Few TV shows have captured the imagination of viewers as much as Survivor, the hit show that pits 16 contestants against nature--and each other--on a tropical isle. The show divides the contestants into tribes, which compete in contests of skill. Each week the losing tribe votes to expel a member from the island, until only one remains--the hearty individual who has bested personal politicking, petty bickering, and the occasional meal of grilled rat to reign as sole survivor. But why not populate the island with computer-industry heavyweights? After all, who's more familiar with personal politicking, petty bickering, and vermin than the titans of Silicon Valley?--Philip Michaels
John Sculley, Apple CEO 1983-93
Assets:
Brings an almost limitless supply of Pepsi.
Liabilities:
Obsession with crafting a crude handheld device out of a hollowed-out coconut.
Gil Amelio, Apple CEO 1996-97 Assets: Helped turn around the last island he was marooned on. Liabilities: First thing he does is lay off 25 percent of the cabana boys and cut back on everyone's rice rations.
Steve Jobs, Apple CEO
Assets:
So resilient that even if he's voted off, he'll return later in the role of interim tribe member.
Liabilities:
Stubbornly refuses to stay in tribe's hut until it's translucent and candy colored.
Steve Wozniak, Apple cofounder
Assets:
Uses technical know-how to build bamboo-encased Macs for each team member--out of his parents' cave.
Liabilities:
Keeps falling for Jobs's "I won't vote you off the island if you don't vote me off the island" ploy.
Bill Gates, Microsoft founder
Assets:
In exchange for support from other tribe members, he offers to buy them their own island.
Liabilities:
Builds haphazardly erected huts that mimic Apple tribe's design but periodically tip over.
Steve Ballmer, Microsoft CEO
Assets:
Harnesses motivational tools of screaming and derision to drive his teammates to excel.
Liabilities:
You've all read Lord of the Flies, right?
Larry Ellison, Oracle CEO
Assets:
Uses cunning private investigators to dig up dirt on rivals and teammates.
Liabilities:
Inexplicable fear of wicker.
Steve Case, America Online CEO
Assets:
Has the financial resources to buy the island and turn it into an AOL subsidiary.
Liabilities:
Justice Department blocks his attempt to merge competing tribes into a single entity.