The richest people in the world are all business magnates who have dominated the competition, changed the world, or both. While hired executives can often reap the rewards of a successful business, company founders often enjoy disproportionate gains in wealth as their businesses grow in market value. In some cases, it comes down to how well the founder negotiated with early investors, which can determine how much of a stake they retain or whether their holdings get diluted.

Here are 11 prominent examples of companies across various sectors that have made their founders and co-founders unimaginably wealthy.