Malaysian business mogul Tony Fernandes took over floundering AirAsia 13 years ago, and transformed it into a hugely successful budget airline.
He had a net worth of $US650 million ($A703.27 million) as of February, according to Forbes, which listed him as the 28th richest person in Malaysia.
The entrepreneur, who went to school at Epsom College in Surrey and later studied at the London School of Economics, made sure his first flight with the company - which had just two aircraft when he bought it - was one he was unable to take as a young boy.
"I always dreamt about doing a long-haul, low-cost airline," he said in a 2010 interview.
"For my first ever flight in Air Asia X, I refused to do the launch to Australia and China and everyone thought it was a bit odd. But I wanted my first flight to be London-Kuala Lumpur.
"It was very emotional for me 35 years on."
But the multi-millionaire's interests spread further than the airline industry. He bought Premier League football team Queens Park Rangers in 2011, and until this year owned Formula One Team Caterham.
His motto, according to the AirAsia website is: "Believe the unbelievable. Dream the impossible. Never take no for an answer."
He previously worked with fellow air tycoon Sir Richard Branson's Virgin Communications London, before joining Warner Music International in 1989.
He worked his way up to become the vice-president of Warner Music South East Asia in 1999, but decided to leave when he felt the music industry was not moving with the times and embracing the online age.
He was awarded a CBE in 2011, and is an Officer of the Legion d'Honneur in France, the highest honour a non-national can receive.
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