RUSS WEINER

$3.9

BILLION  SELF-MADE SCORE: * SOURCE: ENERGY DRINKS AGE: 49 RESIDENCE: DELRAY BEACH, FL PHILANTHROPY SCORE: N.A. The Rockstar energy drinks founder started a yard service company in his Northern California neighborhood at age 8 and worked the drive-thru at Wendy’s at 15. Weiner got his start in the drinks market while working for Skyy Vodka founder (and his mentor) Maurice Kanbar. When Kanbar rejected his idea for an energy drink, Weiner used a $50,000 mortgage on his Sausalito, California, condo to launch Rockstar in 2001. He got rich selling his energy drinks in 16-ounce cans at cheaper prices and says he made his first million-dollar profit the year he started his business. Still his near $700 million (est. 2018 sales) company remains a distant competitor to Monster and Red Bull.