Top 25 Short CEOs, Business Leaders and Entrepreneurs

A List Of The World's Richest Men 5'9 And Under (Updated For 2024)

Motivation

May Contain Affiliate Links (What’s This?)

People assume that height and success are related. A major reason for this is because of a well-studied bias and prejudice against shorter people, usually men, called "Heightism". There is no coincidence that most of our presidents are tall, same with the majority of CEOs and people in management positions. According to a study published by the National Library Of Medicine, each 1.4 inch increase in height for a man was associated with up to a 2.9 percent increase in weekly earnings.

See Also: How To Be An Effective Short Male Leader

You can see this favoritism toward taller people in presidential campaign speeches and disdain toward shorter men in many media spaces. It wasn't until 2023 that New York City for example, rolled out the first laws that penalize height discrimination in the workplace. That said, there are plenty of short men who are able to become extremely successful in spite of this overlooked and sometimes even encouraged prejudice. It will also be of no surprise that most, if not all of these shorter men were self-starters and entrepreneurial at heart.

Without further adieu, here is a list of the 25 richest and most successful short men today (updated for 2024). All net worth amounts are in U.S. Dollars.


TOP 25 SHORT CEOS AND BUSINESS LEADERS


1. JEFF BEZOS - 5'7 - $186.3 Billion (Amazon)

Source | Photo Credit: Wesley Mann

The first entrepreneur on our list is coincidentally the first person who made over 150 billion dollars in the last 3 decades. Jeff Bezos used combined patience and his passion for technology to create Amazon in his small garage, a company that would later become one of the biggest and most successful companies in the world. Six years ago, he bought the Washington Post in a 250 million dollars deal. All of his brilliant business moves made him one of the richest people alive.

2. BILL GATES - 5'8 - 129.7 BILLION (MICROSOFT)

Source | Photo Credit: Getty Images

This brilliant businessman and one of the biggest philanthropists in the world made his vast fortune when he, together with his friend and partner Paul Allen, founded Microsoft. Since then, Microsoft became the world's largest software company which helped Gates accumulate over $90 billion dollars, making him the second richest man in the world. While 5'9 is average height, it is well under the height of most CEOs.

3. MARK ZUCKERBERG - 5'7 - 181.4 BILLION (FACEBOOK)

Source | Photo Credit: Associated Press

Our third entry on this list is probably one of the most well-known individuals in the tech industry today. Mark Zuckerberg stuck gold when he founded and launched Facebook, which would overtake over social media competitors like MySpace to become the most popular social network in the world. His net worth is estimated to be $71 billion, and he is currently fifth on Forbes' Billionaires list.

4. AMANCIO ORTEGA GAONA - 5'8 - 110.3 BILLION (ZARA)

Source | Photo Credit: Business Of Fashion

Ever since he founded Inditex Group, a multinational clothing company, Amancio Ortega has become one of the biggest names in the fashion industry. Even though he owns many brands that are currently part of Inditex, Zara is certainly the most popular one. Every man with fashion sense who lives in a major city has been to Zara at least once. Ortega has a net worth of $70 billion.

5. CARLOS SLIM - 5'6 - 89.8 BILLION (TELECOMM)

Source |Photo Credit: Associated Press

Carlos Slim, a Mexican businessman, and entrepreneur, who has for a while been one of the most successful and richest people in the world. His vast holdings in a large number of companies that are part of his conglomerate helped him earn over $67 billion.

6. MICHAEL BLOOMBERG - 5'6 - 104.7 BILLION (BLOOMBERG LP)

Source |Photo Credit: Chad Batka via New York Times

Ever since he was fired from his job on Wall Street, Michael Bloomberg has been successful in almost every business venture he found himself involved in. His information technology Bloomberg LP got him approximately $50 billion, making him one of the richest people of 21. century. He was also a New York City Mayor for three terms and helped the city shed its gritty reputation to become a business and tech magnet.

7. SERGEY BRIN - 5'7 - 130.6 BILLION (GOOGLE)

Source |Photo Credit: Kelly Sullivan via Getty Images

Sergey Brin, 13th richest person in the world, currently has a net worth of $47.5 dollars. He made his fortune by creating what most would argue is the most powerful and influential tech companies in the world, Google. When it was first founded, Google was just a search engine which competed with the likes of Yahoo and Alta Vista (remember them?). Now, Google has a large number of its own subsidiaries, the most popular mobile operating system in the world and a huge list of in-demand tech products.

8. MA HUATENG - 5'7 - 39.6 BILLION (INTERNET MEDIA)

Source | Photo Credit: Visual China Group via Getty Images

One of the most influential people in the world, Ma Huateng is an entrepreneur, investor and technology mogul. He founded Tencent, one of the most valuable companies in Asia, which is one of the biggest internet companies in the world. In the last few years, he was named one of the world's most influential and powerful people. His net worth is somewhere around $45 billion.

9. MUKESH AMBANI - 5'7 - 113.9 BILLION (OIL AND GAS)

Source | Photo Credit: ET Bureau via Economic Times

Another good example that height doesn't have to limit one's success in the world of business and finance is Indian entrepreneur Mukesh Ambani, who stands at a modest 5’7. He is the chairman of the hugely successful Reliance Industries Limited, a fortune 500 company. Holding this position helped him accumulate a net worth of $40 billion.

10. JACK MA - 4'11 - 25.1 BILLION (E-COMMERCE)

Source | Photo Credit: VCG via Tech Crunch

Shortest business on this list is also one of the richest people in Chine and one of the richest people in the world. Jack Ma has a net worth of almost $40 billion that he earned after he founded one of the most popular internet companies in the world, Alibaba. Recently, he resigned from the position of the chairman and decided that he wants to focus on philanthropy.

