Lee Shin Cheng

Heads IOI Group which he built into one of the world's biggest palm oil producers and one of Malaysia's biggest property developers. Group employs 30,000 worldwide. Grew up on a rubber plantation where his father ran a Chinese food shop. Left school at 11 to help support his family, selling ice cream on a bicycle for 4 years before returning to finish high school. All of his children now work for his companies.