WeWork CEO and Co-Founder

New York, New York

After serving as an officer in the Israeli Navy for five years, Neumann moved to New York at age 23 to start a business career. His early failed businesses included a women’s shoe line and a company that made baby pants with kneepads in them. While enrolled as a business student, a professor dissuaded Neumann from pursuing a “concept living” idea for a class project. The idea was essentially what would become WeLive, WeWork’s co-living brand.

Neumann co-founded WeWork in 2011 with Miguel McKelvey. It is by far the world’s largest provider of shared office space and carries a $20B valuation.

Neumann graduated with a bachelor’s degree from Baruch College in June — 15 years after first enrolling. — Scott Klocksin