Billionaires Who Made it Later in Life

‘…it is possible to become a billionaire at any age.’ 

Many billionaires made their fortunes later in life, including Warren Buffett (who became a billionaire at age 56), Oprah Winfrey, and George Lucas. Other examples include Eduardo Eurnekian, who had a breakthrough at age 56, and Robert Kuok, who made his breakthrough at age 48. This demonstrates that it is possible to become a billionaire at any age. 

• Warren Buffett: Became a billionaire at age 56 through his investment company, Berkshire Hathaway.
• George Lucas: Achieved billionaire status later in life through his film company.
• Oprah Winfrey: Reached billionaire status in her late forties.
• Eduardo Eurnekian: Made his breakthrough at age 56, according to Visual Capitalist.
• Robert Kuok: Made his breakthrough at age 48.
• Issad Rebrab: Achieved his billionaire status at age 54 with his company Cevital.
• Torstein Hagen: Became a billionaire at age 54 through his company Viking Cruises.
• Ion Tiriac: Reached billionaire status at age 51 with a net worth of $1.7 billion.
• Mike Adenuga: Made his fortune through oil and telecom at age 50.
• Hussain Sajwani: Became a billionaire at age 49 for his real estate ventures.
• Ricardo Po: Achieved his wealth through the food industry at age 47.
• Alain Tarvella: Became a billionaire at age 46 through his company LVMH

Billionaires who made it at old age in the world

While media attention often focuses on young, high-tech entrepreneurs, many billionaires achieved their major success and wealth later in life after decades of work and experience

. Their stories disprove the notion that becoming successful is only possible for the young. 

Notable billionaires who made it later in life

Colonel Harland Sanders (KFC)

• Age of major success: 62.
• After a series of failures, including getting fired from numerous jobs, Harland Sanders franchised his Kentucky Fried Chicken recipe in 1952. By 1964, he had over 600 locations and sold the company for $2 million (about $15.2 million today). 

Ray Kroc (McDonald’s)

• Age of major success: 52.
• Ray Kroc spent his career as a milkshake machine salesman. It wasn’t until he was 52 that he met the McDonald brothers and bought out their fast-food chain. He went on to turn it into a global franchise. 

George Joseph (Mercury General Corporation)

• Age of major success: 41.
• George Joseph was a system analyst at an insurance company before founding Mercury General in 1962 at age 41. He grew the company into an insurance giant, and at 102, was recognized as the world’s oldest billionaire in 2024. 

Bernie Marcus (The Home Depot)

• Age of major success: 50.
• After being fired from his job as CEO of a home improvement company at age 50, Bernie Marcus co-founded The Home Depot in 1979. He grew the business into a national chain and became a billionaire. 

Taikichiro Mori (Mori Building Company)

• Age of major success: 51.
• Mori was an academic and professor before starting a career in real estate at age 51. He founded the Mori Building Company in 1959 and became the world’s richest man in 1992 through smart investments. 

Arianna Huffington (The Huffington Post)

• Age of major success: 54.
• After an unsuccessful political campaign, Arianna Huffington launched The Huffington Post in 2005 at age 54. The digital media company was later acquired by AOL for $315 million. 

Wally Blume (Denali Ingredients)

• Age of major success: 57.
• With a long career in the dairy business, Wally Blume founded his own ice cream company, Denali Flavors, in 1995. The company is famous for creating the Moose Tracks ice cream flavor. 

Key takeaways from late-in-life entrepreneurs

• Experience is invaluable: Unlike young entrepreneurs, older business founders bring decades of real-world knowledge, professional networks, and industry expertise to their ventures.
• Resilience and determination: Many late-in-life billionaires endured significant setbacks, including business failures and job losses, before finding their massive success. Their perseverance was key.
• Age is just a number: Research from the Kauffman Foundation shows that individuals over 50 start businesses at twice the rate of those in their 20s. Experience and determination are more important than age. 

Key takeaways from late-in-life entrepreneurs

• Experience is invaluable: Unlike young entrepreneurs, older business founders bring decades of real-world knowledge, professional networks, and industry expertise to their ventures.
• Resilience and determination: Many late-in-life billionaires endured significant setbacks, including business failures and job losses, before finding their massive success. Their perseverance was key.
• Age is just a number: Research from the Kauffman Foundation shows that individuals over 50 start businesses at twice the rate of those in their 20s. Experience and determination are more important than age.