America is the land of entrepreneurs and has been for over 200 years.
Here is a list of some of the most famous.
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Edsel Ford - Ford Motor Company
Edsel Ford followed in his father's footsteps and improved the design of the Model T with the Model A. He had an interest in Aviation and would begin to make Airplanes within the Ford Motor Company. In World War 2, he was an influential part of the improvement of the United States Air Force and created Willow Creek, which would eventually pump out more B-52 Bombers than the Germans and Japanese could shoot down. He died early from stomach cancer.
Read Articles: Edsel Ford Family Tree
Henry Ford - Ford Motor Company
Henry Ford was always a tinkerer from an early age. He had a fascination with building engines, but what made him a true genius was his ability to mass produce affordable products for the masses and produce them efficiently. He is known for the car industry, but he made the first affordable tractor to be mass-produced, and later, with the help of his son, he entered into aviation. His ingenuity would help the United States government during World War 2 when he showed them his trade secret of building the pieces of his car off-site and then assembling them in his factories.
Read Articles: Henry Ford Family Tree
Milton Hershey - The Hershey Company
Milton Hershey was a successful entrepreneur prior to beginning Hershey, but it would be his chocolate that would make him a household name. He had the foresight to build his factory around dairy farms and use their milk for his chocolate. He then created the town of Hershey around the factory in order to support his worker's lifestyle and create a utopia for them. During the Great Depression, he did not lay off a single worker, and his business continued to thrive.
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Ray Kroc - McDonald's
Ray Kroc is not the founder of McDonald's but is the man who had a vision that was bigger than the previous owners. He used their initial resources and then innovated to become one of the wealthiest men in the World. He continues to remain the most influential example of franchising despite his death 40 years ago.
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Ray Kroc Family Tree
Ray Kroc Timeline
Famous Fast Food Entrepreneurs
Roy Disney - Walt Disney Company
He was the financial brain behind Walt's creativity, and the financial success of Disney would not have occurred without Roy. He was not one to be in the spotlight and preferred the background. However, his accomplishments were eventually recognized with his own Hollywood Star. He outlived his brother and opened Disneyworld after Walt's death.
Read Articles: Roy Disney Family Tree
Walt Disney - Walt Disney Company
There is not an American who does not know who Walt Disney is. He created so many memorable characters through the years and captured everyone's imagination. He and his brother Roy would also build famous theme parks that were placed in California and Florida and eventually internationally. He died from Lung Cancer and never got to see the extent of the empire he helped create.
Read Articles: Walt Disney Family Tree