Often referred to as the father of iPod, Tony Fadell has an estimated net worth of $30 million. Born Anthony M. Fadell on November 7, 1969 to Lebanese parents, he graduated from Grosse Point High School in Michigan then attended the University of Michigan where he earned a degree in Computer Engineering. Even before he graduated from college, he had already become the CEO of Constructive Instrument that marketed children’s software. He also worked for General Magic as an engineer and later the systems architect in the early 90’s. While at the company, he worked on the development of products such as Sony Magic Link and Motorola Envoy. He co-founded Philip’s Mobile Computing Group in the mid-90’s and founded Fuse in the late 90’s.
Fadell was hired by Apple in February 2001. In less than a year, on October 23, 2001, Steve Jobs introduced the iPod to the world. As a computer science engineer, he led the team that created the first 18 generations of the iPod and the first three generations of the iPhone. He became the Vice President of the iPod Division of the company in 2004 and the Senior Vice President in 2006. He stayed in the company until 2008.
After Apple, Tony Fadell founded Nest Labs or Nest in October 2010 that is based in Palo Alto, California. The company designs and manufactures a sensor-driven, Wi-Fi enabled, learning, programmable thermostat that is now in its second generation.