Michael Dell b. 1965

[maruppharm]

When the computer company he ran from his University of Texas dorm room took off, Michael Dell, 19, borrowed money from his grandparents, dropped out of college and founded Dell Computer. By building computers to order and selling directly to the customer, Dell undercut competition with good, inexpensive computers and avoided costs related to storage and obsolete inventory. Since Dell stepped down as CEO in 2004, Dell Inc. has struggled against tough competition and a changing marketplace. Dell returned to the helm in 2007 to help right his ship and, judging by history, he is the right man for the job.

Quote: "Eliminate the middleman. Both you and your customer will benefit."