Ted Waitt

Son of cattle brokers dropped out of college to start PC maker with older brother Norman 1985. Gateway grew to fourth-biggest player; shipped in cow-patterned boxes in homage to origins. Michael Dell's direct-mail business forced Gateway job cuts, store closings. Sold Gateway to Acer for $710 million last year. Invests in hedge funds, private equity, real estate via Avalon Capital; net worth down $400 million because of souring real estate, 9-figure divorce settlement. Gives to Genographic Project: uses DNA data to study human origins. Funds ocean exploration via Waitt Institute for Discovery.