Definition: a person who sets up a business or businesses, taking on financial risks in the hope of profit (Oxford Dictionary)

Mark Zuckerberg

With his Harvard University roommates he created the Facebook social network. In 2012, 1 billion people were users of Facebook. He was named in Time Magazine as among the 100 wealthiest and most influential people in the world.

Harland Sanders

After selling fried chicken from his roadside restaurant. Harland Sanders opened the first KFC franchise in It was one of the first fast food chains to expand internationally. When he sold the company in 1964, there were over 600 stores worldwide.

Oprah Winfrey

Oprah Winfrey was born into poverty but worked up to become the first female, African American news anchor in Nashville. Her talk show became very popular, and in 1988 she created her own production company, took over ownership of the program, and syndicated the program internationally. She now owns multiple media companies. She has been ranked the richest African American of the 20 th century.

Bill Gates

Bill Gates co-founded Microsoft, which develops and manufactures computer software, electronics and computers. Microsoft Windows dominated the world’s personal computer market, with over 90% market share. Bill Gates has topped the list of the world’s wealthiest people many times, though he is famous for giving much of his wealth to charities.

Henry Ford

Henry Ford did not invent the car, or the assembly line. He started the Ford Motor Company in His company develops and manufactures automobiles, and changed cars from being an expensive luxury, to something that was affordable for every day American families.

Lorna Jane Clarkson

Lorna Jane Clarkson is an Australian entrepreneur who started the Lorna Jane fashion label. She began making exerciseclothing herself, before starting the company in There are now over 120 stores across Australia and the company will now be expanding into the Us market.

Steve Jobs

Steve Jobs founded Apple computers in 1976, selling the first personal computers. During the first 5 years, revenues doubled every 4 months. The 1990’s was a period of trouble for the company, with decreased sales and in-fighting. Jobs was fired from Apple in Jobs returned to Apple in and revived the company with its range of hugely popular i-products.

Richard Branson

At 18, Richard Branson started a mail order record company. The Virgin brand is a conglomerate that includes airlines, a mobile phone company, a travel company, and now Virgin Galactic, which is looking to begin commercial space travel.

What makes a successful entrepreneur? Why do you think these entrepreneurs are successful? What do they have in common? Can you name some other entrepreneurs? Australian? Female? Local?