Benjamin Franklin did it. So did Bill Gates and Oprah. John D. Rockefeller and even Jenna Jameson. Recently another name has been added to this list… Gary Vaynerchuk.

Gary “GaryVee” Vaynerchuk is considered an early entrepreneur who pushed media resources to the limit.

To think Vaynerchuk’s success happened over night would be ludicrous. His life can be compared to those “from rags to riches” fairytales, only his was no fairytale.

Growing up poor in New Jersey, Vaynerchuk dreamt up a way to financially fend for himself. It was clear that “entrepreneur blood” was flowing through his veins. It all clicked in 8^th grade when he was racking in $1000 a week selling baseball cards!

Vaynerchuk, 33-years-old with a skyrocketing career, is a multi-millionaire who built an empire surrounding his personal brand by using a sole resource, the Internet.

With social networking sites such as Twitter, Facebook, and MySpace; Vaynerchuk is able to connect with millions to promote his brand and engage with others on a more personal level.

Last Wednesday, when visiting Texas State’s Mass Communication Week, Vaynerchuk said, “The Internet is giving people a shot. Before that it was all financial.”

Vaynerchuk took a shot in 2006 when he launched a Web site: tv.winelibrary.com. His site is nothing more than an amateur video blog that exposes his self-taught, wine-tasting skills along with a personal review.

Vaynerchuk said, “Content is king and marketing is queen.” In response to why his site is reaching 100, 000 viewers a day.

Making this small investment has stemmed into several other Web sites, personal popularity, and the opportunity to write a book in which he entitled “Crush It!”

Vaynerchuk told students that one day he will own the New York Giants... Anything is possible!