Billionaires discuss, breakfast, reading, exercise, and MBAs
Secrets Of The Self-Made
Brett NelsonContributorOpinions expressed by Forbes Contributors are their own.I discuss investing, strategy and management (and poke some fun, too)FollowingSep 21, 2006,07:00pm EDTUpdated Jul 13, 2012, 05:09pm EDTThis article is more than 10 years old.Share to FacebookShare to TwitterShare to Linkedin

 
  
   
     Want to really know what makes the wealthiest entrepreneurs tick? 
    Fourteen self-made members of the vaunted Forbes 400 shared candid, contrarian and even comedic answers to 20 thoughtful questions--ranging from what they eat for breakfast and how they pray to the importance (or lack thereof) of getting an M.B.A. and what advice they would give aspiring entrepreneurs. You can search the list two ways: Read each titan's responses to all 20 questions--or peruse the entire group's answers to each of the 10 most thought-provoking ones. (We will add more names to this list in coming months.)
    If your own responses differ greatly from what you read here, don't fret: There probably are no right answers. Then again, these guys are on the List! More > 
    In Pictures
    
     What was your first job?
     What was your biggest mistake?
     What is more important: the idea or the execution?
     What is your advice to young entrepreneurs?
     How many hours a day do you read?
     What motivates you?
     Is there any reason to get an MBA?
     What can't you live without?
     What is the best part about being the boss?
     If you could be anything else, what would it be?
    
    Complete Interviews With Answers To All Twenty Questions
    
     
      
       
       Arthur Blank
       
       Tim Blixseth
       
       Franklin Otis Booth 
       
      
      
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
      
      
       
       Mark Cuban 
       
       Gerald Ford 
       
       Danny Gilbert
       
      
      
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
      
      
       
       Kenneth Hendricks 
       
       Wayne Huizenga 
       
       George Kaiser
       
      
      
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
      
      
       
       Michael Ilitch
       
       William Moncrief 
       
       Phillip Ruffin 
       
      
      
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
      
      
       
       Jorge Perez 
       
       James Sorenson
       
       
       
      
      
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
      
     
    
    
    
     
       Complete Coverage >
    
    
   
   
   
   
    Poll
    
  
 
Brett NelsonFollowingEditorial StandardsForbes Accolades