NEW YORK (Business Journal): Shad Khan, owner of the Jacksonville Jaguars, is featured in Forbes magazine’s special centennial issue as one of The World’s 100 Greatest Living Business Minds.
In celebration of its 100th anniversary, Forbes magazine’s collector’s edition, released, features essays, lessons and ideas for the next 100 years from today’s most influential business leaders around the world.
Along with owning the Jaguars, Khan is CEO of Flex-N-Gate Corporation, which was named in the most recent Automotive News industry rankings as the 10th-largest original automotive equipment supplier in North America and the 38th largest supplier in the world.
“My business goals have been consistent with my personal goals, and that’s to be distinctive and not only be unafraid of doing difficult things, but commit to doing those things well so they can inspire others and make a difference in the lives of everyone,” Khan said. “To be recognized by Forbes for my efforts in this respect is a lifetime honor. This would have been unimaginable when I arrived here 50 years ago and I find it a bit surreal today to see my name on a list of 100 amazing men and women who are world class in everything they touch. My American Dream continues.”
Khan is also owner of the historic Fulham Football Club in London and the Four Seasons Hotel Toronto.
Born in Lahore, Pakistan, in 1950, Khan left his family in 1967 to come to the US to study engineering at the University of Illinois. Khan earned a degree in industrial engineering in 1971 and soon after was named engineering manager at nearby Flex-N-Gate, where he worked part-time while finishing his degree.
In 1978, Khan left Flex-N-Gate and with $13,000 in savings and a $50,000 loan from the Small Business Loan Corporation, he created the start-up Bumper Works, where he revolutionized the automotive industry through an innovative one-piece bumper design – a lightweight continuous piece of metal with no seams to rust or corrode.
Khan would eventually return to Flex-N-Gate, purchasing the company while perfecting his innovative bumper design that is still considered the industry standard for all seamless steel bumpers worldwide.
In 2011, Khan would make history by becoming the first-ever team owner of minority ethnicity by purchasing the Jacksonville Jaguars of the NFL. Khan then complemented his sports and leisure portfolio by purchasing Fulham Football Club in 2013 and the Four Seasons Hotel Toronto in 2016.
The list also includes Warren Buffett, Bill Gates, Jeff Bezos, Mark Zuckerberg, Elon Musk, Paul McCartney, Oprah, Donald Trump, Bono, Ted Turner, Jack Dorsey, Richard Branson, P. Diddy, Sheryl Sandberg, Rupert Murdoch, Prada, Shonda Rhimes, Armani and Michael Bloomberg.
