Mark Burnett

Arguably one of the most successful and prolific figures in television programming history, Mark Burnett produced some of the most popular and ground-breaking reality series of the new millennium, including "Survivor" (CBS 2000- ), "The Apprentice" (NBC 2004- ), "Shark Tank" (NBC 2009- ) and "The Voice" (NBC 2011- ). Burnett's productions, which hinged on the concept of everyday people elevated to greatness through their own physical, mental and motivational talents, struck a chord with both viewers and television executives, who responded to the overwhelming ratings numbers and award nominations - over 95 in all - generated by his projects by shifting the focus of programming away from scripted dramas and comedies to reality television. Though not every one of Burnett's productions were met with the same degree of response - for every "Survivor," there were a host of also-rans or never-weres like "My Dad is Better Than Your Dad" (NBC 2008) or "Stars Earn Stripes" (NBC 2012) - his greatest successes slipped beyond the limits of hit television to become fixtures on the cultural landscape, equal parts entertainment and pop philosophy, and contributed to his inclusion in Time magazine's 100 Most Influential People List in 2004. His first effort at scripted television, the 10-part miniseries "The Bible" (The History Channel 2013), performed similarly well, and underscored Burnett's status as a television mogul with an unlimited Midas touch.