After graduating from Harvard with a Ph.D in Chemistry, Becker realized developed a love for Atomic Layer Deposition (ALD). The process creates an ultra-thin film with special properties like anti-reflection, electrical conductivity, and UV-blocking that can be used on items like smartphones, solar cells, and sunscreen products. With her own money, she bootstrapped Cambridge Nanotech (which she ran from home) and personally built cost-effective ALD systems to democratize the use of them. Becker's hard work has paid off: She's was named one of Ernst & Young's 2010 Entrepreneurs of the Year and her company's revenue hit upwards of $18 million in 2011.
Apple's Tim Cook tops the list, with a whopping $378 million in total compensation. See who else earned big in 2011.
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