Micky Jagtiani, who once drove a taxi in London, opened his first store in Bahrain in 1973 with a $6,000 inheritance he got after his parents and brother all died within a short period. Forty years later, he now oversees the $5 billion (estimated sales) Landmark Group, the Middle East retail conglomerate with 1,300 stores in 20 countries. His newer ventures include 3-yearold budget hotel chain Citymax, with 3 UAE locations and Fitness First Gyms, in which he's investing another $150 million to expand. Sales back home in India should touch $1 billion next year.