Skip to main content
Stanley Bing

The greatest executricksters of all time

Today's BlackBerry-wielding, expense-account impresario may think he's invented the concept of retiring at work. But such executricks have been around as long as people have labored at tasks they'd rather not perform. Following are some of the greats in the pantheon of tricksters.

Benjamin Franklin, <br> A Father of Our Country
Benjamin Franklin,
A Father of Our Country
Did pretty much what he wanted to do every day for his entire life, while building a career as the ultimate Renaissance Man of the Revolution: politician, inventor, writer, diplomat.

Particularly distinguished himself as an executrickster during his tenure as Ambassador to France, where he managed to live like a rock star and charm just about everybody out of their pantaloons.
Last updated July 24 2008: 3:43 PM ET

Tiberius Caesar

Cleopatra

Benjamin Franklin

Queen Victoria

Ulysses S. Grant

Winston Churchill

Dean Martin

Ronald Reagan

Arnold Palmer

William Jefferson Clinton

Madonna

Stanley O'Neal

Yoda

ExecutricksThe central question of every hardworking person's career is how to work less hard while still being able to buy an expensive bottle of wine without trembling. The answer is simple: Retire while still working! (more)
* : Time reflects local markets trading time.† - Intraday data delayed 15 minutes for Nasdaq, and 20 minutes for other exchanges.• Disclaimer