Frederick W. Smith, commonly known as Fred Smith, is an American business magnate best known as the founder, chairman, and CEO of FedEx Corporation, one of the world's largest transportation and logistics companies. Born on August 11, 1944, in Marks, Mississippi, Smith grew up in a family with strong ties to the transportation industry. After serving in the U.S. Marine Corps during the Vietnam War era, where he rose to the rank of First Lieutenant, Smith graduated from Yale University in 1966 with a degree in economics. Inspired by a term paper he wrote on overnight delivery services, Smith founded Federal Express in 1971 with $4 million inherited from his father, initially operating out of Memphis, Tennessee. Under his leadership, FedEx revolutionized global shipping through innovations like the hub-and-spoke model and real-time tracking, growing into a Fortune 500 company with annual revenues exceeding $80 billion. Smith's influence extends beyond business into philanthropy, politics, and sports. He has been a major donor to Republican causes and served on advisory boards, including during the George W. Bush administration. Through the FedEx Foundation, he supports education, environmental initiatives, and disaster relief. Smith is also a co-owner of the National Football League's Washington Commanders (formerly Redskins), acquired in 2023 as part of a group led by Josh Harris, and FedEx Corporation is a major sponsor of the team. His personal life includes marriages and a family; he has been married to Linda B. Smith since 1998, with children from previous relationships. Despite facing business challenges like early financial struggles and labor disputes, Smith's net worth is estimated at around $6 billion, cementing his status as a key figure in American entrepreneurship and logistics.