. Over time, his business grew and profited and today he owns Zara, a clothing store known for having the trends at low prices.

 

The richest Indian: Lakshmi Mittal

Networth: $31.1 billionForbes rank: 6

Background: Huge profits at Mittal’s company, ArcelorMittal, helped push Mittal into the number one spot in India ahead of the former placeholder, Mukesh Ambani.

 

The richest French: Bernard Arnault

Image: AP Images

Net worth: $41 billionForbes rank: 4

Background: Bernard Arnault’s fashion fortune began in 1984 when he bought bankrupt company, Boussac Saint-Frères, which owned luxury brand House of Dior. He soon bought LVMH, which owns Louis Vuitton, Givenchy, Tag Heuer, Donna Karan, Fendi, and Moët & Chandon.

Now, he obsesses over every detail of every collection released by the designers, his wife told the WSJ.

 

The richest American: Bill Gates

Image: Andreas Pizsa via Flickr

Net worth: $56 billionForbes rank: 2

Background: The wealthiest man in America did not even graduate from college. Gates dropped out of Harvard University his junior year when he had his idea for Microsoft.

 

The richest Mexican: Carlos Slim Helu

Net worth: $74 billionForbes rank: 1

Background: Carlos Slim came from humble beginnings. His father was an immigrant shoe maker and Slim built his fortune from almost nothing. And although he has billions now, friends say he wears cheap suits and prefers pen and paper to fancy computers.

 

I believe that being Successful does not mean spending a lot of money and buying 100 of everything for the hell of it. This guy here has it all mixed up, he was lucky enough to be born into wealth and this shows you exactly why not earning money off your own back and bone can burn you.

That is why I believe that understanding and appreciating the value of hard earned money in the first place is the best way to stay financially fit. At one point, this Prince was reportedly spending $50 million a month. The Sultan of Brunei‘s Playboy brother ‘Prince Jefri Bolkiah‘ shows you how to not be successful. Learn from his mistakes.

He owned a collection of 2,300 cars; mostly Bentleys, Ferraris, and Rolls-Royces

 

As well as eight private planes and a helicopter.

 

At one point he was forced to surrender five diamonds, worth $200 million, to the Brunei Investment Agency

 

He paid $1.3 million for erotic fountain pens and $10 million for eight jewel-encrusted watches that depicted couples having sex

 

He gave one of his consorts a necklace that she later auctioned off for $100,000 at Christie’s

 

He commissioned the artist J. Seward Johnson to create $800,000 sexually explicit statue, purportedly of himself and his ex-fiancée

 

His fleet of five boats included a yacht named Tits; its tenders were named Nipple 1 and Nipple 2

 

He owned a collection of five-star hotels including the New York Palace and Hotel Bel-Air in Los Angeles

 

He purchased Asprey, the London jeweler to the Queen, for $385 million

 

He paid $17 million for Michael Jackson to perform at his 50th birthday, at a stadium custom-built for the event

 

He bought a $7 million rug woven of gold thread and embroidered with jewels

 

He bought the former Playboy Club in London for $34 million, more than four times the market price

 

He once paid $1.5 million for a badminton coach

 

He once imported Joe Montana and Herschel Walker to teach his son football at a cost of seven figures each

 

New York is a young, hot city and the tech scene is no exception.

From venture capitalists to founders, we rounded up 20 super stars that are creating big names for themselves despite their young ages.

Top Tech Startups Under 25 In New York City

Jared Hecht of GroupMe sold his startup for about $80 million last month.

Age: 24

What he’s done: Hecht and his cofounder Steve Martocci created a group mobile text messaging application, GroupMe.

Just 370 days after GroupMe’s launch, Hecht and Martocci sold the company to Skype for an estimated $80 million.

 

Gauri Manglik cofounded SpotOn and was a TechCrunch Disrupt finalist.

Age: 22

What she’s done: Manglik cofounded SpotOn, a company that helps friends discover places to go, and was a TechCrunch Disrupt finalist this year.

The NYU graduate was a former BlackRock analyst and teacher at The Princeton Review.

