Michael Dell Dell Computer

for being brilliantly straightforward

For Michael Dell, it all seems so easy. He just makes good PCs cheaply and sells them like curbside hot dogs, from his hands straight to yours, fast, with whatever fixings you want.

The strategy is so simple and yet so effective. Consistently profitable, Dell Computer took in $47.3 billion last year, at the same time IBM sold off its PC business and Hewlett-Packard's PC margins slid below 1%. Meanwhile, in 18 months, Dell's printer line has already reached a third of the market share of HP, the industry leader. "Two years ago there were a lot of stories saying that Dell can't succeed in the printer business because we don't have retail stores," gloats Dell, 40. "Now people say, 'Wow, you should have done that five years ago.'"

His habit of thriving where others fail can also be seen in the huge new plant he's building in North Carolina. Most competitors are moving overseas. He will create up to 8,000 jobs in return for big tax breaks and lower shipping costs to East Coast customers. Even sharing credit and control seems to be a breeze for Dell, who handed over the CEO title last year. "I was CEO for 20 years, now I'll be chairman for 20 years," Dell says. "Then we'll see."

David H. Freedman

1. Martha Stewart, Martha Stewart Omnimedia
   because she took one for the team
2. Richard Branson, Virgin Group
   because he's game for anything. In fact, everything.
3. Michael Dell, Dell Computer
   for being brilliantly straightforward
4. Jim Sinegal, Costco
   because who knew a big-box chain could have a generous soul?
5. Diane von Furstenberg, Diane von Furstenberg Studio
   for staging an elegant comeback
6. Julie Azuma, Different Roads to Learning
   for offering hope and help to the parents of autistic children
7. Fritz Maytag, Anchor Brewing
   for setting limits
8. Ray Kurzweil, Kurzweil Technologies and other companies
   because he is Edison's rightful heir
9. Craig Newmark, Craigslist
   for putting the free in free markets
10. Jack Mitchell, Mitchells/Richards
    because his family business makes an art of customer service
11. Frank Robinson, Robinson Helicopter
    for whipping an entire industry into shape
12. Mark Melton, Melton Franchise Systems
    for giving immigrants their shot at the American Dream
13. Michelle Cardinal & Tim O'Leary, Cmedia and Respond2
    for rewriting the rules for husband-and-wife teams
14. Mike Lazaridis, Research in Motion
    because someone had to stand up for all those frustrated engineers
15. Trip Hawkins, Electronics Arts and Digital Chocolate
    for still scrapping
16. Warren Brown, Cake Love and Love Cafe
    because only in America will someone quit a secure job as a lawyer to start a bakery
17. Muriel Siebert, Muriel Siebert & Co.
    for being a notable first with a worthy second act
18. Chuck Porter, Crispin, Porter + Bogusky
    for verging on reckless
19. Katrina Markoff, Vosges Haut
    for setting a completely unreasonable goal for her business
20. Barry Steinberg & Craig Sumerel, Direct Tire and Auto Service
    for showing the power of the peer group
21. Victoria Parham, Virtual Support Services
    for serving as a mentor to military spouses
22. Tom LaTour, Kimpton Hotels and Restaurants
    for staying at fleabag hotels so that we don't have to
23. Mitchell Gold & Bob Williams, Mitchell Gold
    for creating a true comfort zone
24. Izzy & Coco Tihanyi, Surf Diva
    for kicking sand in the face of conventional wisdom
25. Tony Lee, Ring Masters
    for saving 16 jobs, including his own
26. Rueben Martinez, Libreria Martinez Books and Art Galleries
    for simultaneously building a business and nurturing Latino culture

Try a RISK-FREE Issue of Inc. Today!

Renew | Contact Us | Current Issue

Select Services