21st Century Business People

Vote for Your Favourite 21st Century Business People

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 1 
Elon Musk
(CEO of Tesla)
Elon Musk
122
Birthdate: June 28, 1971
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Pretoria, South Africa

Entrepreneur, engineer and industrial designer, Elon Musk, is famous as founder of the electronic payment firm PayPal, and the SpaceX spacecraft company. He is also the CEO of Tesla Motors. Elon Musk has plans to revolutionize transportation on earth as well as to space through futuristic technology.

 2 
Steve Jobs
(Co-Founder, Former Chairman and CEO of 'Apple')
Steve Jobs
73
Birthdate: February 24, 1955
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: San Francisco, California, United States
Died: October 5, 2011
A college dropout, Steve Jobs, went on to be regarded as the Father of the Digital World. The founder/co-founder of Apple Inc, Pixar Animation Studios and NeXT Inc was a passionate visionary who was responsible for the development of iMac, iPod, iTunes, iPad and the iPhone which ushered in a new era in the computer, music and film industries.
 3 
Jeff Bezos
(The Founder & Executive Chairman of Amazon)
Jeff Bezos
86
Birthdate: January 12, 1964
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States

The founder and CEO of the multi-national technology company Amazon, Jeff Bezos is the wealthiest man in the world. Jeff, who left his lucrative job at an investment firm to fulfil his entrepreneurial ambition, also owns the newspaper, The Washington Post, and its affiliate publications along with a spaceflight company, Blue Origin.

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 4 
Sundar Pichai
(CEO of Google Inc)
Sundar Pichai
83
Birthdate: June 10, 1972
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Madurai, Tamil Nadu, India

Sundar Pichai is the CEO of Google and its parent company Alphabet Inc. An alumnus of IIT, Stanford and Wharton, Pichai has come a long way, from innovating Google’s products such as Chrome, Google Drive and Google Apps to leading the software giant and being one of the most sought-after names in the tech industry.

 5 
Warren Buffett
(Chairman & CEO of Berkshire Hathaway)
Warren Buffett
37
Birthdate: August 30, 1930
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Omaha, Nebraska, United States

American investor, business tycoon and philanthropist Warren Buffett is considered one of the most successful investors in the world by the media. The chairman and largest shareholder of the firm, Berkshire Hathaway, he is often called as the ‘Oracle’ or ‘Sage’ of Omaha. Notably, he has pledged to give away a sizable portion of his wealth to philanthropic causes.

 6 
Mark Zuckerberg
(Co-Founder of Facebook)
Mark Zuckerberg
81
Birthdate: May 14, 1984
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: White Plains, New York, United States

The co-founder and CEO of the popular social networking website, Facebook, Mark Zuckerberg is also amongst the richest men in the world. Fascinated by computer since his early life, Zuckerberg co-created TheFacebook while still in college and later even dropped out to devote more time to it. At 23, he became the youngest self-made billionaire in history at that time.

 7 
Mukesh Ambani
(Indian businessman)
Mukesh Ambani
25
Birthdate: April 19, 1957
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Aden, Yemen

The richest person in Asia, Mukesh Ambani is an Indian billionaire business magnate. He is the chairman and managing director of Reliance Industries Ltd. (RIL). The son legendary Dhirubhai Ambani, he started his career by helping his father build their family business. As of today, he is the only Indian businessman on Forbes' list of the world's most powerful people.

 8 
Ratan Tata
(Chairman Emeritus of Tata Sons)
Ratan Tata
39
Birthdate: December 28, 1937
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Bombay (Now Mumbai)
Died: October 9, 2024

Ratan Tata is a well-known Indian industrialist and the former charman of Indian multinational conglomerate Tata Sons. His reign as chairman was marked by acquisitions of iconic global brands, such as Tetley, Jaguar Land Rover and Corus by the Tata Group. Ratan Tata was instrumental in turning Tata Group from a largely India-centrist group into a global business.

 9 
Richard Branson
(British Business Tycoon and the Founder of the 'Virgin Group')
Richard Branson
18
Birthdate: July 18, 1950
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Blackheath, London, Engand

Richard Branson is an English business magnate. The founder of Virgin Group Ltd., which controls over 400 companies, Branson was named on Time magazine's list of 100 Most Influential People in The World. Branson has also had a major impact as a philanthropist; he set up a charitable organization called Branson School of Entrepreneurship to provide entrepreneurial training to youngsters.

