32. Nikola Tesla
Many people today have heard of Nikola Tesla through the automobile company that specializes in electric cars, and there is no question that the technology he created paved the way for many of the conveniences of modern life. When he immigrated to the United States from his native Serbia, he worked with Thomas Edison until the two unceremoniously parted ways. Tesla made many discoveries around electricity. And most people still use them today. He was not savvy as a businessman and was unable to earn a meaningful income from his accomplishments. For much of his life, he worked as a manual laborer.