William P. Lauder, executive chairman of The Estée Lauder Companies, helped expand the family-founded beauty empire into a global powerhouse of prestige cosmetics, skincare, and fragrance brands. After serving as CEO and guiding major international growth, brand acquisitions, and digital expansion, Lauder transitioned to executive chairman, continuing to shape long-term strategy and governance. A grandson of founders Estée and Joseph Lauder, he represents multigenerational leadership at one of the world’s most influential luxury beauty groups, blending heritage stewardship with modern global scale.

Jeff Krasnoff, cofounder and managing principal of Rialto Capital Management, built a major real estate investment and asset management platform focused on distressed debt, commercial mortgages, and opportunistic property strategies. After launching Rialto in the aftermath of the financial crisis, Krasnoff helped grow the firm into a leading investor in complex real estate credit and special situations, working with institutional partners across the United States. Known for disciplined underwriting and large-scale capital deployment in dislocated markets, he has positioned Rialto as a significant player in commercial real estate finance.

William Koch, energy investor and member of the prominent Koch family, built a diversified fortune through oil, commodities trading, and industrial investments while operating independently of Koch Industries. As founder of Oxbow Carbon, he developed a global business focused on petroleum coke, sulfur, and related energy materials, supplying utilities and industrial customers worldwide. Known for high-profile legal battles, yachting victories, and major art and wine collecting, Koch combines traditional energy entrepreneurship with a strong presence in philanthropy and cultural patronage.

William Hockey, cofounder of Plaid, helped build one of the most important financial infrastructure companies powering the modern fintech ecosystem. As an early leader of Plaid, he played a central role in scaling the platform that connects consumer bank accounts to apps and financial services used by millions worldwide. After helping grow Plaid into a core payments and data connectivity layer for fintech, Hockey went on to found Column, a technology-driven banking platform aimed at modernizing financial infrastructure from the ground up. His career reflects deep influence across the architecture of digital finance.

William Randolph Hearst III is chairman of Hearst, one of the largest privately held media and information companies in the world, spanning television, publishing, data, and digital businesses. A grandson of founder William Randolph Hearst, he has played a central role in modernizing and stewarding the family-controlled enterprise while maintaining its long-term private ownership structure. Earlier in his career he was active in venture investing and philanthropy, including leadership roles within the Hearst Foundations. Known for low-profile governance and multigenerational stewardship, Hearst represents the modern continuation of one of America’s most enduring business dynasties.

William Harrison is an American investor and the founder of Cathexis Holdings, a Houston-based private investment firm that deploys long-duration family capital across real estate and operating businesses. Known for a low-profile, control-minded approach, he has pursued large, concentrated positions and partnerships where patient ownership and hands-on governance matter more than headline velocity—backing assets that range from property to infrastructure-adjacent industrial and services companies, often in complex, cross-border situations.

William P. Foley II, chairman of Fidelity National Financial, built a sprawling financial and business empire spanning title insurance, mortgage services, restaurants, and professional sports. Over decades, Foley became known for acquiring underperforming businesses, imposing strict cost discipline, and scaling them through operational rigor and strategic consolidation. His influence extends beyond finance into hospitality and entertainment, including ownership stakes in the NHL’s Vegas Golden Knights. Known for hands-on leadership and deal-driven growth, Foley has remained a defining figure in American financial services and diversified private investment.

William S. Fisher, founder and CEO of Manzanita Capital, is a discreet, long-horizon investor who built a London-based private investment firm focused on premium consumer and luxury brands. A member of the founding family behind Gap Inc., Fisher also serves as a director of the retailer, bringing decades of global retail experience shaped by his earlier leadership of Gap’s international expansion. Through Manzanita, he has pursued brand-led value creation with patient capital, operating with a low public profile while maintaining influence across consumer businesses and governance.

William Conway Jr., cofounder and co-executive chairman of The Carlyle Group, helped build one of the world’s most influential private equity firms by pioneering global buyouts and institutional alternative investing. Since launching Carlyle in 1987, Conway played a central role in expanding the firm across private equity, credit, infrastructure, and real assets, managing capital for sovereign wealth funds, pensions, and major institutions worldwide. Known for disciplined dealmaking and long-term capital relationships, he has been instrumental in shaping modern global private markets. Conway is also a major philanthropist, supporting education and healthcare initiatives across the United States.