 10 
Jack Ma
(Co-founder and Former Executive Chairman of 'Alibaba Group')
Jack Ma
43
Birthdate: September 10, 1964
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Hangzhou, China
Jack Ma’s journey from being a tourist guide to establishing the Chinese e-commerce conglomerate Alibaba is inspirational. Initially rejected by various companies, he is the second-wealthiest person in China as of 2020. After quitting his post of executive chairman of Alibaba in 2019, he focused on philanthropy and environmental causes. 
 11 
Larry Page
(Co-founder of Google)
Larry Page
39
Birthdate: March 26, 1973
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Lansing, Michigan, United States

Larry Page is an American Internet entrepreneur and computer scientist. As one of the co-founders of the multinational technology company Google, Larry Page effectively changed the way the world functions today as Google is a synonym for a search engine in many parts of the world. Unsurprisingly, he became a billionaire after co-founding Google.

 12 
Steve Wozniak
(Co-Founder of Apple Inc.)
Steve Wozniak
14
Birthdate: August 11, 1950
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: San Jose, California, United States

Widely recognized as one of the two important pioneers of the personal computer revolution, Steve Wozniak is credited with co-founding Apple Inc. along with Steve Jobs. Not surprisingly, he has been described as one of the men that changed the course of history through technology. Apart from being a programmer and technology entrepreneur, Steve Wozniak is also a well-known philanthropist.

 13 
Satya Nadella
(Chairman & CEO of 'Microsoft')
Satya Nadella
15
Birthdate: August 19, 1967
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh, India

Satya Nadella is an Indian-American business executive, currently serving as the chief executive officer of Microsoft. Since he became CEO, the company has seen a 27% annual growth rate. Born in India to a Telugu-speaking family, Nadella serves as an inspiration to millions of Indians who nurse 'The American Dream'.

 14 
Tim Cook
(Chief Executive Officer of 'Apple Inc.')
Tim Cook
12
Birthdate: November 1, 1960
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Mobile, Alabama, United States
Since taking over as the CEO of Apple, Inc. in 2011, till 2020, Tim Cook has, through his dedication, doubled its profits. He was the first Fortune 500 CEO to “come out” as gay, in 2014. A devoted philanthropist, Tim intends to donate most of his stocks to charity.
 15 
Martha Stewart
(Businesswoman)
Martha Stewart
16
Birthdate: August 3, 1941
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Jersey City, New Jersey, United States

The founder of Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia, Martha Stewart has found success with several business ventures. She is also the publisher of a magazine called Martha Stewart Living and has written many bestselling books. Although she was convicted of charges pertaining to the ImClone stock trading case, she made a comeback and became chairwoman of her company.

 16 
Paul Allen
(Co-founder of Microsoft, Philanthropist)
Paul Allen
13
Birthdate: January 21, 1953
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Seattle
Died: October 15, 2018

Paul Allen was an American investor, business magnate, and philanthropist. He is credited with co-founding one of the most popular multinational technology companies in the world, Microsoft Corporation. Along with his philanthropic activities and ownership of several other companies and sporting clubs, Paul Allen had a major impact on sports, wildlife, education, arts, healthcare, community services, environmental conservation, and more.

 17 
Carlos Slim
(Mexican Businessman and Owner of the Global Conglomerate Company 'Grupo Carso')
Carlos Slim
6
Birthdate: January 28, 1940
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Mexico City, Mexico
Mexican business tycoon Carlos Slim owns the conglomerate Grupo Carso and has served as the CEO of América Móvil and Telmex. He was the world’s richest person from 2010 to 2013 and the fifth-richest in 2020, according to Forbes. He also owns three charity organizations focusing on Mexico City. 
 18 
Larry Ellison
(Co-Founder of Oracle)
Larry Ellison
5
Birthdate: August 17, 1944
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Bronx, New York, United States
Oracle co-founder Larry Ellison was Forbes’s sixth-wealthiest person in the world in 2019. He has been associated with Apple and Tesla, too. He once owned the world’s 12th-largest yacht. He is a certified pilot and also owns a tennis facility. A devoted philanthropist, he has taken The Giving Pledge.
 19 
Indra Nooyi
(Former Chairperson & CEO of PepsiCo)
Indra Nooyi
8
Birthdate: October 28, 1955
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India

Indra Nooyi is an Indian-American business executive known for her association with PepsiCo where she served as the chief executive officer from 2006 to 2018. Often ranked among the most powerful women, Nooyi was named in Forbes' World's 100 Most Powerful Women list in 2014. In 2017, she was named in the magazine's 19 Most Powerful Women in Business list.

