John Catsimatidis

Family emigrated from Greece when he was 6 months old; family settled in Harlem, dad became a busboy. Worked as a grocery store clerk while attending NYU; dropped out for ownership opportunity in the store. Opened first grocery store at 100th and Broadway 1969; owned 10 stores by age 24, made $25 million a year in revenue. Plowed $5 million into Manhattan real estate 1977; property worth $100 million 5 years later. Today his Red Apple Group owns hundreds of millions' worth of property; New York's Gristedes grocery chain. Stumbled upon Chapter 11 proceedings of United Refining Company; purchased oil refiner's stock for $7.5 million. Today firm owns 372 gas stations, Pennsylvania refinery. Hoping to "steal a refinery" from oil firms looking to shed assets; created blank-check company United Refining Energy in December, raised $450 million in public offering. Plans to become New York's second billionaire mayor: "I need to improve my public speaking, I need to know all of the problems voters are facing, and I need to lose 30 pounds to look better on television."