#164 J Russell DeLeon

Net Worth: $1.8 billion

Source: Gambling /Leisure, online gaming

Self made

Age: 39

Marital Status: Married, 2 children

Hometown: Gibraltar

Education: University of California Berkeley, Bachelor of Arts / Science

Harvard University, Doctor of Jurisprudence

With wife Ruth Parasol, owns 32% of Internet poker site PartyGaming (each holds a 16% stake). Parasol studied at U. of San Francisco, served as adviser for father's phone-sex-chat business. Moved to Internet porn sites; litigation threats prompted switch to online gambling. Launched Starluck Casino 1997. With partners developed online casino software; enabled gamblers around the world to play one another in poker. Problem: 80% of customers live in America, where online gambling is illegal. Solution: don't operate on U.S. soil; servers, employees based in Gibraltar, India, England, the Caribbean. Took public on London exchange in June; stock down 48% since Sept. 6 announcement of slower revenue growth and increased competition. But sales robust: up 1,900% in last 2 years. No longer active in management; still serves as a consultant.

his wife has made the same amount...

something tells me, no matter how much we get the MAN, he is still sitting fairly nice...