Portland, Me.

Roxanne Quimby
57

How'd he get so rich? The co-founder of Burt's Bees, an environmentally friendly consumer products company, Quimby saw an opportunity to make candles from the beeswax byproduct of boyfriend Burt Savitz's small-town honey operation. This led to making the lip balm that is the company's best-known product. In 2004 she sold 80% of the company to private equity company AEA, retaining a 20% stake and a seat on the board. Three years later the company was sold to Clorox for $925 million. Quimby remains a committed environmentalist and has been a leader in providing funding for environmental protection and the arts in the state of Maine.

Learn more about Burt's Bees.

next slide previous slide