Eddie Smith Jr.

IndiabusinessmanMaleb. 19409.0Global Dominance: 0.00%

Eddie Smith Jr. is the longtime chairman of Grady-White Boats, a premium recreational and fishing boat manufacturer in North Carolina. He purchased the struggling company in 1968 at the age of 26 and dedicated nearly six decades to transforming it into one of the leading names in the boating industry. Smith famously worked 100-hour weeks to save Grady-White from bankruptcy, and despite receiving acquisition offers over $400 million, he chose to transfer ownership to a purpose trust and nonprofit to ensure the company remains true to its values and supports charitable causes.