Leslie Lampton

Rising oil costs have sliced $700 million from the intensely private tycoon this year; oil refiners unable to pass costs along to motorists fast enough to salvage profits. Ole Miss grad founded Ergon in Jackson, Miss. 1954; turned company into refining and chemicals giant. Today owns refineries in Arkansas, Mississippi, West Virginia. Subsidiary develops communications, security equipment. Other companies include fuel distributor Lampton Love and an asphalt business. Also owns an ethanol factory in a joint venture with Bunge; plant will make 54 million gallons of ethanol a year in Mississippi.