Apple exec beats out more publicized competition

Apple executive Steve Jobs is the most admired celebrity entrepreneur in the US, at least amongst tweens and teenagers, claims the youth organization Junior Achievement. The group recently surveyed 1,000 people aged 12 to 17, asking them to pick a name from a predefined list. Jobs was chosen by 35 percent of respondents, beating out talk show host Oprah Winfrey at 25 percent, and skateboarder Tony Hawk at 16 percent. Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg attained 10 percent.

Of those who chose Jobs, 61 percent picked "made a difference in/improved people's lives or made the world a better place" as their explanation. Some 33 percent cited "success in multiple fields," presumably referring to the different products produced by Apple, ranging from computers and software to iPods and iPhones. Four percent pointed to Jobs' wealth and fame, in spite of a comparatively small income for a multinational CEO and less TV exposure than Winfrey or Hawk.

by MacNN Staff