George Steinbrenner III

"The Boss" may miss the playoffs for first time in more than a decade; New York Yankees' star-studded lineup faltering in baseball's toughest division. Ran track at Williams College; graduated 1952. Became an assistant football coach at Northwestern and Purdue universities. Joined father's Cleveland firm Kinsman Marine Transit in 1957. Bought out dad 1963; company later became American Ship Building. Invested in Broadway plays, then baseball. Bought Yankees from CBS for $10 million in 1973; franchise now worth $1.2 billion. The most meddlesome owner in sports handed day-to-day operations to sons Hank and Hal this year. Footing most of the bill for new $1 billion Yankee Stadium. Best asset: YES Network. Regional cable channel broadcasts the Bronx Bombers to New York City and beyond; worth more than $3 billion.