25 Rich Ass Greenies Who Made Their Fortune Saving the Environment (#15 - #11)

All this week, EarthFirst.com will be counting down the world’s richest green entrepreneurs who have amassed fortunes ranging from the low millions to an incredible $3.4 billion mostly from doing good deeds for the planet.

Today’s 5 rich ass greenies include three organic foods moguls, a wind company executive and a hero that has helped spread the message of environmental responsibility more than anyone, perhaps aside from Al Gore.  Though we don’t know the exact net worth of all of these businessmen, we do know that it’s in the double-digit millions or higher and that they’re now enjoying the high life after dedicating their careers to helping the planet.

15. Chuck Marcy, Horizon Organics

Charles ‘Chuck’ Marcy is the former president and CEO of Horizon Organic, one of America’s largest organic milk producers. The company had been around since 1992, but didn’t start major marketing efforts until 2004 when acquired by Dean Foods for $246 million.  Marcy also owns Healthy Food Holdings, a private-equity backed company that buys organic and healthy food brands including Van’s International Foods and Breyers.

14. Mike Gilliland, Wild Oats Market

Mike Gilliland helped kick off the natural foods industry when he founded Wild Oats Markets with then-wife Libby Cook in 1987.  The Boulder, Colorado-based company quickly became the second largest natural foods chain in America.  Gilliland left Wild Oats in 2001 when the company’s sales suffered after an acquisition spree.  Wild Oats was purchased by rival Whole Foods in 2007 for an estimated $565 million.  Gilliland then went on to found Sunflower Farmers Market, a chain of natural foods outlets in the Southwest.  His fortune hasn’t been disclosed.

13. Michael Skelly, Horizon Wind

Michael Skelly is the former CEO of Horizon Wind Energy, a renewable energy company located in Houston, Texas.  Horizon is a wind energy developer and independent power producer which as developed wind farms all over the country, and is the third largest wind company in the United States.  The company was acquired by Goldman Sachs in 2005 for an undisclosed amount and then sold to Energias de Portugal for $2.15 billion.

Skelly, a Democrat, is now running for Congress in Texas’ 7th congressional district against three-term incumbent John Culberson.

12. Steve Demos, White Wave

Steve Demos has had an interesting life, to say the least.  He’s a Buddhist, and once lived in a cave in India. He spent a lot of time traveling, and that’s when he had a revelation: that he wanted to construct a “right livelihood”, making money and doing good for society at the same time.  He set out to make healthy vegetarian foods, with a particular focus on soy.  It was quite a battle, though: for 20 years he struggled to get soy products accepted into mainstream society through his company, White Wave.  It wasn’t until 1996 that he realized that tempeh and tofu weren’t likely to end up on most Americans’ plates, but soymilk was a product that could be accepted more easily.  After that, sales rose dramatically and Demos spent the next 8 years helping the company grow. In 2005, Demos was unexpectedly ejected from the company he founded by the board.

We don’t know exactly how much Demos is worth, but consider this. When White Wave sold to Dean Foods in 2002 for $295 million, Demos ensured that the company’s 100 employees who had worked there for at least 2 years each got a share of $15 million of the profits.  So, we’re sure he made out pretty well – in the double-digit, if not triple-digit millions, most likely.  At the time of his ousting, White Wave was worth $1.2 billion.

11. Captain Planet

For years, Captain Planet educated the world about environmental issues, showing off his incredible skills as he flew, blew hurricane force winds, shapeshifted, moved objects with his mind and performed amazing feats of matter transmutation.  As we all know, the smog, radiation and toxic waste that continue to pollute the environment at alarming levels harmed Captain Planet’s health, so it’s only natural that after his show was canceled he retired to the island of Taos to build his strength back up.  Captain Planet invested his money wisely and now lives in an off-grid home on the island, relaxing and taking in the fresh air and clean water.

Check out the previous installments:

25 Rich Ass Greenies (#25-#21), (#20-#16)

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25 Rich Ass Greenies Who Made Their Fortune Saving the Environment (#25 - #21)
25 Rich Ass Greenies Who Made Their Fortune Saving the Environment (#20 - #16)
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25 Rich Ass Greenies Who Made Their Fortune Saving the Environment (#10 - #6)
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