Howard Schultz is a genius. He discovered that if you translate "regular coffee" into Italian you can charge double for it. Schultz hit on the idea of bringing the Italian espresso bar to America in 1983. Now his Starbucks chain is an institution, with 2,000 locations, including 170 abroad. Revenue in the fiscal year ending Sept. 30 will probably top $1.6 billion. With its progressive Seattle spirit—complete with stock-optioned counter crews—Starbucks created a new coffee cult. Wall Street values Starbucks Corp. at $4.7 billion, making Schultz, 45, worth $169 million.
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