Li Ning
Age: 46
Chairman, Li-Ning Co.
This legendary former gymnast, who wowed the world with his breathtaking performance at the opening ceremony of the Beijing Olympics, has built a local sportswear brand that's expected to outrun all rivals except Nike in China this year. Leveraging his fame as an Olympic gold medalist, Li began franchising online retailers in 2007, and his company was one of the first local manufacturers to open its official e-store in 2008.
