- TECH CORNER -
2. JEFF BEZOS
Title: CEO, Amazon.com | Country: US | Age: 51
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Jeff Bezos, CEO of Amazon.com, is at the helm of an undeniable superpower
in e-commerce. The company, which generates $89 billion in sales but has
often failed to turn a net profit, surprised investors in July by reporting
quarterly earnings of $92 million, handily beating analyst expectations.
Amazon stock shot up as a result and grew founder and CEO Jeff Bezos’
worth to an estimated $55 billion. This year, Bezos led the growth of
Amazon Web Services, the company’s cloud-computing branch, announced a
plan for high-speed package delivery via drones, and opened Amazon’s first
brick-and-mortar bookstore in Seattle. Bezos also privately owns a space
company, Blue Origin, who’ve successfully launched its first spacecraft this
year and has plans to test rocket engines and launch manned rockets within
the next decade.
1. BILL GATES
Chip
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Title: Cochair and trustee, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation
Country: US | Age: 60
Bill Gates is a household name. He earned this renown after cofounding
Microsoft in 1975 with childhood friend Paul Allen. Together they built one
of the most iconic software companies to date, and in turn, becoming the
richest man on Earth. With a reported net worth of $87.3 billion, Gates is
far from selfish with his wealth. Instead, Bill and Melinda Gates are focused
on running one of the most powerful charities in the world, with the Bill and
Melinda Gates Foundation. After reading an article about curable diseases
causing millions of child deaths in developing countries, it sparked the
couple’s passion for doing more.
Since then, the organization has given away $34.5 billion to an array of
causes, including efforts to eliminate HIV, malaria and many other diseases.
They also support agricultural development, global libraries, urban poverty,
education, and emergency relief.
SELECT LIVING
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2016 EDITION - ISSUE 1