Azim Premji, chairman of Wipro Limited

Net worth: $12.2 billion

As the owner of the technology-service giant, Wipro, Premji is worth more than $12 billion.

Regardless, he is said to monitor the number of toilet-paper rolls used in Wipro facilities and demands that employees switch off the lights when leaving their offices. 

Premji often takes a three-wheel auto rickshaw from the Bangalore airport when returning from business trips, and drives a 1996 Ford, according to a 2003 Businessweek profile.

"Premji makes Uncle Scrooge look like Santa Claus," said one Bangalore tech executive.