The Economic Times

Michael Bloomberg was fired at 39 after 15 years on Wall Street; he used his $10 million payout to build a $109.4 billion fortune and give away $25.4 billion

Michael Bloomberg's 15-year career at Wall Street investment bank Salomon Brothers came to an end in 1981 when he was fired. He used the career setback and invested his $10 million payout to build a $109 billion fortune, also known as Bloomberg. He has donated $1.8 billion to Hopkins University and billions for public health and welfare causes.