20/50
Feuerstein paid employees after fire, costing him millions and CEO role.

Aaron Feuerstein, CEO of Malden Mills, gained recognition in 1995 when a fire destroyed his factory. Instead of taking the insurance payout and laying off 3,000 employees, he chose to continue paying their salaries and benefits during the rebuilding. This decision, driven by his strong moral beliefs, cost him $25 million and ultimately led to the loss of his CEO position as the company later faced bankruptcy.

19/50
Robotic hiking pants boost leg strength, available by 2025.

A Canadian company has developed robotic hiking pants with an exoskeleton, offering a 40% boost to knee joints during uphill hikes. These pants are expected to be available by 2025.

18/50
Mae Jemison made history as the first African-American woman to journey into space.

Mae C. Jemison, the first African-American woman in space, also served in the Peace Corps, appeared on Star Trek, is a trained dancer, and holds nine honorary doctorates in science, engineering, and the humanities.

17/50
Tim Sweeney owns large land areas for ecological preservation since 2008.

Tim Sweeney, the creator of Fortnite and CEO of Epic Games, is reported to own approximately 56,000 acres of land in North Carolina. He has been purchasing this land since 2008, primarily for conservation purposes, aiming to protect natural areas and preserve biodiversity​.

16/50
Dolphin heroically guided stranded whales back to the sea in 2008.

In 2008, two pygmy whales, a mother and her calf, became stranded on a New Zealand beach, unable to navigate past sandbanks back to the ocean. As rescuers struggled to save them, a dolphin arrived and led the whales 200 yards along the shoreline, guiding them through a gap in the sandbanks and safely back into the open sea.

15/50
Kenyan teacher won $1M prize for helping poor students.

In 2019, Peter Tabichi, a dedicated science teacher from rural Kenya, was honored as the world’s best teacher. He was recognized for donating the majority of his salary to support underprivileged students. His outstanding dedication earned him the $1 million Global Teacher Prize, distinguishing him from over 10,000 nominees from 179 countries.

14/50
Olympian sold medal for baby’s surgery; buyer let her keep it.

In 2021, Olympian Maria Andrejczyk auctioned her silver medal to fund heart surgery for a baby. The winning bidder, Zabka, let her keep the medal, recognizing her selfless act.

13/50
Shaq ditched Reebok, sold 400 million affordable shoes with Walmart.

After being scolded by a woman for expensive shoes, Shaquille O’Neal turned down a $40 million Reebok deal and partnered with Walmart to create affordable shoes, selling over 400 million pairs.

12/50
Klitschko’s gold medal auctioned for $1M, then returned by buyer.

In March 2012, during a charitable auction in Kyiv, Ukraine, heavyweight boxing champion Wladimir Klitschko auctioned off his 1996 Olympic gold medal. The medal fetched a remarkable $1 million bid. In a heartwarming gesture, the buyer immediately returned the medal to Klitschko, stating that it rightfully belonged with him and his family.

11/50
Nacho Libre was inspired by a real priest-turned-luchador, Fray Tormenta.

The movie Nacho Libre draws inspiration from the life of Fray Tormenta, a Mexican priest who became a luchador to fund his orphanage for 23 years. Even in retirement, he continues to don his mask while performing his priestly duties.