The Greatest Capitalist Who Ever Lived: Tom Watson Jr. and the Epic Story of How IBM Created the Digital Age

Practically fifty years into IBM’s existence, Thomas Watson Jr. undertook the largest gamble in enterprise historical past when he “wager the farm” on the creation of the IBM System/360, the world’s first totally built-in and suitable mainframe pc. As CEO, Watson drove a revolution no different firm—then or now—would dare, laying the muse for the digital age that has remodeled each society, company, and authorities.

The story of Watson being “current on the creation” of the digital age is intertwined with near-Shakespearean private drama. Whereas he put IBM and its staff in danger, Watson additionally carried out a family-shattering battle over the way forward for the corporate together with his brother Dick. This titanic battle between brothers led to Dick’s demise and nearly killed Watson Jr. himself.

Although he was ultimately touted by Fortune journal as “the best capitalist who ever lived,” Watson’s directionless, playboy early years made him an unlikely candidate for company titan. How he pulled his life collectively and, regardless of private demons, paved the best way for what grew to become a world business is an epic story stuffed with drama, inspiration, and worthwhile classes in management, risk-taking, and social duty.