Daniel Ludwig, an elusive billionaire with an estimated fortune of $3 billion, leveraged his business acumen to thrive in the shipping industry while meticulously maintaining his privacy, leading many to remain unaware of his wealth.

Ludwig's groundbreaking “two-name paper idea” revolutionized financing in shipping by allowing him to secure loans using long-term charters as collateral, ultimately positioning him as the world's largest oil shipper.

Despite his growing wealth, Ludwig was notorious for his legendary stinginess, which fueled innovations in ship design and operations, allowing him to significantly reduce costs and stay competitive against lavishly spending rivals.