When Mohed Altrad moved to France from Syria 46 years ago, he didn't speak French and survived on one meal a day. Now he heads Montpellier-based Altrad Group, one of the world's leading manufacturers of scaffolding and cement mixers, with 92 global subsidiaries and revenues exceeding $1 billion. After doubling sales over the past five years, he's looking to expand to the U.S. Altrad's current station is a world a way from his beginnings as an orphaned Bedouin in the Syrian desert. Altrad's mother died when he was around 4, and his father disowned him. Altrad was raised by his grandmother, who banned him from going to school. He attended anyway, eventually earning a scholarship to study in France. He earned an undergraduate degree in physics and math and a Ph.D. in computer science. After stints at tech firms and the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company, he bought a bankrupt scaffolding manufacturer in southern France with a partner in 1985. Despite knowing nothing about the industry, he made the firm profitable and has expanded aggressively ever since. Altrad Group now has 7,000 employees and customers in 100 countries. He also owns a majority stake in Montpellier Hérault Rugby and has written three acclaimed novels, including semi-autobiographical Badawi.