NELSON PELTZ – $1.79 BILLION

Nelson Peltz is an American businessman and finance mogul who made his fortune through strategic investments starting in the 1980s. Currently, Nelson is the non-executive chairman of some of America’s biggest brands, including Wendy’s, The Madison Square Garden Company, HJ Heinz Company, and Procter & Gamble. With that much success attached to Nelson’s name, you would think that he had his eye set on becoming a billionaire from the very beginning.

However, Nelson is a member of the “billionaire dropout” club, having dropped out of Wharton to become a ski instructor. After being given control of their family’s frozen food business, Nelson and his brother gradually grew the company and expanded their empire to what it is today. Presently, the American mogul is worth an impressive $1.79 billion, but that amount will surely add up in the upcoming years since he is still grinding his way to the top.