 

Alex Taub is a mentor at DreamIt Accelerator and is the head of business development at Aviary.

Age: 24

What he’s done: Taub has been running around the New York tech scene since he was 19 at Yeshiva University.

Now he’s a mentor at DreamIt Accelerator and heads up business development at photo editing startup, Aviary. He is also on the board of New York Venture Community, he organizes the Digital Learning Series with Startl, and is a Next New York fellow.

 

Chris Paik is a “chief hustler” at Thrive Capital.

Age: 24

What he’s done: Paik joined Josh Kushner’s firm Thrive Capital last year. He has played a large role in all of Thrive’s investments, from Zaarly to GroupMe.

People close to Paik say he’s unbelievably well connected, technical and product focused.

Paik and Kushner were classmates at Harvard and Paik formerly worked at Pixar.

 

Will Peng already sold two companies to Facebook, Drop.io and Hot Potato.

Age: 22

What he’s done: Will is currently a venture capitalist at Raptor Ventures.He was formerly a product guy at file sharing startup Drop.io and at Twitter-like company, Hot Potato; both sold to Facebook.  He also worked as an analyst at RRE Ventures.

  

Lauren Leto founded Texts from Last Night and runs Bnter.

Age: 24

What she’s done: Lauren founded Texts from Last Night and is now running Bnter, a way to “frame and share conversations.”

She’s also writing a book that’s due out in 2012, Judging a Book by its Lover.

  

Dan Leahy ditched Wall Street and raised $3 million for his startup, Savored.

Ben McKean and Dan Leahey, cofounders of Savored

Age: 25

What he’s done: Dan Leahy graduated from Georgetown with his cofounder Ben McKean. The pair ditched their Wall Street jobs and founded Savored last summer.

The restaurant deals site now partners with Open Table and Zagat. Buddy Media founder Mike Lazerow is an investor, and Savored raised a $3 million Series A.

 

Josh Weinstein cofounded YouAre.TV and snagged funding from all-star investors Peter Thiel, SoftBank Capital and FirstMark Capital.

Age: 24

What he’s done: Weinstein has pivoted his way to tech stardom.  He cofounded GoodCrush and RandomDorm, which pivoted into CollegeOnly, a social network for students. CollegeOnly has since become YouAre.TV and is backed by FirstMark Capital, SoftBank, Peter Thiel, High Line Venture Partners, David Kidder and David Tisch.

Weinstein also got former Brett Favre flame Jenn Sterger to host one of the web shows on YouAre.TV.

  

Alexis Tryon left American Express and moved into DogPatch Labs to rent art.

Age: 25

What she’s done: Tryon was a manager at American Express until she and her boyfriend/cofounder Scott caught the entrepreneurship bug.

They founded Artsicle, an art rental company, and moved into DogPatch Labs. Expect to see these two on future power couple lists.

  

Jason Baptiste and Andres Baretto cofounded breakout Techstars company, OnSwipe. 

Ages: 25 and 24, respectively

What they’ve done: Baptiste and Baretto made Inc’s 30 Under 30 list and their startup, OnSwipe, has Apple working up a sweat.

OnSwipe is an easy app-workaround for publishers who want their blogs to look good on mobile devices.

OnSwipe has raised $6 million from the most accredited investors and was the breakout winter Techstars NYC company.

  

Matt Brimer and Brad Hargreaves cofounded General Assembly

Ages: 25 and 25, respectively

What they’ve done: Brimer and Hargreaves have been starting companies together since they were undergrads at Yale. Their first company, GoCrossCampus, should have been a success. It had plenty of users and funding, but it failed.

Now Brimer and Hargreaves are at it again, but this time they’re building an entrepreneurship school in NYC.  General Assembly, their company, is the home to a bunch of startups. It also offers community entrepreneurship courses.

 

Christina Cacioppo is an analyst at top NYC firm Union Square Ventures.

Age: 25

What she’s done: Being well acquainted with Fred Wilson at age 25 is impressive. Cacioppo is an analyst at his firm, Union Square Ventures.

She graduated from Stanford University and formerly worked at Google.

