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Florida lacks a large number of Fortune 500-size headquarters, but has no shortage of big, successful businesses with long and prominent histories in the state. The following paragraphs describe some of Florida’s most successful companies over the past 50 years. All are still in business. Can you identify the company or executive? For answers, go to FloridaTrend.com/Extra.

1. Question #3: Who is this man?

   This multimillion-dollar beach-themed store with outlets in Florida, California, New Jersey and South Carolina began life in New Jersey 47 years ago before moving to Cocoa Beach in 1963.
2. The state’s biggest employer started in Lakeland with one restaurant. Now encompassing six chains, it’s the largest full-service dining restaurant company in the world in terms of revenue.
3. This executive transformed a struggling chain of dealerships into the nation’s largest automobile dealer, with 245 dealerships in 16 states.
4. Perhaps the quintessential Florida company, it was founded by a man still referred to at company headquarters as “Mr. George" (pictured below.)
   
   
5. This Bradenton-based retailer with department stores all over the country opened its doors 93 years ago as a dry goods store (pictured below.)
   
   
6. In German, one name on this firm’s masthead means “sad.” There’s nothing sad about its $1 billion-plus in revenue and offices in 35 locations worldwide, however.
   

7. Question #7: Ted Arison started this company.

   Ted Arison, a now deceased Israeli-American businessman and co-founder of Norwegian Cruise Lines, started this $1.3-billion company with a single used ship he bought in 1972.
8. This businessman (now deceased) and his

   Question #8: Who is this man?

   children helped transform stock car auto racing into a multibillion-dollar spectator sport.
   
9. David Siegel started this $1.1-billion timeshare company out of his garage 38 years ago.
10. This $1.9-billion firm, which moved to Florida in 1952, has specialized in parties and products that burp.

For answers, go to the next page.

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