Steve Jobs bests Zuckerberg on teens' fave list
Apple's co-founder and CEO beats out Oprah Winfrey and Mark Zuckerberg as the most admired entrepreneur among teenagers, according to a study released by Junior Achievement.
Steve Jobs is a hit with teens--even bigger than Oprah or the Olsen twins.
The Apple co-founder and CEO is the most admired entrepreneur among teenagers, according to the results of a survey released Tuesday by Junior Achievement, an organization that educates students on matters related to future employment.
Of 1,000 teens queried, Jobs garnered 35 percent of the vote, beating out a list of predetermined celebrities that included Oprah Winfrey (25 percent), skateboarder Tony Hawk (16 percent), and Facebook co-founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg (10 percent). Rounding out the list were Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen with 7 percent and fashion model Kimora Lee Simmons with 4 percent.
Of those who chose Jobs, 61 percent selected the iPod god because he "made a difference in/improved people's lives or made the world a better place." An overwhelming 85 percent who selected Winfrey cited the same reason.
Another 33 percent chose Jobs because of his "success in multiple fields," presumably his success at Apple and animation studio Pixar.
Apparently, wealth and fame played a minimal role for the 12- to 17-year-olds polled, garnering just 4 percent for Jobs and 3 percent for Winfrey.
"We live in a celebrity-obsessed culture, so it's no surprise that teens admire famous entrepreneurs like Steve Jobs and Oprah Winfrey, who have built brands around their personas as well as around their products," Jack Kosakowski, president of Junior Achievement USA, said in a statement.
However, what is surprising is that Zuckerberg rated so low. One would think his popularity with the teens would parallel the explosive growth of his social network. Perhaps Facebook's popularity with baby boomers is keeping kids on MySpace, which begs the question: how would Rupert Murdoch have scored if he had been included?