 

Joseph Cohen, Dan Getelman and Jim Grandpre dropped out of UPenn and landed a spot in the summer Techstars class.

Ages: 20, 21 and 20, respectively

What they’ve done: Cohen, Getelman and Grandpre cofounded Coursekit, a social education tool that wants to kill Blackboard.

All three founders raised $1 million for their startup, dropped out of UPenn, and were accepted ino the summer session of Techstars NYC.

 

Jonathan Hefter founded Neverware.

Age: 25

What he’s done: Hefter is disrupting the education space, but not the same way other entrepreneurs are. His company, Neverware, makes old computers run like new by accessing the latest software via the cloud.

It’s a good solution for schools that can’t afford to keep updating computer software.

 

Andrew Ferenci cofounded Spinback, which was acquired by Buddy Media earlier this year.

Age: 24

What he’s done: The 2x entrepreneur recently sold his social commerce and analytics startup, Spinback, to Buddy Media.

He sold his first company, The College Shack, to Carolina Beach Apparel in 2010.

  

Carter Cleveland is the founder of Art.sy.

Age: 24

What he’s done: Cleveland has never had a “real” job. As soon as he graduated from Princeton he got to work on Art.sy, an art discovery tool.

He raised $1.25 million from the likes of Eric Schmidt and Jack Dorsey. He also won TechCrunch Disrupt’s Rookie Award in 2010.

 

Alex Godin is the second youngest member of Techstars. His dad is Seth Godin and he cofounded Dispatch.io.

Age: 17

What he’s done: Godin seems to be as motivated as his father, marketing guru Seth Godin. He’s the second-youngest Techstars member ever and his startup, Dispatch, is on track to be the summer session’s breakout company.

He also taught himself to code in 7 days over winter vacation and won a hackathon.

  

Dan Herman founded ChatID, a summer Techstars company.

Dan Herman cofounded ChatID, formerly called Chatalyst.

Age: 20

What he’s done: Dan Herman was accepted into the summer NYC techstars program with his live chat platform for businesses, ChatID.

  

Adam Liebman is SinglePlatform’s VP of Sales.

Age: 25

What he’s done: Adam Liebman is SinglePlatform’s VP of Sales.

SinglePlatform is a tool for restaurants to manage websites easily across one network. He graduated from Mizzou and formerly worked at Yext.

  

David Karp’s Tumblr is expected to become an $800 million company any day now.

Tumblr Founder, David Karp

Age: 25

What he’s done: Karp founded Tumblr, a social blogging platform that’s reportedly raising a massive round.

If it closes, Karp’s company could have a whopping $800 million valuation.

 

Article featured on BusinessInsider.com

Widely regarded as one of the most successful investor in the world, Mr.”Warren Buffett“, worth $50 Billion Dollars this year on the Forbes Rich List turned 81 a couple days ago.

To celebrate his belated 81st we have decided to feature “10 Rare Facts That You May Not Know About The Legendary Mr.Warren Buffett“.

Warren Buffett’s First Career? Paperboy.

He was a paperboy for The Washington Post… and the Times-Herald, apparently. He began selling both papers so that when customers canceled their subscriptions to one, he had the other ready for them to buy.

 

His Favorite Restaurant

Image: banlon1964 via flickr

We all knew he was frugal — and Buffett’s favorite restaurant, Piccolo Pete’s in Omaha, proves as much. There you can buy a New York Strip Steak there for $9.95.

 

Disowned His Granddaughter?

Warren Buffett disowned his granddaughter, Nicole Buffett, in 2006, after she participated in a documentary about children of the ultra-wealthy. Warren’s son, Peter, formally adopted Nicole when he married her mother — but the two divorced 10 years later. Warren Buffett was reportedly so enraged by Nicole Buffett’s participation in the documentary that he wrote to her in a letter, “I have not emotionally or legally adopted you as a grandchild, nor have the rest of my family adopted you as a niece or a cousin.”

 

Warren Buffett… Not Really a Fan of “The Office”?

Remember Buffett’s cameo on “The Office”? Apparently, he had never even seen the show before.

