« Is Socialism Winning the Race?? Not So Fast!! | Interested in Patents and Inventions? Check This Blog Out »
October 26, 2004
Top 10 Entrepreneurs of All Time
MSNBC offers its list of the "History's 10 Greatest Entrepreneurs". Its list:
1. King Croesus
2. Pope Sixtus IV
3. Benjamin Franklin
4. P.T. Barnum
5. Thomas Edison
6. Henry Ford
7. Benjamin Siegel
8. Ray Kroc
9. H. Ross Perot
10. Jobs & Wozniak
This list includes a few good choices, but several of their picks were included because they were really good con-men, sleazy businessmen, or even gangsters. YIKES! What were they thinking?! Let's try a list of those who build wealth and did good deeds for society as they made their wealth.
What are your picks??
(Thanks to Erin Anderson for passing this along).
Posted October 26, 2004 06:29 AM
Trackback Pings
TrackBack URL for this entry:
http://forum.belmont.edu/mt/mt-tb.cgi/593
Listed below are links to weblogs that reference Top 10 Entrepreneurs of All Time:
» Top 10 Entrepreneurs of All Time, or Not from Business Opportunities Weblog
Jeff Cornwall: MSNBC offers its list of the "History's 10 Greatest Entrepreneurs". Its list: King Croesus Pope Sixtus IV Benjamin Franklin P.T. Barnum Thomas Edison Henry Ford Benjamin Siegel Ray Kroc H. Ross Perot Jobs & Wozniak This list includes... [Read More]
Tracked on October 26, 2004 09:56 AM
» Top 10 Entrepreneurs: American Division from new dog old trick
A few days ago Jeff Cornwall pointed to this MSNBC list of the Top 10 Entrepreneurs of all time. Jeff points out that the MSNBC list has a few problems and asks for other thoughts on the real top 10 [Read More]
Tracked on October 31, 2004 02:33 PM
» Carnival of the Capitalists from WillPate.org
Thanks and welcome to my first hosting of the Carnival of the Capitalists - relatively politics free. I've made a deliberate effort to avoid posts that were mostly based on politics. It may be November 1st on an election year,... [Read More]
Tracked on October 31, 2004 10:13 PM
Comments
i was surprised that so many on the list were inventors as well.
and what about trump and gates?
i have been mentally composing a list for a few days since i read that article, although i fear i am not educated enough or old enough to know some of the greats. i'll get back about my top ten list of "good" entrepreneurs.
Posted by: erin at October 26, 2004 01:43 PM
As Nordhaus recently showed, innovators almost by definition do good as 97.*% of the value they create goes to the larger society.
But taking your theme that they must be "doing good deeds" as they build their wealth.
In no particular order:
Josiah Wedgewood.
The Fry Family
Cadbury family
(I'm sure there are other Quaker business families as well who shared their commitment to model twons and the welfare of their employees.)
Henry Ford for the application of mass production to the car.
Bill Gates, not so much for MS, not so much for the money he is spending on malaria etc research, but for his application of his business skills to the problem.
Not, surpisingly, Carnegie. He built a lot of libraries, yes, but his career was in two stages. Ruthl;ess businessman to make money, then after retirement giving it away. Fails your test of concurrence.
The various founders of The Muscovy Company (first limited liability company. Very important development), East India and Hudson's Bay Companies. Really changed the world these people.
Anyway, I agree that teh MSNBC list is silly and that by slightly varying our criteria we can come up with any number of alternatives.
Posted by: Tim Worstall at November 1, 2004 01:58 AM
Henry Ross Perot is my personal hero. His courageous and resourceful leadership inspired me greatly. Can someone tell me how I can contact him through e-mail.
Thank you.
Dani
Posted by: Dani at November 12, 2004 01:55 AM
Could someone please provide E-mail or mail address for Mr. Henry Ross Perot.
Thank you for your time.
Alex.
Posted by: Alex at November 15, 2004 02:17 PM
what no Walt disney? the best entreprenuers are those that come from nothing.
anyway my top 10 are
Gates, Disney, perot, Ford, Dell, Kroc, carnegie,
Hilton, Russell simmons, rockerfeller
Posted by: shane at December 27, 2004 05:36 PM
at Belmont University in Nashville, Tennessee. He consults with a variety of businesses on start-up and growth related issues, and with larger corporations on re-establishing entrepreneurial cultures within their organizations. Dr. Cornwall's current research interests include entrepreneurial finance and entrepreneurial ethics. He has authored or co-authored four books.
