Lonnie Johnson: I'm Lonnie Johnson. I'm an inventor. The invention that most people know me for is the Super Soaker water gun. I knew the gun worked well, and I knew it would be successful.

However, as he explains here, the invention that made his fortune was a water pistol — the extremely powerful Super Soaker.

This gun shoots a dousing stream 30 feet or more. The Super Soaker also racked up more than ... but none caught fire in a big way. Then one day came the moment that would change his life.