He’s a Frat Guy

Buffett is a frat guy — no, really. He pledged Alpha Sigma Phi. The fraternity focuses on “silence, purity, charity, honor and patriotism” according to its mission statement.

 

He Loves Cheetos… and Soda

He loves junk food. A profile on Buffett in the Wall Street Journal noted his penchant for snacking on Cheetos, licorice candy and Cherry Coke.

 

He Eats Exactly 2,500 Calories a Day

And so long as we’re on the subject of food — Warren Buffett has said he eats exactly 2,500 calories a day. The strategy is part of his own, personal style of nutrition — he famously once said “If I eat more than 2,500 calories a day, I’m going to gain weight. If I eat less than 2,500 a day I’m going to lose weight. I’d like to choose the 2,500 calories that I eat.”

 

Warren Buffett Poses for a Christmas Card

He once posed for a Boston College MBA student’s Christmas card… Wearing red, light-up reindeer antlers. 

 

His First Return on an Investment? $5.

Buffett bought his first stock at age 11, according to a Salon profile. He later sold it for a $5 profit.

 

An Open Marriage.. Kinda

Warren Buffett had an open marriage — well, kind of. He and his wife, Susan, separated in the 1970s and lived apart until her death in 2004. As popular lore dictates, Warren then took up a relationship with Susan’s friend Astrid Menks (at Susan’s suggestion). The three remained close through the years, often sending Christmas cards signed “Warren, Susie and Astrid.” Two years after Susan’s passing, Astrid and Warren wed — they had dinner at “Bonefish Grill, a casual seafood restaurant,” afterward.

This post originally appeared on Mogulite

The U.K Fiery Businessman & Star of The ‘Apprentice‘ TV Show “Sir Alan Sugar”  shares with us a little advice in Business and his Top 10 Success Tips he lives by. He may not be a role model for all as his style of management is often considered “out of touch” and negative, the proof is in the pudding with this as Alan Sugar’s Business Empire grows to a Net Worth of 1.14 Billion to date.

Watch these Videos & Read on for the valuable advice that can only be shared by one of a kind, “Sir Alan Sugar“.

Alan Sugar’s Keys To Success

LORD ALAN SUGAR – Business 101

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_r5XWLll8co

LORD ALAN SUGAR – Business 101 – Pt2

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VZf0jR2kYiY

ALAN SUGARS TOP 10 TIPS FOR SUCCESS

1) Only set up in a business you know something about. You can’t just wake up one day and think you’ve come up with the best thing since sliced bread if you’ve got no experience in that area. It may be an industry you have been working in for years or a hobby you have.

2) Research your market thoroughly. Make sure that there isn’t something similar on the market already. Why would anyone want to buy something from you if it’s already out there?

3) Listen to experts in the relevant industry. Don’t ask friends and relatives for their opinions – they will only tell you what you want to hear just to be nice to you.

4) Draw up a proper business plan. You will need this to show you know where you are heading and you understand the market. It will help to make others take you more seriously.

5) Take things one step at a time. Don’t try to run before you can walk. Start small. Get it right and then grow when you’re ready for the next step.

6) Be prepared for lots of setbacks. Not everyone will be as enthusiastic as you are, but if you really believe in your idea and you have the determination and passion you will succeed.

7) Find a niche. It doesn’t always have to be something brand new. There’s not many things that haven’t been done before – just come up with something better or a better way of doing it.

8) Don’t expect the banks to throw cash at you. You have to put your money where your mouth is and prove to them that you are prepared to take a major risk, like remortgaging your house. If you show them how seriously committed you are, then they will be less hesitant to cough up.

9) Get advice from lots of different sources. From small business advisers at your bank to organisations such as Business Link, The Prince’s Trust and Shell LiveWire.

10) Be realistic. You may think you’ve come up with a great idea, But will anyone really want it? Do they really need it? Is it cost-effective? Is it practical to produce?

