BORN

Mar. 1, 1953, Oak Ridge, Tenn.EDUCATION

B.A., University of Tennessee at Knoxville; MBA, Wake Forest University.PREVIOUS JOBS

Financial analyst for Frito-Lay; professional blackjack player in Las Vegas.CURRENT JOB

Chairman and CEO, satellite operator EchoStar.BIGGEST RISK

"Retired" at age 25 to invest in the stock market and then go into business for himself. Two years later, in 1980, he, his wife Candy, and his poker partner pooled savings of $60,000 to launch the predecessor to EchoStar.BIGGEST COUP

In 1998, he forced News Corp. to turn over satellite assets after alleging that CEO Rupert Murdoch reneged on a planned merger.AFTER HOURS

Mountain climbing, poker, and pickup basketball.FAMILY

Lives with Candy and five children in Littleton, Colo.