risks these entrepreneurs took paid off

What does it take to be a successful entrepreneur? Some say courage, others say good instincts or an uncanny ability to tolerate high levels of risk. These famous entrepreneurs rolled the dice and eventually won big time by flexing their entrepreneurial skills and taking huge chances. Whether risking their lives, their fortunes or just their pride, they made it to the top and got rich.
Click ahead to read about the crazy things Elon Musk, Mark Cuban and others did to get to the top.

10 Ways the Richest Billionaires Stay RichLearn how to get rich and stay rich by listening to the experts.

The richest people in the world climbed to the top of the fiscal food chain with smart investments and dreams of making a meaningful impact on the world. They also had a good deal of business savvy.
See these inspiring tips from billionaires like Bill Gates and Warren Buffett to find out how to get rich — and stay rich.

Bill Gates: Focus on Development

Net Worth: $86.8 billion
Microsoft founder Bill Gates built a reputation for being not only one of the richest men in the world, but also one of the smartest and most serious thinkers alive today. It should come as no surprise that Gates became one of the richest people in the world by focusing more on development and innovation than the business side of things.
In 2014, Gates told Rolling Stone, "You know, development sometimes is viewed as a project in which you give people things and nothing much happens, which is perfectly valid, but if you just focus on that, then you'd also have to say that venture capital is pretty stupid, too. Its hit rate is pathetic. But occasionally, you get successes, you fund a Google or something….

Warren Buffett: Think Long Term

Net Worth: $74.8 billion
Self-made billionaire Warren Buffett believes in using long-term investment strategies. In fact, he accumulated most of his impressive wealth after turning 50 and continues to make smart investments today, pulling off what Forbes called his "biggest-ever deal" in August 2015.
According to Time, Buffett once said, "Successful investing takes time, discipline and patience. No matter how great the talent or effort, some things just take time: you can't produce a baby in one month by getting nine women pregnant."