14 Biographies of Billionaire Business Leaders

There is a lot to learn from Billionaires. Here we’ve assembled a list of stories so mind blowing you’ll hardly believe they're true. From real estate development to hotel management, ecommerce and hostile takeover artists. Any of these books could be read and enjoyed, but recommend reading them all!

Biography of Billionaire Kirk Kerkorian

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Biography of Kirk Kerkorian

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The rags to riches story of how an 8th grade dropout became a multi-billionaire. From boxing to flipping airplanes to real estate development in Las Vegas, Kirk was a risk taking legend.

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Kirk started out as an eighth grade drop out and became one of the most prolific billionaires of the last century. This story chronicles his life through childhood and adulthood.

Kirk learned about the need for Grit early on in his childhood. When he started flying airplanes he had many near death experiences. To make money he ended up flipping airplanes and eventually starting one of the first airlines. When he got into real estate, he changed the Las Vegas skyline more than perhaps anyone else.

Aside from his romantic life which is discussed in great detail as well, Kirk’s reputation was as good as good. This is an unbelievably inspiring book about a man of his word. This book will have you inspired to push yourself to the next level and accomplish more.

Click here to read the full book summary of Kirk Kerkorian's biography.

Biography of Billionaire Ted Turner

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Ted Turner Biography

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The biography of Ted Turner is the story of a rebellious youth turned multi-billionaire. Deal after deal is done to level up his business.

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How can one person go from taking over a simple family billboard business in their early 20’s to a multi-billionaire who owns enormous ranches and multiple sports teams? This book will show you how.

Ted was a hard worker from early on in life. This served him well when he started TV and cable channels and networks like CNN, TBS, Superstation and more. A true visionary, Ted was always looking forward and trying to get bigger and better. But when the internet came along and his company sold to Time Warner and AOL, he was out of his element and cashed out.

Read this book to get inspired and create a new vision for what's possible in your own life!

Click here to read the full book summary of Ted Turner's biography.

Biography of Billionaire Carl Icahn

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King Icahn Bio of Carl Icahn

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Biography of Carl Icahn is a billionaire's story of hostile takeovers done in the 1980's.

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The 1980s were a different time in America. Compared to today, one might almost consider it a lawless nation. Well maybe not that far, but most of Carl's hostile takeover actions in the 1980s would not be possible today due to law changes.

Carl imagined a way to use his money to get toeholds into companies and leverage stockholder sentiment to get control and sell the assets. Often times getting paid off to walk away and leave the company alone. In single deals Carl would make tens of millions of dollars. He, and several others, did this constantly throughout the 80s.

Carl was a visionary, rigid negotiator, and very motivated about his business. This book will get you focused on your business for sure.

Click here to read the full book summary of Carl Icahn's biography.

Biography of Billionaire Conrad Hilton

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Be My Guest

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This is the story of how Conrad Hilton entered and took over the Hotel business. From broke at 40 to owning an enormous hotel chain including the Waldorf Astoria.

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This book doesn’t even start until Conrad is 31 years old. And he goes totally broke in the great depression at 41. Just from that point you can easily tell yourself that anything is possible.

Conrad wanted to buy a bank, but when he saw the demand in hotels he decided to move in that direction. The story of his wild expansion and education as an operator is impressive. So driven to grow and expand Conrad pushed his debt level to the limit.

Like most billionaires, Conrad became extremely rich through stock and appreciation in value of the stock market. This is a legendary story about how to raise money and grow a business.

Click here to read the full book summary of Conrad Hilton's biography.

Biography of Billionaire Tony Hsieh

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Delivering Happiness

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This is the story of the trials and tribulations that Tony Hsieh went through to get Zappos from $0 to over $1b. It almost cost him everything.

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It may sound odd, but at the time, selling shoes on the internet was an off the wall idea. No one was doing it. Tony was the first money in and, at the time, had many other investments. All of those though ended up playing second fiddle to Zappos though.

Tony almost went broke funding Zappos. This from someone who had already sold a company for $150mm. He sold his real estate portfolio, and put everything on the line to see Zappos work because they could not raise any money. Even when the company’s run rate was $10mm. No one wanted it.

This book is an amazing read about the roller coaster a bootstrapped entrepreneur goes through.

Click here to read the full book summary of Tony Hsieh's biography.

