Pierre Bellon

Founded Sodexo as catering and river cruise company in 1966 in a warehouse in Marseilles. Today the $21 billion (2009 sales) company supplies food to the U.S. Marine Corps; operates prisons; organizes major sports events such as the Ryder Cup, the Dakar Road Rally, and the World Scout Jamboree. Also has majority stake in the Lido, the Parisian topless cabaret that features ice dancers and trapeze artists; 90% stake in Yachts de Paris, one of the best-known cruise companies operating on the Seine. Is one of the leading food and facilities management services companies in India with its acquisition last year of Radhakrishna Hospitality Services Group. Bellon stepped down as chief executive in 2005 but remains chairman. Penned autobiography, "I've Had a Great Time".