Sir Alan Sugar Quotes:

You’re a lightweight. You’re fired.
Alan Sugar

I can tell you where every screw, nut and bolt is in my company. I know everything [in my business]. Never, ever, underestimate me.
Alan Sugar

There’s only room for one bigmouth in my organisation, and that’s me.
Alan Sugar

Once you decide to work for yourself, you never go back to work for somebody else.
Alan Sugar

Learn to read body language.
Alan Sugar
From his book The Apprentice: How to Get Hired Not Fired

The shareholders are looked after by me. And they should be very thankful. I run Amstrad as if it was my own. They get their accounts every year, their profits and dividends. And if they don’t like it, they should sell their shares. But I’ll run my – the – company the way I want to. Not the way some twat in the City wants me to.
Alan Sugar

With one of the most familiar surnames in America, you may have noticed her as one of the judges on “Celebrity Apprentice” recently. This American businesswoman, socialite, heiress, fashion model and author, Ivanka Trump is a focused, successful and woman  she’s not one to leach off her dad, “Donald Trump” to reach her successes.

Ivanka Trump released a book called “The Trump Card: Playing to Win in Work and Life” where she shares the advice she has been given by great people along the way and how she managers to leave her mark in a predominantly mans world of business.

Ivanka Trump Gives Advice To Women On How They Can Become Successful In Business:

Ivanka Trump: Playing To Win In Work & Life

Ivanka Trump Quotes:

People underestimate me, and that’s fine. I prefer to go into negotiations being underestimated.- Ivanka Trump

“I’ve never lived in a building without my name on it.” – Ivanka Trump

I make money because I have to pay for everything apart from my school fees. My mother even makes me pay my own telephone bill. – Ivanka Trump

“I always felt very secure and very safe with real estate. Real estate always appreciates,” – Ivanka Trump

“I made a tremendous amount of money on real estate. I’ll take real estate rather than go to Wall Street and get 2.8 percent. Forget about it.” – Ivanka Trump

I’ve never had a sense of entitlement. I saw how hard my father worked for his money, and it was always made very clear to me that things wouldn’t just be given to me. - Ivanka Trump

Rapper-producer Jonathan “Lil Jon” Smith is best known for turning everyday words like “yeah” and “okay” into bloodcurdling sonic extravaganzas. He’s crafted hits for the likes of Usher and Ludacris. But given the state of the recording industry, he’s focusing more on a concept that doesn’t lend itself to his trademark exhortations: diversification.

Lil Jon’s non-music revenue streams include a line of Oakley sunglasses, an energy drink and a wine label. On a recent visit to the DailyFinance studios, Jon estimated that these ventures account for nearly a third of his annual earnings, which total an estimated $11 million, by Forbes’ last count. In this video Lil Jon explains why there’s no better time than now to diversify.

Lil Jon Explains How He Is Creating A Diversified Portfolio

Lil Jon’s most successful business venture is his Crunk!!! Energy Drink, which allowed him to tap into a familiar lifestyle niche. “Crunk is a word we’ve been using in the South forever-it basically means energy,” he explains. “Crunk is past tense for crank. Once you crank it, it’s crunk … it’s off the hook, it’s crazy.”

Jon launched the beverage in 2002 with the help of late liquor baron Sidney Frank, the father of Grey Goose vodka. The two connected while Grey Goose was sponsoring concerts for Jon’s group, Lil Jon & the Eastside Boyz. After Frank passed away in 2006, Kimberley Clark veteran Tom Mahlke came in to run Crunk, and these days the energy drink pulls in a reported $15 million per year. Jon won’t reveal how much of that sum comes his way, but given the structure of comparable celebrity ventures, his annual take may well approach seven figures.

Jon’s next venture took him to a different side of the beverage business. In 2008, he started a wine label, Little Jonathan. The idea stemmed from a small run of private label wine that he’d commissioned for a party earlier that year. When he saw how easy it was to enter the wine business on a permanent basis, he brought in Alison Crowe — a California winemaker who has worked at Chalone Vineyard, Curtis Winery, Bonny Doon Vineyards and others — to create a merlot, a cabernet and a chardonnay. Bottles can be had for $15.99 online; sales figures aren’t available. But the chardonnay won a silver medal at the 2009 Los Angeles Wine and Spirits Competition.

