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16. Elon Musk
Co-founder and CEO, Tesla; founder/CEO, SpaceX; chairman, SolarCity
Age: 39
Rank change: New
Industry: Automotive

Some predicted the death of electric-car maker Tesla, but the naysayers had to bite their tongue this past year when Tesla struck a partnership with Toyota in May and then pulled off a $226 million IPO in June. Whether you like his brash style or not, Musk has made the electric car a reality and forced mainstream automakers to respond.

Tabloid fodder: His recent divorce and personal cash-flow problems were popular topics of online gossip, as was his marriage to British actress Talulah Riley. He can avoid the spotlight if he fulfills his goal to retire some day to Mars (yes, really).

By Michael V. Copeland, senior writer


NEXT: 17. Boaz Weinstein
Last updated October 14 2010: 1:25 PM ET
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