Age: 71

Perlmutter tops our list as CEO of the best known comic book company on Earth.

Born to a Jewish family in Palestine, he moved to the U.S. after serving in the Israeli army during the Six Day War of 1967. He arrived in New York City with only $250.

At first, Perlmutter earned a living standing outside of Jewish cemeteries in Brooklyn, lending his Hebrew skills to lead funeral services. Later, he sold toys and beauty products on the streets. He never attended college, but he taught himself how to read a balance sheet and earned a reputation for spotting overlooked value in struggling companies.

Perlmutter took over as CEO of Marvel Entertainment in 2005. Even after Disney's acquisition of the company, they kept him as CEO due to his "super" credentials.

He currently splits his time living between New York and West Palm Beach, Florida.