Guy Laliberté, founder and CEO of Cirque du Soleil, got his start fire-breathing and playing an accordion he found in his father's closet for tips on the streets of Montreal.

In 21 years, Cirque du Soleil has grown from a funky band of street performers into a half-billion-dollar global company and one of the most lucrative ventures in live entertainment. Laliberté is now on the list of the 100 most influential people in the world, according to Time Magazine.