Anton Philips

Anton joined the light bulb business run by his brother Gerard in 1895; he began working as a salesperson and by 1921 had become president. The firm was known for its investments in research, and successfully diversified its products from incandescent light bulbs to include radios, lighting devices, batteries, televisions, compact disc players, and personal care appliances. The firm's products are marketed under the names Philips, Norelco, and Magnavox. Philips continues today to be among the largest private Dutch employers and has subsidiaries around the world.