Ray Dolby January 18, 1933 – September 12, 2013

Legendary inventor and sound recording engineer died at the age of 80. Back in the days of cassette tapes, Ray invented Dolby Noise Reduction. He went on to standardize surround sound in movie theaters.

His estimated worth is $2.9 billion.

Kevin Yeaman, president and chief executive of Dolby Laboratories, said “Today we lost a friend, mentor and true visionary”. Neil Portnow, president of the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences, said Dolby had “changed the way we listen to music and movies for nearly 50 years” and that Dolby’s “technologies have become an essential part of the creative process for recording artists and filmmakers, ensuring his remarkable legacy for generations to come.”