Biography of Billionaire Jack Welch

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Jack: Straight from the Gut

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As the leader of one of the most powerful and wide stretching businesses in American History, Jack shares his wins and losses as well as what it takes to be a winner and get ahead in life.

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The Chairman and CEO of GE, Jack, was a man with immense power. “Neutron Jack'' was his nickname because they would fire the bottom 10% of performers every year. He was the founder of 6 sigma and many other groups and changes to the company.

In this book Jack talks about his rise to power and the wild success he drove on his way up and at the top. He also shares some of the mistakes and problems he caused in life and work.

This book is best for a company person who wants to climb the ladder or get hired on from the outside.

Biography of Billionaire Ken Langone

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I Love Capitalism!

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Learn the story of a deal junky investor that envisioned and created Home Depot. This no nonsense business titan teaches his secrets to success and spares no details.

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Ken is a deal junky. He tells story after story about the amazing deals he put together. The way he talks is so down to earth as well. It appears that all his money did not go to his head.

Ken came up on wall street doing mergers and acquisitions. When he saw the asset vs book value on a hardware store he knew he wanted in. Partnered with an amazing operator, raised a bit more money and they were off with Home Depot. The highs and lows and leadership changes that come along with growing a massive company like this are riveting.

Ken’s book will be best enjoyed by fellow deal junkies and those curious about taking a company public.

Click here to read the full book summary of Ken Langone's biography.

Biography of Billionaire Ross Perot

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Ross Perot: The Man Behind the Myth

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The incredible story Ross Perot's rise to riches and political power. An American success story with lessons and secrets to success that many will enjoy or apply to their own lives.

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One of the deals that Ken put together made Ross Perot extremely rich. They would have a working relationship for their entire life.

Ross Perot was a captivating American figure and brilliant entrepreneur. Much like Kirk Kerkorian he too was a working-class kid who through his own grit and industriousness became a billionaire business tycoon. This book shares the details about how this gifted leader did it.

This book will be enjoyed by anyone with a curiosity to read about a passionate man with a rags to riches story. A person almost completely on his own, transformed American politics.

Biography of Billionaire Steve Wynn

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Running Scared

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One of the biggest hotelmen in Las Vegas history. This story includes how Steve came to power and what shady dealing or relationships may have lead to his success.

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Steve sued the publisher of this book for defamation and pushed them into bankruptcy. Already sounds like a juicy read, right? There are details Wynn does not want the world to know.

Find out how one of Las Vegas’s more prolific hotelmen at one point owned Bellagio, Treasure Island, Mirage, and Golden Nugget. Learn the details of the deals that were done to create this mogul and his connections to organized crime.

This is a behind-the-scenes book written by an investigative journalist who owned a hotel. Doesn’t get much better than that. Well-written and researched book that will open your eyes to what is possible.

American Rascal: How Jay Gould Built Wall Street's Biggest Fortune

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American Rascal

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You do not need to have a passion for history to enjoy this enthralling biography of one of Wall Street’s biggest rebels. In this book, you will meet some of Wall Street’s most notorious figures in a time characterized by outrageous lawlessness.

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You do not need to have a passion for history to enjoy this enthralling biography of one of Wall Street’s biggest rebels. In this book, you will meet some of Wall Street’s most notorious figures in a time characterized by outrageous lawlessness. Greg Steinmetz skillfully stitches the story of Jay Gould’s life with relevant context but without bogging the reader down with too many details.

Born into a working-class background, Gould instigated a meteoric rise to power via means that, while illegal now, was entirely lawful at the time. Through conscientious attention to detail, ruthless exploits, and single-minded pursuit of wealth, Gould became a railroad magnate and built a financial empire. Although it would be easy to vilify Gould, Steinmetz writes about both Gould’s strengths and weaknesses to illustrate his complex personality.

Serving as a cautionary tale, “American Rascal” is still relevant in today’s world. In learning about Wall Street before there were any restrictions, you will learn why they exist. By divorcing integrity from financial dealings, Gould illustrates why regulations are important.

Retail Gangster: The Insane, Real-Life Story of Crazy Eddie

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Retail Gangster

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An inside look into the unfathomable scams committed by Eddie Antar, or, as he was known in his commercials, “Crazy Eddie.” You will learn about his humble beginnings, meteoric rise to power, and magnificent crash which included a prison stint. With a background in investigative journalism, Gary Weiss brings Eddie Antar and the unforgettable people that surrounded him to life in this addictive book.

