Ah, the good old American Dream, in which anyone – man or woman, no matter what age or ethnicity or religion, if talented and determined enough, is able to become a millionaire and live comfortably in the land of the free. But what does it even mean to be a millionaire in a billionaire’s world? And the truth is, the majority of the world’s real wealth is owned by a very small percentage of families, and in America, there’s no exception.
By real wealth, we’re talking about the families that own the banks, families that literally control and distribute the money and things like medicine and oil. The families that own the stores, hotels, and everything else that you can imagine. The ones that literally own everything you want – and need. But, not everyone on this list was just handed everything they have. In fact, a lot of these millionaires – and billionaires – are completely self-made. Some of the largest and most profitable businesses in the world started in someone’s house, or garage. So, let’s take a look at some of the wealthiest people in the country and how it is they got to where they are today.
The Cubans
Net Worth: $4 Billion
Industry: Entertainment, Sports
Notable Member(s): Mark Cuban
Claim to Fame: The Dallas Maverick.
You’ve definitely seen Mark Cuban’s face, whether you realize it or not. The man owns a little bit of everything around Hollywood and throughout the sports world. He is perhaps most well-known for being the owner of the Dallas Mavericks, but there’s a good chance you’ve caught him on an episode of Shark Tank, too – where he sits as one of the main investors.
Cuban also launched his own film production company that he dubbed “2929 Entertainment,” with whom he created Good Night, and Good Luck, the indie film starring George Clooney. The film ultimately ended up being nominated for six Oscars. Other films produced by the company include 2007’s We Own the Night and, in 2014, Serena, starring Bradley Cooper and Jennifer Lawrence. Over the years, Cuban has been both criticized and fined numerous times for his behavior and language towards those he doesn’t agree with, such as several NBA officials.
In 2018, he was ordered to pay the league $600,000 for a statement he made about The Mavericks. He’s also got his own company, broadcast.com, that has reportedly done quite well.
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