Luis Carlos Sarmiento Angulo

Once Colombia's top builder, Sarmiento parlayed his construction fortune into a financial services empire, Grupo Aval Acciones y Valores whose stock has shot up 83% since year ago. Over the years bought up stakes in four Colombian banks, a leasing company and a pension fund. Sarmiento canceled plans to bid for a new Colombian television network license with Venezuelan billionaire Gustavo Cisneros. In association with Grameen Bank, will begin extending credit to micro-entrepreneurs.