Charles William Ergen

ABOUT CHARLES WILLIAM ERGEN

Co-founder and former president and CEO of EchoStar Communications Corporation and Dish Network. As chairman of the board, he maintained 88 percent of the companies' voting power.

He grew up as the second-youngest child in a family of seven, including parents William and Viola Ergen.

He played basketball at the University of Tennessee at Knoxville, earned an M.B.A. from Wake Forest University, and became a professional poker and 21 player.

He started EchoStar with his wife, Cantey McAdam, and his friend Jim DeFranco by selling satellite's out of their truck. He had five children with Cantey.

Another successful person with Austrian heritage is Arnold Schwarzenegger .