 20 
Steve Ballmer
(Former CEO of Microsoft (2000 - 2014))
Steve Ballmer
15
Birthdate: March 24, 1956
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Detroit, Michigan, United States
The world’s ninth-richest person as of 2020, Steve Ballmer has served as the CEO of Microsoft. He dropped out of the MBA program at Stanford when Bill Gates invited him to join Microsoft in 1980. Ballmer owns the NBA team Los Angeles Clippers. The USAFacts.org founder donates to educational causes. 
 21 
Guy Fieri
(American Restaurateur and Host of Several 'Food Network' Television Shows)
Guy Fieri
2
Birthdate: January 22, 1968
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Columbus, Ohio, United States

Primarily a restaurateur, Guy Fieri is a testimony to the fact that any professional can become famous if they are passionate enough in doing what they do best. From being a restaurateur, he went on to become a TV personality, hosting shows for Food Network channel. By mid-2010, he had become the face of the network.

 22 
Amancio Ortega Gaona
(Spanish Businessman and Co-Founder of Inditex Fashion Group)
Amancio Ortega Gaona
4
Birthdate: March 28, 1936
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Busdongo de Arbás, Spain
Former chairman and founder of Inditex fashion group, Amancio Ortega Gaona is renowned for it's chain Zara. He set the ball rolling for the fast fashion movement in the mid-70s. He first ventured into retail in his early teens, 
 23 
Sheryl Sandberg
(Business Executive, Philanthropist and Chief Operating Officer of ‘Facebook’)
Sheryl Sandberg
11
Birthdate: August 28, 1969
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Washington, D.C., United States
Sheryl Sandberg is the COO of Facebook and has served as the VP of global sales and operations at Google. She also founded LeanIn.Org and was the first woman to be on the board of Facebook. Named to Time 100, she has also written books and owns a charitable foundation.
 24 
David Chang
(American Restaurateur and Founder of the Momofuku Restaurant Group)
David Chang
5
Birthdate: August 5, 1977
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Arlington County, Virginia, United States

David Chang revolutionized the culinary world with his brand Momofuku, which owns several noodle bars across the world, including a 2-Michelin-star restaurant. He has produced the Netflix shows Ugly Delicious and Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner. Several issues of his food magazine Lucky Peach have been NYT bestsellers.

 25 
Ashley Olsen
(American Businesswoman, Fashion Designer and Former Actress)
Ashley Olsen
5
Birthdate: June 13, 1986
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Sherman Oaks, Los Angeles, California, United States
Ashley Olsen is best known for appearing as Michelle Tanner, with her twin sister, Mary-Kate, in the hit sitcom Full House. The sisters starred in many projects of Dualstar Entertainment. They now own a number of fashion brands and have also co-written a book based on fashion.
 26 
Peter Jones
(Entrepreneur)
Peter Jones
5
Birthdate: March 18, 1966
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Maidenhead
Entrepreneur and reality star Peter Jones is best known for his stints on the shows Dragons' Den, American Investor, and Tycoon. He owns several businesses, including Wines4Business.com and Phones International Group. He received a CBE honor in 2009 and is also a luxury sports car enthusiast.
 27 
Bernard Arnault
(Chairman & CEO of LMVH)
Bernard Arnault
6
Birthdate: March 5, 1949
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Roubaix

Bernard Arnault is a French businessman and chairman of the luxury-goods company LVMH. Also an art collector, Arnault played a key role in establishing LVMH as a patron of art. In 2006, he sponsored the construction of an art museum called Louis Vuitton Foundation. He also created a competition called The LVMH Young Fashion Designer to students from fine-arts schools.

 28 
Alexis Ohanian
(Co-Founder and Executive Chairman of the Social Media Site ‘Reddit’)
Alexis Ohanian
10
Birthdate: April 24, 1983
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: New York, New York, United States
Internet entrepreneur and Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian is also known as the husband of legendary tennis player Serena Williams. Named to Forbes 30 Under 30 twice, he spoke strongly against the 2011 Stop Online Piracy Act, wrote a bestselling book, and is an advocate for the paternity leave policy.
 29 
Karl Lagerfeld
(Famous as the Creative Director of the French Fashion House 'Chanel')
Karl Lagerfeld
4
Birthdate: September 10, 1933
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Hamburg, Germany
Died: February 19, 2019
German fashion magnate Karl Lagerfeld, son of businessman Otto Lagerfeld, had served as the creative director of Chanel and Fendi. He was also a talented photographer and caricaturist, and had a penchant for collecting books. He was known for his signature sunglasses, white hair, fingerless gloves, and detachable collars.  
 30 
Kevin O’Leary
(Canadian Entrepreneur and Television Personality Who Has Appeared on the Reality Shows ‘Dragons’ Den’ and ‘Shark Tank')
Kevin O’Leary
6
Birthdate: July 9, 1954
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Montreal, Canada
Canadian business magnate Kevin O'Leary founded SoftKey, which was later acquired by Mattel and renamed The Learning Company. He also appeared on Shark Tank, Dragons’ Den, and The Lang and O'Leary Exchange. He was in the run for the leadership of the Conservative Party of Canada but dropped out later.
 31 
Mark Cuban
(Owner of the 'Dallas Mavericks' Team of NBA)
Mark Cuban
14
Birthdate: July 31, 1958
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States