11. LEE SHAU KEE - 29.7 BILLION (REAL ESTATE)

Source | Photo Credit: Jerome Farve via Getty Images

The second shortest person on our list is Chinese real estate tycoon who owns the majority of Henderson Land Development, a company with interests in various properties. Lee Shau Kee is only 5’3 tall but is an incredible businessman who has a net worth of $30.3 billion.

12. PHIL KNIGHT - 5'8 - 34.1 BILLION (NIKE)

Source | Photo Credit: Drew Angerer via Getty Images

Phil Knight is an ex 5’9 tall CEO, and currently chairman of NIKE, with a net worth of almost $30 billion. He also owns film production company Laika, and is currently the 28th richest person in the world.


13. JORGE PAULO LEMANN - 15.9 BILLION (BEER)

Source | Alan Marques via Folhapress

Brazilian business magnate & investor. He made his $27.4 billion fortune by investing in two breweries, which later on controlled over 60 percent Brazilian beer market.

14. GEORG SCHAEFFLER - 5'7 - 9.2 BILLION (AUTOMOBILE PARTS)

Source | | Photo Credit: The Schaeffler Group

A 5’7 tall billionaire businessman who owns 80% of the company INA Holding Schaeffler. He is ranked by Forbes as the 31st richest person in the world with the net worth of $25.5 billion.

15. LEONID MIKHELSON - 5'6 - 27.4 BILLION (GAS AND CHEMICALS)

Source | Photo Source: Prabook

Leonid Viktorovich Mikhelson with his estimated fortune of $18 billion is a Russian entrepreneur and CEO of gas company Novatek.

16. SHIV NADAR - 5'8 - 35.5 BILLION (SOFTWARE SERVICES)

Source | Photo Credit: Shiv Nadar Foundation

Founder of HCL, IT enterprise, Shiv Nadar is a billionaire businessman and philanthropist. His net worth is estimated to be somewhere around $14.6 billion.

17. DUSTIN MOSKOVITZ - 5'8 - 17.9 BILLION (FACEBOOK)

Source |Photo Credit: Christie Hemm Klok via The Forbes Collection

Youngest self-made billionaire in history, this internet entrepreneur co-founded largest social network company Facebook with Mark Zuckerberg. His estimated net worth is 14 billion.

18. STEVE COHEN - 5.9 - 19.8 BILLION (HEDGE FUNDS)

Source | Photo Credit: Simon Dawson via Bloomberg

With the net worth of $14 billion, this 5’9 tall American investor, hedge fund manager, and philanthropist is also a founder of two companies, Point72 Asset Management, and S.A.C. Capital Advisors.

19. LUIS CARLOS SARMIENTO - 5'5 - 6.8 BILLION (BANKING)

Source | Photo Credit: Grupo Aval

The second richest man in Colombia, Luis Carlos Sarmiento is a banking mogul who over the years accumulated a net worth of over $12 billion.

20. DAVID TEPPER - 5'7 - 20.6 BILLION (HEDGE FUNDS)

Source | Photo Credit: Marco Grob via New York Magazine

Just like Steve Cohen, David made his vast fortune using hedge funds. He is also an owner of NFL team Carolina Panthers, and founder of hedge funds company Appaloosa Management.

21. GIORGIO ARMANI - 5'8 - 11.5 BILLION (ARMANI)

Source | Business Of Fashion

One of the most popular and respected fashion designers in history, Giorgio Armani is the owner of Armani, extremely successful fashion company worldwide. Giorgio's net worth is estimated to be almost $9 billion.

22. TRAVIS KALANICK - 5'8 - 3.6 BILLION (UBER)

Source | Pulse NG

115th richest American in the world, with the net worth of $5.8 billion, this businessman is the founder of app "Scour" and Uber, transportation network company.

23. STEVE CHEN - 5'6 - 1.65 BILLION (YOUTUBE FOUNDER)

Source | Tatler Asia

Steve Chen is an internet entrepreneur who co-founded video sharing site Youtube together with Chad Hurley. His net worth is somewhere around $1.65 billion.

24. DAYMOND JOHN - 5'7 - $350 MILLION (FUBU, THE SHARK GROUP)

Source | Yale

New York native, serial entrepreneur, venture capitalist, motivational speaker and television personality from the successful television show "Shark Tank" is also the founder and CEO of FUBU, a clothing company that specializes in urban wear and "The Shark Group" is worth a cool $350 Million as of 2024.

25. GARY VAYNERCHUK - 5'7 - $160 MILLION (MEDIA)

Source | VaynerMedia via Vox

Author, speaker, and internet personality, this 5'7 wine critic is best known for his work in digital marketing and social media. Gary's net worth is estimated to be around $160 million.

Advertise With Short Kingz And Reach 100,000+ Per Month!

CONCLUSION

In the end, when we take a look at this list, we realize that height is not indicative of success, and despite the real prejudices and social snubbing that short men experience, one can still be successful. It just sometimes requires being a relentless go-getter and self-starter. Notice how many of the men on this list got their taste of success through creating startups and their own entities. Is it a coincidence? Maybe so, but most likely not. Bill Gates started Microsoft, but his successors have all been well north of six feet. A big heart, thick skin, intelligence, luck and a lot of ambition appear to be the keys to prosperity for the short king.

Like This Article? Chat About It And More On Our Forum For Short Men!