Marc Benioff, 39, Chairman & CEO, Salesforce.com ($376 million)

Marc Benioff, the tenth richest man in the US under the age of 40, founded salesforce.com in March 1999 with a vision to create a Web-based software utility that would replace traditional enterprise software technology.

He is now regarded as the leader of what he termed 'The End Of Software,' the growing idea that Web-based applications deliver immediate benefits at reduced risks and costs.

Benioff, a 25-year software industry veteran, is recognised as one of the preeminent thinkers in information technology. In May 2003, President George W. Bush appointed Benioff co-chairman of the President's Information Technology Advisory Committee (PITAC), a bi-partisan organization of business leaders and academics that guides the Administration on developing and adopting vital information technology.

Prior to creating salesforce.com, Benioff spent 13 years at Oracle Corporation, holding a number of leadership positions in sales, marketing, and product development.

Photograph: Salesforce.com

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