“People tried to act like it was Boone’s Farm or something,” Jon says. “But when people tasted it, they saw that this was real and not anything ghetto at all.”

Planning for Retirement: Lil Jon Diversifies

Jon’s other ventures include a line of Oakley sunglasses ($100 per pair) and an Apple (AAPL) iPhone application ($0.99 per download) that features recordings of all his most popular sayings. He won’t disclose how much he earns from either, but he admits they’re part of his retirement plan.

“I want to have something to fall back on, so that’s a reason you create these different business ventures,” he explains. “I don’t want to rap forever.”

For now, he’ll use music to raise the profile of his other products, even though Crunk Rock‘s singles are unlikely to enjoy the success of 2004′s smash hit, Yeah. That song spent 12 weeks atop Billboard’s Hot 100 list and ranks 11th on Billboard’s all-time list, thanks in part to Lil Jon’s unique ululations.

“If I had $20 for every time someone asked me to go ‘Yeah!’ or ‘What!’ or ‘Okay!” he says, “I wouldn’t need to [win] the Lotto.”

Starting out with one newspaper in a Small city by the name of Adelaide in South Australia, Rupert Murdoch worked his magic and was able to take News Corp a worldwide name stretching his news publications from The UK, US all the way to Asia growing his Global Media Empire to a mass net worth of $30 Billion Dollars.

Rupert Murdoch is ranked 13th most powerful person in the world in the 2010 Forbes’ The World’s Most Powerful People list. Rupert Murdoch’s net worth is US $6.3 billion, he is ranked 117th wealthiest person in the world. Watch this video and see how Rupert Murdoch has come to be the 13th Most Powerful person in the world through his Successes.

Global Media Mogul ‘Rupert Murdoch’

Rupert Murdoch’s Success Quotes

The world is changing very fast. Big will not beat small anymore. It will be the fast beating the slow. – Rupert Murdoch

I`m a catalyst for change. You can`t be an outsider and be successful over 30 years without leaving a certain amount of scar tissue around the place. – Rupert Murdoch

In motivating people, you`ve got to engage their minds and their hearts. I motivate people, I hope, by example – and perhaps by excitement, by having productive ideas to make others feel involved. - Rupert Murdoch

Our reputation is more important than the last hundred million dollars. - Rupert Murdoch

You can`t build a strong corporation with a lot of committees and a board that has to be consulted every turn. You have to be able to make decisions on your own. - Rupert Murdoch

Diddy, originally known as Puff Daddy has been a Heavy Weight money maker and Success mogul in the Music, Fashion and Movie Industry. If there is one thing Diddy knows, its how to be Successful and how to maintain longevity in business.

In this post we feature Diddy’s Top 10 Success Tips that he lives by. Applying these to your everyday life may be just what you need to take your Business Empire to the next level.

Diddy’s Top 10 Success Tips

1. Work hard. Then work harder. The difference between me and you is I’M working when YOU’RE sleeping!! When you think you’ve done enough for the day, KEEP GOING!!

2. Believe. Never lose your faith!!! Only YOU can make the impossible possible…so prove the world wrong! BELIEVE!

3. Count your pennies. Yeah, it’s that dirty money!!! But you don’t get rich from blowing it….spend your money wisely & question EVERY business move you make. Be smart people!

4. Be humble. Remember your roots & what your mother told you. She’s still right!!

5. Listen. Choose the people in your life carefully & surround yourself with artists & experts at their craft….then listen to what they have to say. They’re the ones who will help you on the way to the top.

6. Love. Leave room every day to LOVE and be LOVED!!!

7. Don’t make the same mistake twice. There are no second chances. Period.

8. Never settle. Take the words “good enough” out of your vocabulary!!! Be the best or don’t play at all!

9. Be confident. Stay humble, but be confident. Keeping your head down won’t get you anywhere….don’t be afraid to step on some toes!!!

10. Don’t get comfortable. The minute you let your guard down, someone newer, younger, and thirstier is waiting to take your place.

Diddy Pumpin You Up For Success (Lets Go!!):