10 Entrepreneurs Who Found Success & Got Rich Later In Life

We're constantly told that entrepreneurship is a young person's game—that if you haven't made it big by 30, you're behind. But some of the most iconic business empires were built by people who didn't strike gold until their 50s, 60s, or even 70s.

These aren't just feel-good exceptions. They're proof that age brings experience, clarity, and grit—traits that can turn a late-blooming idea into a global success. From fried chicken and fast food to biotech and banking, here are ten extraordinary entrepreneurs who got rich later in life—and why their stories matter now more than ever.

Colonel Harland Sanders – Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC)

Age at Success: 62

Harland "Colonel" Sanders worked a string of blue-collar jobs – railroad worker, insurance salesman, fireman, steamboat operator, and more. In his 40s, he ran a service station in Corbin, Kentucky, where he cooked and served fried chicken to travelers. His blend of 11 herbs and spices became a local hit. After his service station closed due to a new highway bypass, Sanders began traveling the country pitching his fried chicken recipe to restaurant owners.

At 62, he secured his first franchise deal, and by age 73, he had sold the Kentucky Fried Chicken corporation for $2 million (roughly $18 million today). He stayed on as brand ambassador and remained an iconic figure until his death.

Venture & Success: Starting from a roadside stand, Sanders built a fast-food empire. Today, KFC operates more than 25,000 restaurants in over 145 countries.

Key Lesson: It's never too late to act on a great idea. Persistence, product quality, and personal grit can turn late-stage risk into legendary success.

Arianna Huffington – The Huffington Post

Age at Success: 54

Arianna Huffington had already built a career as a writer and commentator, publishing several books and running for California governor in 2003. In 2005, at age 54, she co-founded The Huffington Post as a bold experiment combining blogging, journalism, and opinion.

Despite early criticism, HuffPost attracted major traffic thanks to its political coverage, aggregation strategy, and celebrity contributors. In 2011, AOL acquired the company for $315 million, and Huffington remained editor-in-chief until 2016. She then founded Thrive Global, a wellness platform, further expanding her entrepreneurial impact.

Venture & Success: The Huffington Post became one of the most trafficked news sites in the U.S. and the first digital outlet to win a Pulitzer Prize.

Key Lesson: Reinvention is possible at any age. Leveraging personal brand, media savvy, and timing can turn years of experience into a startup with cultural relevance.

Ray Kroc – McDonald's

Age at Success: 52

Ray Kroc spent three decades selling paper cups and milkshake machines before discovering the McDonald brothers' small, fast-service restaurant in San Bernardino, California. Impressed by their efficiency, he pitched a franchising model and opened the first McDonald's under his stewardship in Des Plaines, Illinois, in 1955.

At 59, Kroc bought out the McDonald brothers for $2.7 million. He aggressively expanded the chain with strict processes, standardized branding, and a focus on speed and consistency. By the time of his death, McDonald's had grown into the largest fast-food chain in the world.

Venture & Success: McDonald's now has over 41,000 locations in 100+ countries and generates over $20 billion in annual revenue.

Key Lesson: Opportunity often comes disguised. A lifetime of sales experience gave Kroc the insight and stamina to build a world-changing franchise model in his 50s.

Bernie Marcus – The Home Depot

Age at Success: 50

Bernie Marcus was an executive at Handy Dan, a chain of home improvement stores, when he was abruptly fired in 1978. Instead of retiring or returning to corporate retail, he joined forces with Arthur Blank to create a revolutionary concept: a massive warehouse-format DIY store with knowledgeable staff and low prices.

In 1979, at age 50, Marcus opened the first two Home Depot stores in Atlanta. The company went public just two years later. By 2000, it was the largest home improvement retailer in the U.S., and Marcus had become a billionaire philanthropist.

Venture & Success: The Home Depot now operates over 2,300 stores and has a market cap exceeding $350 billion.

Key Lesson: A career setback can be the spark for your greatest achievement. Experience + innovation can outpace youth and raw ambition.

Home Depot CEO Bernie Marcus poses for a portrait in a Home Depot store October 15, 1998. (Photo by Erik Lesser/Liaison)

Amadeo Giannini – Bank of America

Age at Success: 60s

Giannini started as a produce distributor in San Francisco before founding the Bank of Italy in 1904. He aimed to serve immigrants, farmers, and the working class—clients ignored by traditional banks.