Entrepreneur, television personality and media proprietor Mark Cuban is a prolific inventor. He is a named inventor of 11 patent families. He displayed an entrepreneurial spirit from a young age and started many business ventures while still in college. A sports fan, he is the owner of the National Basketball Association's (NBA) Dallas Mavericks.

 32 
Wolfgang Puck
(Celebrity Chef and Restaurateur)
Wolfgang Puck
5
Birthdate: July 8, 1949
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Sankt Veit an der Glan, Austria

Wolfgang Puck is an Austrian-American restaurateur. In 1973, Puck moved to the US and opened a restaurant named Spago in 1982. He then established himself as a respected restaurateur by opening several other restaurants. In 2013, he was inducted into the Culinary Hall of Fame. Also an actor, Puck has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

 33 
Roman Abramovich
(Russian Billionaire Businessman and Former Owner of English Premier League Club 'Chelsea' )
Roman Abramovich
8
Birthdate: October 24, 1966
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Saratov, Russia

Roman Abramovich is an Israeli-Russian businessman and politician. Over the years, he has played an influential role as the primary owner of Millhouse LLC and as the owner of the popular Premier League football club Chelsea F.C. Roman Abramovich is one of the richest persons in the world and has donated over US$2.5 billion to various charitable causes between 1999 and 2013.

 34 
Chris Gardner
(Entrepreneur)
Chris Gardner
6
Birthdate: February 9, 1954
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States

Chris Gardner is an American motivational speaker and businessman. After struggling with homelessness, Gardner went on to establish Gardner Rich & Co, a brokerage firm, in 1987. His rags to riches story inspired the film The Pursuit of Happyness. Also a well-known philanthropist, Gardner has been playing a major role in creating low-income housing and employment opportunities for the homeless.

 35 
Hugh Hefner
(Founder of 'Playboy' Magazine)
Hugh Hefner
12
Birthdate: April 9, 1926
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Chicago, Illinois, United States
Died: September 27, 2017

As the founder of Playboy magazine, Hugh Hefner changed the way people viewed nudity. Known for his enviable lifestyle, he resided in luxury mansions along with his Playboy Playmates. Also a well-known philanthropist, Hefner made significant donations to various causes. He also supported freedom of expression and sexual liberation.

 36 
Eric Schmidt
(CEO of Google (2001-2011))
Eric Schmidt
10
Birthdate: April 27, 1955
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Falls Church, Virginia, United States

Eric Schmidt is an American software engineer and technology businessman who served as Google's CEO from 2001 to 2011. From 2011 to 2015, he served as the executive chairman of Google. A well-known philanthropist, Schmidt and his wife Wendy established the Schmidt Family Foundation in 2006. The foundation aims at educating people on the importance of natural resources.

 37 
Evan Spiegel
(Co-Founder and CEO of the Social Media Company ‘Snap Inc.’)
Evan Spiegel
11
Birthdate: June 4, 1990
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Los Angeles, California, United States

Evan Spiegel is credited with popularizing social media all over the world as he co-founded the popular social media company Snap Inc. In 2015, he was named the youngest billionaire in the world. The following year, he was named in Forbes magazine's list of 400 Richest Americans with an estimated net worth of $4 billion.

 38 
Dana White
(Entrepreneur)
Dana White
9
Birthdate: July 28, 1969
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Manchester, Connecticut, United States
Height: 5'11" (180 cm)
 39 
Bill Gates
(Co-Founder of Microssoft)
Bill Gates
39
Birthdate: October 28, 1955
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Seattle, Washington, United States

Leading American technologist, business leader and philanthropist, Bill Gates is the co-founder of the world’s largest software company, Microsoft. His passion for computers made him one of the richest in the world and through his charity foundation, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, he and his ex-wife, Melinda, use this money generously to help people world over live a better life.

