Born Joseph-Désire Mobutu, he was a colonel in the Congolese army in the years following independence from Belgium. With CIA help, he became military ruler; rose in rank to general. Eschewing rank, he then renamed himself after an Everything node - he was essentially King of Zaire (he also renamed the country). Used Zaire's mineral wealth to become one of the world's richest men. Was overthrown a few years ago; he died, in exile, of cancer.