In today’s business world, it is rare to find a billion-dollar company that is solely owned and operated by one person. However, there are some exceptional entrepreneurs who have managed to build successful enterprises from scratch and maintain complete ownership of their businesses.
These individuals have taken risks, made tough decisions, and worked tirelessly to build billion-dollar empires that are a testament to their vision and leadership.
In this article, TheVibely.com will be exploring 10 impressive billion-dollar companies that are owned 100% by one person. These companies span a range of industries and showcase the diverse ways in which one person can create a successful and profitable business.
From tech startups to tool manufacturers and sports franchises, these companies prove that with hard work and determination, anything is possible in the world of business. Join us as we dive into the fascinating stories behind these one-person-owned companies and discover what it takes to build a billion-dollar empire on your own.
1. Fashion Nova
- Owned by: Richard Saghian
- Revenue: $1 billion per year
Fashion Nova is a popular brand based in Los Angeles, California that was founded by Richard Saghian, who started the company with a small store in Panorama City, California in 2006. The company initially started as a local store that sold affordable clothes and accessories for women, but it later expanded its reach by launching its website in 2013.
Richard Saghian is the current CEO of Fashion Nova. He is a self-made entrepreneur who has been in the fashion industry for over 20 years. Saghian has been instrumental in the success of Fashion Nova, and he is known for his innovative marketing strategies and his focus on creating affordable and stylish clothing.
Fashion Nova is known for its fast-fashion business model, which allows the company to quickly produce and sell trendy clothing at affordable prices. The brand has a massive following on social media, with over 20 million Instagram followers.
It has become a popular destination for influencers and celebrities to showcase their style. Fashion Nova is also known for its collaborations with celebrities, including Cardi B, Megan Thee Stallion, and Kylie Jenner.
Fashion Nova has experienced incredible growth over the years. Fashion Nova was the most Googled fashion brand in the year 2018 and 2020, and why it has over 21.4 million followers on Instagram. The company owns a fast-fashion retail store that generates 30 million visits per month.
The company has reported annual revenues of over $1 billion, and it is estimated to be worth over $1 billion but less than $2 billion. Fashion Nova has over 2,500 employees, and it ships products to over 190 countries around the world. The company is also committed to sustainability and has launched initiatives to reduce waste and promote ethical manufacturing practices.
2. Landry
- Owned by: Tilman J. Fertitta
- Revenue: $3-4 billion+ per year
Landry’s Inc is a privately held hospitality and gaming company based in Houston, Texas, USA. It was founded in 1980 by Tilman Fertitta and has since grown to become one of the largest restaurant and entertainment companies in the United States.
According to reports, Landry’s properties receive millions of visitors each month, but again, the exact number is not publicly available. Despite the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, Landry’s has continued to expand its operations and open new locations.
In summary, Landry’s is a privately held hospitality and gaming company with a significant presence in the United States. While its exact value and revenue are not publicly available, it operates hundreds of properties and owns several well-known restaurant brands.
The hospitality and gaming company is valued at $6.6 billion and makes a revenue of $3-4 billion+ per year. Therefore, it is difficult to determine its exact value or revenue. However, it is known that Landry’s operates more than 600 properties across the United States, including restaurants, hotels, casinos, and other entertainment venues. It owns several well-known restaurant brands, including Bubba Gump Shrimp Co., Morton’s The Steakhouse, and Rainforest Cafe
3. In-N-Out Burger
- Owned by Lynsi Snyder
- Revenue: $2.5 billion
In-N-Out Burger is a popular fast-food chain that primarily serves burgers, fries, and shakes. The company was founded in 1948 by Harry and Esther Snyder in Baldwin Park, California. The company has since expanded to more than 350 locations across the United States, primarily on the West Coast.
The current CEO of In-N-Out Burger is Lynsi Snyder, the granddaughter of the company’s founders. She took over the role of CEO in 2010 after the death of her father and previous CEO, Guy Snyder.
In-N-Out Burger is a private company and therefore does not disclose its revenue or net worth to the public. However, according to Forbes, in 2020 the company had an estimated revenue of $2.5 billion. The company is valued today at $4.5 billion and its CEO has a 96% approval rate from 26K employee reviews. Lynsi Snyder has a current net worth of $4.2 billion.
4. Financial Technology Partners
- Owned by: Steve McLaughlin
- Revenue: $600 million per year
Financial Technology Partners (FT Partners) is a boutique investment bank that specializes in providing strategic and financial advisory services to companies in the financial technology (fintech) sector. The company was founded in 2001 and is headquartered in San Francisco, California.