 40 
Phil Knight
(Co-founder of Nike, Inc.)
Phil Knight
5
Birthdate: February 24, 1938
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Portland
Business tycoon Phil Knight co-founded Nike, Inc. and also served as its chairman and CEO. Forbes named him the world’s 26th-richest person in 2020. He is a qualified accountant and once owned a running team. He has launched a non-profit and owns a stop-motion production company, too.
 41 
Lori Greiner
(Investor at the ABC Business Reality Show, 'Shark Tank')
Lori Greiner
7
Birthdate: December 9, 1969
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Chicago, Illinois, United States
 42 
Jack Dorsey
(The Co-Founder & Former CEO of 'Twitter')
Jack Dorsey
25
Birthdate: November 19, 1976
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: St. Louis, Missouri, United States

As the co-founder and CEO of Twitter, Jack Dorsey continues to influence the lives of millions around the world. Also a well-known philanthropist, Dorsey is credited with funding 600 public school projects in Missouri. A prolific donator, Jack Dorsey has donated $24 million as part of various relief efforts. He also donated $10 million to Boston University.

 43 
Jawed Karim
(Co-Founder of 'YouTube' and the First Person to Upload a Video to the Site)
Jawed Karim
13
Birthdate: October 28, 1979
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Merseburg, Germany

Jawed Karim is an American Internet entrepreneur and software engineer. Karim is credited with co-founding one of the most popular online video-sharing platforms, YouTube. He is also credited with uploading the first YouTube video named Me at the zoo. During his time working at PayPal, Jawed Karim had designed many of the company's core components, such as its anti-Internet-fraud system.

 44 
Jennifer Flavin
(Entrepreneur, Wife of Sylvester Stallone)
Jennifer Flavin
5
Birthdate: August 14, 1968
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Los Angeles, California

Jennifer Flavin is a former American model and wife of famous actor Sylvester Stallone. A successful model during the late-80s and early-90s, Jennifer Flavin took her popularity to another level after marrying Stallone. She now co-owns a company called Serious Skin Care where she plays an influential role.

 45 
Robert Kraft
(Businessman, Chairman and CEO of the 'Kraft Group')
Robert Kraft
7
Birthdate: June 5, 1941
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Brookline, Massachusetts, United States

Robert Kraft is an American businessman and the chief executive officer and chairman of the popular diversified holding company, The Kraft Group. A sports enthusiast, Kraft owns the Gillette Stadium, NFL's New England Patriots, and MLS' New England Revolution. Also a well-known philanthropist, Robert Kraft has donated millions of dollars to various causes, such as healthcare, education, and youth sports.   

 46 
John Paul DeJoria
(Businessperson)
John Paul DeJoria
6
Birthdate: April 13, 1944
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Los Angeles, California, United States
Once a homeless person who slept in his car, John Paul DeJoria became a billionaire hair-care magnate, as the co-founder of Paul Mitchell and the Patrón Spirits Company. He started off as a door-to-door salesman, peddling his shampoo brand in LA salons. He is now part of The Giving Pledge.
 47 
Kimbal Musk
(The Founder of 'The Kitchen Restaurant Group' and Co-Founder of 'Big Green' a 501 non profit organization)
Kimbal Musk
4
Birthdate: September 20, 1972
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Pretoria, Transvaal, South Africa
Kimbal Musk, the younger brother of business tycoon and Tesla CEO Elon Musk, owns the community restaurant chain known as The Kitchen Restaurant Group. He also co-founded the non-profit Big Green, which builds outdoor classrooms, and Square Roots, which specializes in urban farming. He is also a prime Tesla shareholder.
 48 
Richard Benjamin Harrison
(Businessman, TV Personality)
Richard Benjamin Harrison
5
Birthdate: March 4, 1941
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Danville, Virginia, United States
Died: June 25, 2018

Businessman Richard Benjamin Harrison became famous as a reality TV personality when he started appearing in the History Channel series Pawn Stars as the co-owner of the Gold & Silver Pawn Shop. His already successful business started thriving following the show’s success. He was nominated for the 2012 Time 100 list.

 49 
Robert Herjavec
(Investor & Founder of ‘The Herjavec Group’, One of the Largest IT & Computer Security Companies in Canada)
Robert Herjavec
11
Birthdate: September 14, 1962
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Varaždin, Croatia
Investor Robert Herjavec founded the internet security software BRAK Systems, which he later sold to AT&T. He also established the Herjavec Group and turned it into one of Canada’s biggest IT security firms. He has also appeared in Dragons' Den and Shark Tank, and has authored several business books.
 50 
Ma Huateng
(CEO of Tencent)
Ma Huateng
12
Birthdate: October 29, 1971
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Chaoyang, Shantou

Chinese business magnate Ma Huateng, or Pony Ma, is best known as the founder, chairman, and CEO of the technology giant Tencent. His company owns the messaging app WeChat. One of CEOWORLD’s Most Powerful People in the World, he was a delegate of the 12th National People's Congress.