Ira Rennert

New york city native studied political science at Brooklyn College; earned M.B.A. from NYU. Bought contractor AM General in 1992 for $133 million; maker of military Humvees, luxury SUV Hummers. Global conflicts said to be lifting sales of Humvees; gas-guzzling Hummer sales down with rising price of oil. Sold majority stake to Ronald Perelman for $930 million in 2004. Said to have spent $5 million to sponsor 20-volume encyclopedia featuring explanation of 613 Jewish commandments.