The current CEO of Financial Technology Partners is Steve McLaughlin, who co-founded the company with James Maloney. McLaughlin has over 26 years of experience in the financial services industry, including working at Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley.
FT Partners has advised on a number of high-profile transactions in the fintech industry, including the $12.4 billion acquisition of Worldpay by Fidelity National Information Services (FIS) and the $22 billion acquisition of First Data by Fiserv. The company has been recognized as a leading fintech investment bank by various industry publications, including The Financial Times, Bloomberg, and Mergermarket.
Financial Technology Partners is a private company and therefore does not disclose its revenue or net worth to the public. Financial Technology Partners is valued at $2 billion today. The fintech investing firm makes a revenue of $600 million per year.
5. Leprino foods
- Owned by James Leprino
- Revenue: $3.5 billion per year
Leprino Foods is a privately held American company that produces and sells cheese and other dairy products. The company was founded in 1950 by Mike Leprino Sr. and is headquartered in Denver, Colorado but currently owned by his son James Leprino.
The current CEO of Leprino Foods is Mike Durkin, who took over the role in 2019 after serving as the company’s COO for several years. Durkin has more than 30 years of experience in the food industry, including working at companies such as ConAgra Foods and Nestle.
Leprino Foods operates 10 manufacturing facilities in the United States and one in Singapore and sells its products to customers in more than 40 countries around the world. The company is the largest producer of mozzarella cheese in the world and supplies cheese to many of the major pizza chains in the United States. Leprino Foods has been recognized for its innovation and sustainability efforts in the dairy industry.
As a privately held company, Leprino Foods does not disclose its financial information publicly, including its revenue or net worth. However, according to Forbes, James Leprino had an estimated net worth of $4.2 billion as of 2021 now he is worth $1.9 billion in 2023. In 2020 the company had an estimated revenue of $3.8 billion.
Leprino Foods is valued at $4 billion to $5 billion and make a revenue of $3.5 billion per year.
6. Dyson
- Owned by: James Dyson
- Revenue: $8 billion
Sir James Dyson is an inventor, entrepreneur, and philanthropist who has devoted his life to solving problems and developing products through the application of new technologies. He is the Founder and Chairman of Dyson, a problem-solving, technology-led, company that is present in 84 markets around the world.
Dyson is a British technology company that designs and manufactures a range of household appliances, including vacuum cleaners, air purifiers, hair care products, and hand dryers. The company was founded in 1993 by Sir James Dyson and is headquartered in Malmesbury, Wiltshire, UK.
The current CEO of Dyson is Roland Krueger, who took over the role in 2020. Krueger has more than 25 years of experience in the automotive and technology industries, including working at companies such as BMW, Infiniti, and Dyson. Sir James Dyson remains involved in the company as its executive chairman.
Dyson is known for its innovative technology and has won numerous awards for its products, including the Dyson Airblade hand dryer and the Dyson Supersonic hair dryer. The company invests heavily in research and development and has more than 6,000 engineers and scientists working on new technologies and products. Dyson operates in more than 80 countries around the world and has manufacturing facilities in Singapore, Malaysia, and the UK. The company is also expanding into new markets, such as electric vehicles and energy storage.
With a family fortune of £23bn, up £6.7bn in 2021, inventor Sir James Dyson, 75, has become the second-richest person in the United Kingdom, behind London-based brothers Sri and Gopi Hinduja and family, who are now worth a record £28.472bn.
According to Forbes, in 2020 the company had an estimated revenue of $5.2 billion. Dyson owned by James Dyson is now valued at $20 billion and makes a revenue of $8 billion per year. The founder used his home as collateral for the loan to found Dyson. and also, they spend $10 million per week on product development.
7. Dallas Cowboys
- Owned by: Jerry Jones
- Revenue: $1 billion+ per year
The Dallas Cowboys are a professional American football team based in the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex. The team was founded in 1960 and is a member of the National Football League (NFL).
The team generates significant revenue through various sources, including ticket sales, merchandise sales, sponsorships, and media rights. According to Forbes, the Cowboys generated $950 million in revenue in 2020, despite the COVID-19 pandemic’s impact on the NFL season.
The Cowboys have a rich history and are one of the most successful franchises in the NFL. The team has won five Super Bowl championships and has a large and loyal fan base. The team plays its home games at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, which has a seating capacity of over 100,000.
