Billion Dollar Companies Which Had Humble Beginnings

When we think about famous companies like Amazon and Dell, we only see the massive office spaces, the billion dollar revenues and the huge number of employees employed by the companies.  Most often, we fail to see the humble beginnings of the companies, when the founder only had an idea and determination with him/her. Let us take a look at 5 such companies which began their journey in a humble way.

1) Amazon

This multinational technology Company started in the garage of its founder, Jeff Bezos, in Bellevue, Washington in 1994.  Bezos started Amazon after reading that the future of internet projected an annual web commerce growth of 2300 %. Initially an online bookstore, Amazon grew massively into one of the biggest companies in the world and made Bezos the world’s richest man.

2) Disney

When Walt Disney started the Disney Brothers Cartoon Studio with his brother Roy Disney, they only had Walt’s drawing skills and their uncle’s garage on which they could rely.  Now, almost a century later, the Disney Brother Cartoon Studio, known as The Walt Disney Company, is the world’s biggest multimedia company and is worth over $ 150 billion. Since its beginning with Laughing Alice, the Company has established itself as the leader of American animation.

3) Harley Davidson

The dream of every motorbike enthusiast, Harley Davidson, started in a wooden shed in 1901.  Creator William S. Harley designed a small engine, which was originally meant for a regular pedal-bicycle frame.  Along with his friend Arthur Davidson, he created the first Harley Davidson bike, which took two years to finish. Now one of the biggest motorbike manufacturers in the world with a net worth of over $ 5.86 billion, Harley Davidson has come a long way.

4) Dell

Established in 1984 by a University of Texas student, Michael Dell, Dell Computer Corporation operated as PC’s Limited at the time.  Michael Dell used to sell custom made computers from his dorm room and eventually dropped out of college in order to expand his company.  The Company has now become one of the largest technological corporations in the world and is known for employing more than 1,45,000 people all over the world.

5) Nike

Nike, the multinational shoe manufacturer, probably had the humblest start.  The company started as Blue Ribbons Sports in 1964 in the car trunk of its founder Phil Knight, who was a track athlete at the University of Oregon.  Starting its journey from the car trunk, the Company has gone to achieve massive success, with a net worth of $ 32.4 billion, making Knight the 26th richest man in the world.

These companies and their founders are living proof you don’t need a lot of money and a massive office space to start your business.  All you need is a great idea and determination to work towards it.