7. Francois Pinault
Born in rural France, Pinault dropped out of high school and worked in his father’s timber business. Facing social mockery for his background, he used it as fuel to succeed. He started his own timber company, which later evolved into luxury powerhouse Kering—owning brands like Gucci, Balenciaga, and Saint Laurent. Today, he’s worth over $40 billion and is a top figure in the fashion world.