Age: 62
Occupation: Founder, Bridgewater Associates
Like George Soros before him, Dalio makes his big bucks by correctly interpreting movements in the global economy. His bets have recently been spot-on, and Dalio's already stellar reputation has been bolstered by market-beating performance in the wake of the financial crisis. Dalio's funds returned roughly 20% in 2011 — a year when the broader market suffered and most investors were paralyzed by uncertainty in Europe and around the globe.