#9. Michael Dell—Dell

By Staff Writer

First job: Sold subscriptions to the Houston PostPerhaps one of the most recognizable names in the tech industry, Michael Dell is the founder and CEO of Dell. Among his many achievements, in 2013, he took his company private for $24.4 billion, making it one of the biggest transactions of its kind in decades. Dell might have learned his work ethic selling subscriptions to the Houston Post during high school summer vacations, but his tech savvy has made him a leader in his field.