Do Won Chang

Do Won Chang is the cofounder and CEO behind the $4 billion fast fashion darling Forever 21, with some 790 stores spanning 48 countries. In 1984, the Changs started the chain with a 900-square-foot store in Los Angeles and a mere 11,000 in savings. Capitalizing on wholesale close-outs, they bought merchandise for cheap and hit $700,000 in first year sales, prompting them to open a new store every 6 months. The pair immigrated to the U.S. from South Korea in 1981 with not much more than a high school education. Updated July 2017