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We asked the authors of "Egonomics," Steven Smith and Dave Marcum, to list the biggest bureaucratic blowhards ever and the lessons we can learn from each one.

Ego is the invisible line-item on every company's profit and loss statement.

Invested in each team meeting, boardroom debate, client conversation and interview is the potential for ego to work for us or against us. When we manage our ego effectively, it can push us from the mail room to the corner office, from mediocrity to excellence, from bitter discouragement to fierce determination.

Yet when that intense force inside manages us, ego subtly turns our talents and traits into counterfeits. When unhealthy ego kicks in, we hardly notice when charisma moves to manipulation, stubbornness is disguised as commitment, or self-confidence has become self-absorption. Once our true talent is compromised by overconfidence, it can rip a company, a career or even a conversation apart.

The following people have (at some point) let ego control them. Some have gotten that control back; some haven't.

Biggest Corporate Egos Ever?


    • (And if there are any people you think should be on the list let us know in the comments section and we'll make a follow-up gallery based on your suggestions.)