Age: 44
Occupation: Comedian
As writer, director, executive producer and editor (on a Mac laptop, no less) of his very idiosyncratic sitcom for FX — which returns for a third season this summer — Louis C.K. has shown what a person can do on his own with technology and sheer talent. In 2011 he cut out big entertainment companies — and offered fans a great deal — by selling his new comedy special directly online for $5, a move since followed by comics including Aziz Ansari and Jim Gaffigan.