Paul Jacobs
CEO, Qualcomm
If the future of computing lies in mobile devices, then Jacobs just may be one of the most influential, if understated, figures in tech. Having taken over the company in 2005 from his father, Jacobs has overseen it during an era where smartphones have proliferated. Its chips power many 3G smartphones, and the company wisely poured resources into the the latest high-speed mobile technology, 4G LTE, when other companies focused on competing technologies that fizzled. That's why, if you pry open a new iPhone, or iPad, you'll likely find a Qualcomm chipset inside.
