#1. Mark Zuckerberg

Photo Credit: East News

Although he’s been in the center of much controversy as of late, there’s no denying that Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg has changed the way we live, work, and communicate. It’s actually pretty amazing that we are living through this time of rapid technological advancements, and it’s kind of hard to imagine a time when Facebook wasn’t part of our daily lives. And remember, Zuckerberg is only 33 years old…kind of makes you question your life, huh?

ANYWAY, Zuckerberg conceived of Facebook as a college student at Harvard. It was 2004 when he launched the social media site from his dorm room. He showed an interest in computer programming at a young age and showed an entrepreneurial spirit early in his life.

When he first attended Harvard, he already had a reputation as a “programming prodigy.” Since the launch of Facebook, Zuckerberg has become one of the wealthiest people on the planet. The film The Social Network, directed by David Fincher, was released in 2010 and tells a dramatized version of Zuckerberg and the creation of Facebook. Zuckerberg was portrayed by actor Jesse Eisenberg in the film. The film received 8 Academy Award nominations and won for Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Original Score, and Best Film Editing.