The Richest People In America: Eric Schmidt

AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack

#59 Eric Schmidt

$5.9 billion
Source: Google

Google's grown-up protecting search turf; signed ad deal with Yahoo after Microsoft's botched buyout attempt this summer. Market still unimpressed: shares down 40% since last November. Began career in software at Bell Labs and Xerox (nyse: XRX - news - people ) PARC. Took job at Sun Microsystems (nasdaq: JAVA - news - people ) in 1983; led development of its Java technology, rose to chief technology officer. Recruited to chief executive post by Google founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin (see both) in 2001. Ads remain propeller of high-profit search engine.

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