David Murdock
Net Worth: $2.5 billion
Profession: American businessman
How He Made His Wealth: This high school dropout made a tidy fortune in the real estate industry, then he bought portions of Dole Food Company, Inc. and Castle & Cook. The two combined companies result in one of the largest privately held entities in the U.S., with 63,000 employees in more than 90 countries. Its portfolio includes development and ownership of real estate, leasing of transportation equipment, manufacture of brick and building materials, oil and gas holdings, aviation services, and ownership of public warehouses. In Hawaii the company also owns a significant portion of the 90,000-acre island of Lanai and two award-winning Four Seasons Hotels.
Cool Facts: Murdock is a high school drop out and didn’t receive his diploma until much later in life. He was drafted by the U.S. Army during World War II, and after he finished his tour, he was homeless. He made his first profit after selling a diner he bought with a loan. Despite being 86, he still does 50 push-ups every day.
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