After the 1906 San Francisco earthquake, Giannini famously operated a makeshift bank from a plank over barrels. His trustworthiness helped him expand rapidly. In his 60s, he merged with other institutions and renamed his operation Bank of America. By the 1940s, it was the largest bank in the world.

Venture & Success: Under Giannini's leadership, Bank of America pioneered branch banking and financed early Walt Disney and California infrastructure.

Key Lesson: Purpose-driven innovation matters. Identifying and serving an ignored demographic can unlock massive growth—even if you start late.

Peter Donnelly – Genomics plc

Age at Success: 54

Donnelly had a distinguished academic career as a professor of statistical genetics at Oxford. But in 2014, at 54, he transitioned from researcher to entrepreneur, founding Genomics plc to harness genetic data for precision medicine.

With Donnelly's credibility and deep domain knowledge, the company secured major funding rounds and partnerships with pharmaceutical companies. Genomics plc uses AI and big data to help predict disease risk and inform drug development.

Venture & Success: Genomics plc has raised more than €80 million and is helping shape the future of preventive healthcare.

Key Lesson: Expertise is a startup superpower. Transforming decades of research into real-world application is a powerful late-career pivot.

Wally Blume – Denali Flavors (Moose Tracks Ice Cream)

Age at Success: 57

After 35 years in the dairy business, Wally Blume left a corporate role to create his own venture. In 1995, at age 57, he founded Denali Flavors with his wife. Their signature creation, Moose Tracks, was a rich, indulgent ice cream flavor that blended peanut butter cups and fudge swirls.

Blume licensed the flavor to manufacturers across the U.S. rather than producing it himself, creating a scalable licensing business model. Moose Tracks became a best-seller in grocery store chains and regional creameries.

Venture & Success: Denali Flavors now generates $75+ million annually, and Moose Tracks is a household name.

Key Lesson: You don't have to reinvent the wheel. Refining and licensing a great product can be a low-overhead path to success—even if you start late.

Taikichiro Mori – Mori Building Company

Age at Success: 55

Mori was a respected economics professor in Japan before entering real estate at 55. He founded Mori Building Company in 1959, targeting high-end commercial developments in Tokyo.

Thanks to Japan's economic boom in the 1980s, Mori's properties skyrocketed in value. At his peak in the early 1990s, Forbes named him the world's richest man with a net worth estimated between $13–15 billion.

Venture & Success: Mori Building helped reshape Tokyo's business districts with landmark projects like Roppongi Hills.

Key Lesson: Deep knowledge + perfect timing = exponential success. A midlife shift into a hot market can deliver extraordinary results.

Amanda Feilding – Beckley Psytech

Age at Success: 76

Known as the "Countess of Psychedelics," Feilding spent decades researching the mental health applications of psychoactive substances. In 2018, at age 76, she co-founded Beckley Psytech to commercialize her life's research into clinical therapies.

The company is developing psychedelic-inspired drugs for depression and addiction. With more than $100 million in venture capital raised, Beckley Psytech is at the forefront of psychedelic biotech.

Venture & Success: Beckley Psytech is running clinical trials in multiple countries and could become a billion-dollar company if approved therapies reach market.

Key Lesson: Passion pays off. If you've built trust, insight, and a network over decades, age is no obstacle to launching a mission-driven business.

Carmen Hijosa – Ananas Anam (Piñatex)

Age at Success: 60

Hijosa spent years in the leather industry before becoming disillusioned with its environmental impact. In her late 50s, she returned to school to study textile innovation. There, she developed Piñatex—a sustainable leather alternative made from pineapple leaf fibers.

She founded Ananas Anam at age 60 and began supplying major fashion brands like Puma and Hugo Boss. The material is now used in footwear, bags, and furniture.

Venture & Success: Ananas Anam has raised millions and continues to grow as eco-conscious materials gain popularity.

Key Lesson: Solve a real-world problem with insight and innovation. It's never too late to disrupt an old industry with a sustainable alternative.

Conclusion

These stories aren't just inspirational—they're instructive. They show that entrepreneurial success isn't confined to youth. In fact, age can be an advantage. The wisdom earned through decades of work, the resilience forged through failures, and the networks built over time often provide a stronger foundation than raw ambition alone.

Whether launching a global fast-food chain in your sixties, reimagining media in your fifties, or creating a billion-dollar biotech firm in your seventies, these entrepreneurs prove it's never too late to bet on yourself. For anyone who feels like time has passed them by, their stories offer a simple reminder: the right idea, backed by experience and purpose, doesn't care how old you are.

The next great venture might still be ahead of you.