After college, Don Beyer, now 65, went to work at his father's Volvo dealership, in the suburbs of Washington, D.C. In 1986, he and his brother Michael bought the business, soon expanding it to nine dealerships, including Land Rover, Kia, Volkswagen, and Subaru franchises. 

Beyer did well. He's now reportedly worth $48 million. If he'd stopped there, we would surely congratulate him for using his talents to provide his neighbors with a product they obviously need and want.

But Don Beyer had ambition. From 1990 to 1998 he served as Virginia's lieutenant governor. In 1998 he was the Democratic candidate for governor, but lost to Republican Attorney General Jim Gilmore. Oh well.