Entrepreneurs Facts

Jessica Alba co-founded The Honest Company in 2011 after struggling to find safe, non-toxic products for her first child. The company went public on Nasdaq in May 2021 at a $1.44 billion valuation - and at closing that day, her founder stake was worth roughly $130 million.

Dave Thomas learned the restaurant trade under Colonel Sanders at a KFC franchise in Indiana. His boss sent him to Columbus, Ohio to rescue four failing KFC stores. Thomas turned all four around and sold his 45% stake back to KFC for $1.5 million. He poured that money into a new burger chain. It was Wendy's.

Ferruccio Lamborghini owned several Ferraris but kept burning out the clutch. He drove to Maranello and told Enzo Ferrari the clutches were rubbish. Ferrari dismissed him - a tractor man had no business criticizing his cars. Ferruccio went home and built a rival brand in four months. Three years later, his Miura was hailed as the world's first true supercar.

Jesse Cole sold one season ticket in his first two months running the Savannah Bananas. He sold his house and slept on an air mattress in a duplex. One night a cockroach crawled across his face. Locals said he'd never sell another ticket. The opener sold out anyway. The team says every home game has since. This summer that meant an NFL stadium. Every game still sells out.