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“Retail Gangster” is an inside look into the unfathomable scams committed by Eddie Antar, or, as he was known in his commercials, “Crazy Eddie.” You will learn about his humble beginnings, meteoric rise to power, and magnificent crash which included a prison stint. With a background in investigative journalism, Gary Weiss brings Eddie Antar and the unforgettable people that surrounded him to life in this addictive book.

Although this book is nonfiction, it reads like a bestselling thriller. Filled with memorable characters, complex family relationships, and intricate sub-plots, you will not be able to put this book down.

Beyond learning about scams of immense proportion and the people who perpetrated them, you will discover how a magnetic personality and unrivaled avarice can mask bottomless corruption – at least for a time. Even though “Retail Gangster” is a cautionary tale, it is an entertaining peek into the worst New York has to offer.

The Third Wave: An Entrepreneur's Vision of the Future by Steve Case

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The Third Wave: An Entrepreneur's Vision of the Future

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Building apps and services on top of the internet, and the third wave will be about integrating the internet into every aspect of our lives in seamless and pervasive ways

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This book offers a compelling vision of the next technological era. Case, AOL's co-founder, outlines the three phases of the internet's evolution. The first wave saw companies, like AOL, laying the groundwork, connecting people online. The second wave was dominated by companies like Google and Facebook, building apps and platforms atop this infrastructure. In the impending third wave, Case predicts the internet will be seamlessly integrated into every facet of our lives, profoundly impacting sectors like health, education, and transportation. This won't just be about creating a new app or platform, but fundamentally reimagining real-world systems in a digitally interconnected era.

Entrepreneurs navigating this wave will need to liaise with governments, forge partnerships, and understand policy implications. Case’s insights draw from his vast experiences, providing both a map for the future and a call to action for innovators.

Biography of Billionaire Elon Musk by Walter Isaacson

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Elon Musk Biography

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Dive deep into the life of Elon Musk, the groundbreaking innovator who transformed the world with electric vehicles, private space exploration, and artificial intelligence

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Dive deep into the life of Elon Musk, the groundbreaking innovator who transformed the world with electric vehicles, private space exploration, and artificial intelligence. From the bestselling author of "Steve Jobs," this biography offers an intimate look into the life of a man who, despite his unparalleled successes, has faced immense personal challenges.

As a child in South Africa, Musk was a target for bullies, enduring physical and emotional scars that would shape his future. His complex relationship with his charismatic yet enigmatic father further molded his psyche, leading to a life marked by intense passion, risk-taking, and dramatic flair.

By 2022, Musk had achieved unimaginable feats with SpaceX and Tesla, becoming the world's wealthiest individual. Yet, beneath the accolades, he grappled with his own inner turmoil. His subsequent move to take over Twitter, the global digital playground, symbolized his journey from being bullied on the playground to owning it.

Having had unprecedented access to Musk for two years, Isaacson provides readers with a riveting narrative, weaving tales of triumphs, setbacks, and Musk's relentless drive. This book delves deep into the psyche of a man whose demons might just be the catalysts for his unparalleled innovations.

Are you ready to explore the mind behind the genius? Discover the man who dared to dream, innovate, and redefine the boundaries of possibility.

How to Get Rich: One of the World's Greatest Entrepreneurs Shares His Secrets

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How to Get Rich

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Dennis built a publishing dynasty, founded the renowned Maxim magazine, and etched his name among the UK's wealthiest

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Embark on a journey with Felix Dennis, a self-made magnate who defied the odds. From being a college dropout without the cushion of family wealth, Dennis built a publishing dynasty, founded the renowned Maxim magazine, and etched his name among the UK's wealthiest, all while enjoying every moment of his audacious journey.

"How to Get Rich" is not your typical wealth-building guide. Dennis steers clear of the clichés, avoiding the pitfalls of generic investment advice and overhyped motivational jargon. Instead, he offers candid insights into the world of entrepreneurship, drawing from his own roller-coaster experiences.

Dennis challenges conventional wisdom, asserting that regular paychecks can be addictive traps, that the brilliance of an idea isn't as crucial as one might think, and most importantly, that true power lies in ownership.

Dive into this book to uncover the raw, unfiltered advice of a man who has walked the path and wishes to light the way for others. If you're seeking a no-nonsense guide to wealth from someone who's lived it, "How to Get Rich" is your ticket to a masterclass in entrepreneurship.