10 Greatest Living Business Leaders

Sir Richard Branson, Virgin Group

Sir Richard Charles Nicholas Branson is an English business magnate, best known for his Virgin Group of more than 400 companies. Branson is the 4th richest citizen of the United Kingdom, according to the Forbes 2011 list of billionaires, with an estimated net worth of $4.2 billion. His first business venture was a magazine called Student at the age of 16. In 1970, he set up an audio record mail-order business. In 1972, he opened a chain of record stores, Virgin Records, later known as Virgin Megastores. Branson's Virgin brand grew rapidly during the 1980s, as he set up Virgin Atlantic Airways and expanded the Virgin Records music label.

Rupert Murdoch, News Corporation

Rupert Murdoch is the founder, Chairman and CEO of global media holding company News Corporation, the world's second-largest media conglomerate. The self-made and hard driven Australia-born continues to work incredibly hard at an age when most would have retired long ago. In the center of allegation and humiliation he’s found new strength to face the accusation of bribery, corruption and hacking by subsidiary firms. This news is still blazing hot, as Rupert resigns from the boards of several of the subsidiary companies involved. Not considering the outcome, the work ethic and utter stubbornness Murdoch has shown in the face of hardship continues to serve as an example to all.