In addition to the Cowboys, Jerry Jones is also the CEO of Blue Star Land, a real estate development company that owns and operates several properties, including The Star, a 91-acre campus that serves as the Cowboys’ practice facility and team headquarters. The Star also includes retail and restaurant space, a hotel, and a sports medicine facility.
The Dallas Cowboys were valued at $6.5 billion in 2021, making them the most valuable sports team in the world, according to Forbes. The team’s owner is Jerry Jones, who purchased the Cowboys in 1989 for $140 million.
Dallas Cowboys owned by Jerry Jones is valued at $8 billion and makes an estimated revenue of $1B+ per year.
8. Digi-Key
- Owned by: Ronald Stordahl
- Revenue: $4.5 billion per year
Digi-Key Electronics is an American electronic components distributor based in Thief River Falls, Minnesota. The company was founded in 1972 by Ronald Stordahl and is privately owned.
Digi-Key offers a wide selection of electronic components from various manufacturers and serves customers in more than 170 countries around the world. The company’s website features a search engine that allows customers to easily find and purchase components, and its products are shipped from its distribution center in Minnesota.
Digi-Key is known for its customer service and has been recognized with numerous awards for its quality and responsiveness. The company offers free technical support to its customers, and its website features a vast library of technical resources, including datasheets, application notes, and tutorials.
In addition to its business operations, Digi-Key is committed to environmental sustainability and has implemented several initiatives to reduce its environmental impact. These include using renewable energy sources, reducing waste and packaging, and recycling programs.
Digi-Key is a private company and therefore does not disclose its revenue or net worth to the public. However, according to Forbes, Ronald Stordahl, the owner and CEO of the company, had an estimated net worth of $1.7 billion as of 2021.
From a box of radio parts, Digi-Key grew into a $2.3 billion anchor of northwest Minnesota in 2018, per Star Tribune. Today, Digi-Key is the 5th largest electronics distributor in the world which makes a revenue of $4.5 billion per year.
9. Flex-N-Gate
- Owned by: Sahid Khan
- Revenue: $8 billion per year
Flex-N-Gate is a privately held American company that designs and manufactures automotive parts and systems for vehicles. The company was founded in 1956 by Shahid Khan and is headquartered in Urbana, Illinois, USA.
Shahid Khan is a well-known entrepreneur and philanthropist who also owns the NFL team, the Jacksonville Jaguars, and the English soccer club, Fulham FC.
Flex-N-Gate has more than 60 manufacturing facilities and 24 product development centers in the United States, Canada, Mexico, Argentina, Spain, France, Germany, and China. The company supplies parts and systems to many of the major automobile manufacturers in the world, including General Motors, Ford, and Toyota.
Flex-N-Gate is known for its innovation and has been recognized with numerous awards for its products and manufacturing processes. The company is committed to sustainability and has implemented environmentally friendly practices in its operations, such as reducing waste and energy usage.
Flex-N-Gate is a private company and therefore does not disclose its revenue or net worth to the public. It is estimated that Flex-N-Gate is valued at $9-10 billion and makes $8 billion per year in revenue. However, according to Forbes, Shahid Khan, the owner and CEO of the company, had an estimated net worth of $8 billion as of 2021 and currently, he is worth $12.1 billion.
10. Harbor Freight
- Owned by: Eric Smidt
- Revenue: $6.8 billion per year
Harbor Freight Tools is a privately held American company that sells a range of tools and equipment at low prices. The company was founded in 1977 by Eric Smidt and is headquartered in Calabasas, California, USA.
Under Eric Smidt’s leadership, Harbor Freight has grown to become one of the largest tool and equipment retailers in the United States. The company operates more than 1,300 retail stores across the country and offers a wide range of products, including hand tools, power tools, air tools, automotive tools, and welding equipment. Harbor Freight is known for its low prices and has been recognized with numerous awards for its customer service and product quality.
In addition to selling tools and equipment, Harbor Freight also supports the community through charitable donations and partnerships. The company has donated millions of dollars in tools and equipment to vocational schools and community organizations, and has partnered with organizations such as the American Red Cross to support disaster relief efforts.
Harbor Freight is a private company and therefore does not disclose its revenue or net worth to the public. However, according to Forbes, Eric Smidt, the owner, and CEO of the company, had an estimated net worth of $3.2 billion as of 2021 but he is worth $9.2 billion in 2023.
Harbor Freight owned by Eric Smidt is valued at less than $10 billion and makes a revenue of $6.8 billion per year.
