Irwin L. Jacobs

One of the original raiders rat-pack members, Irwin L Jacobs now rests on his laurel leafs, and is the CEO of several large corporations, including Genmar Holdings, Inc. the worlds largest boat building company. He earned the nickname "Irv the Liquidator" for his aggressive business practices in the 1970s and early 1980s. He is a deal maker and bargain hunter based in Minneapolis and became wealthy by taking big stakes in Fortune 500 conglomerates, usually with the goal of unlocking value by breaking them up. He now owns many businesses including: Watkins Inc., Jacobs Management Corp., Jacobs Industries, Inc., J.Y.J. Corp., C.O.M.B. Co., Federal Financial Corporation, FFC Realty, Watkins, Inc., Northwestern Bag Corporation, Nationwide Collection Service, Inc., 1. Jacobs Enterprises, Kodicor, Inc., Brown-Minneapolis Tank and Fabricating Co., Regional Accounts Corporation, Nationwide Accounts, Corporation, Jacobs Bag Corporation, Lawndale Industries Inc., EQC of Indiana, Inc., Touch Corporation, JMSL Acquiring Corporation, S.J. Industries, Inc., JII Air Service, Inc., P.S.T. Acquiring Corporation.

His greatest contribution was probably the strong support he showed, at very crucial initial stages, to the Special Olympics. Jacobs founded FLW Outdoors, the parent organization of the Wal-Mart FLW Our, a series of sportfishing tours best know for its bass fikshing tournaments, which were developed with an eye toward media coverage in general and television coverage in particular.