Bernard "Bernie" Ecclestone is credited with bringing Formula One racing the fame and clout that it has today.
The 82-year-old Formula One president and CEO is worth a staggering $3.8 billion dollars.
These days Ecclestone is equally likely to appear in the news for his personal life as much as his professional one; he's been married three times, has three children (including two daughters whom the tabloids love), and a 198-foot yacht.
Yesterday, Ecclestone was indicted on bribery charges by German prosecutors. People in the sports world are still reeling, and Ecclestone is preparing to fight the accusations (which have been building up over the past two and half years).
But instead of dwelling on the negative, let's take a look at Ecclestone's awesome life.
Bernard "Bernie" Charles Ecclestone was the son of a fisherman, born in a hamlet of Suffolk, England in 1930. As a kid, he would complete two paper routes before school everyday, spend the money on bakery buns, and then sell the buns at a profit to his classmates.
Source: The Guardian and The Telegraph
He left school at the age of 16 to work at a local gas station and pursue his hobby of building motorcycles. He eventually started selling parts and opened his own motorcycle dealership.
Source: ESPN
After a mediocre run at becoming a Formula One race car driver himself, Ecclestone managed drivers and then bought a team in 1972. He began to broker contracts and TV deals for other F1 teams, and by 1997 had successfully turned F1 into a profitable global franchise.
Source: ESPN
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