Who: Charles Schwab, Chairman & CEO, Charles Schwab Corp.

Started the company in 1971.

What he did before: Mutual fund manager. Wrote an investment advice newsletter.

First paying job: Bagging and selling walnuts.

Education: B.A. in Economics, Stanford; M.B.A, Stanford.

What you may not know: Schwab is dyslexic, but wasn't diagnosed until he was almost 40. He and his wife co-founded the Charles and Helen Schwab foundation -- a non-profit group that focuses on helping low-income families and children with learning disabilities.

Published work: "It Pays to Talk: How to Have Essential Conversations with Your Family About Money and Investing," by Charles Schwab and Carrie Schwab-Pomerantz. See review.

Other interests: He's launched two websites to help people coping with dyslexia: SchwabLearning.org and Sparktop.org.