Bill Boyd, cofounder and longtime leader of Boyd Gaming, helped build one of the most respected casino operators in the United States by focusing on regional gaming markets, operational discipline, and customer loyalty. The son of industry pioneer Sam Boyd, he expanded the family business from its Las Vegas roots into a nationwide gaming and hospitality company with properties across Nevada and other key markets. Known for conservative management and strong local positioning, Boyd played a central role in shaping modern regional casino operations and maintaining the company’s reputation for steady performance through industry cycles.

William R. Berkley, founder and executive chairman of W. R. Berkley Corporation, built one of the largest and most consistently profitable commercial insurance groups in the United States through disciplined underwriting and decentralized management. Since founding the company in 1967, Berkley expanded it into a global specialty insurer operating across property, casualty, and reinsurance markets, emphasizing niche expertise and conservative risk selection. Known for long-term capital stewardship and a focus on underwriting margins over premium growth, he has remained a defining figure in modern insurance.

Bill Austin, founder and CEO of Starkey Hearing Technologies, built one of the world’s largest privately held hearing aid manufacturers by combining medical innovation, global distribution, and a mission-driven approach to hearing health. Starting with a small hearing aid repair shop, Austin scaled Starkey into a major medical device company serving patients in more than 100 countries, while also pioneering philanthropic hearing initiatives through the Starkey Hearing Foundation. Known for blending entrepreneurship with humanitarian outreach, he has positioned Starkey at the intersection of technology, healthcare, and global access to treatment.

Bill Ackman, founder and CEO of Pershing Square Capital Management, is one of the most prominent activist investors of his generation, known for high-conviction, concentrated bets on public companies. Since launching Pershing Square in 2004, Ackman has pursued large stakes in companies where he believes operational, strategic, or governance changes can unlock substantial shareholder value. His career has included both high-profile wins and costly missteps, reinforcing his reputation for bold, research-driven investing. Beyond markets, Ackman is active in philanthropy and public policy, frequently engaging in debates on corporate governance and economic reform.

Wesley Edens, cofounder and co-CEO of Fortress Investment Group, built one of the most influential alternative asset managers by specializing in credit, private equity, and infrastructure investing. Known for opportunistic dealmaking across distressed assets and complex financial situations, Edens helped grow Fortress into a global platform managing billions for institutional investors. Beyond finance, he is a prominent sports owner as co-owner of the NBA’s Milwaukee Bucks and a leading figure in infrastructure development through Brightline, a privately operated passenger rail system in the United States.

Wayne Rothbaum, founder of Quogue Capital, built a private investment firm focused on opportunistic public equities, private investments, and long-term capital allocation across multiple asset classes. After an early career in finance and investing, Rothbaum developed Quogue into a discreet family office-style platform known for concentrated positions and patient ownership. Operating with a low public profile, he has deployed capital across technology, media, and consumer businesses while maintaining a disciplined, research-driven approach to investing.

Wayne Hughes Jr., chairman of Public Storage, oversees one of the largest self-storage empires in the world, continuing the legacy built by his father, company founder Wayne Hughes. After years in private investing and philanthropy, he assumed a leading role in the publicly traded REIT, guiding strategy across a vast portfolio of storage properties throughout the United States and Europe. Known for low-profile leadership and long-term ownership discipline, Hughes represents a new generation of stewardship within one of the most profitable real estate business models in modern property investing.

Warren Stephens, chairman, president, and CEO of Stephens Inc., leads one of the largest privately held investment banks in the United States, continuing a multigenerational Arkansas-based financial legacy. Under his leadership, Stephens Inc. has remained a powerful force in middle-market investment banking, institutional brokerage, and private capital, advising corporations, investors, and governments across sectors. Known for conservative management and long-term relationships, Stephens has preserved the firm’s private ownership while expanding its national influence. He is also a prominent philanthropist supporting education, healthcare, and community initiatives.

Vlad Tenev, cofounder and CEO of Robinhood, built one of the most disruptive retail investing platforms by bringing commission-free stock trading and a mobile-first experience to millions of users. After launching Robinhood in 2013, Tenev helped popularize zero-commission trading, options access, and fractional shares, reshaping how a new generation engages with financial markets. The platform’s rapid growth—and its central role in the meme-stock era—made Tenev a defining figure in modern fintech, navigating both explosive adoption and intense regulatory scrutiny while continuing to expand Robinhood’s financial services ecosystem.

Vlad Vendrow, chief technology officer of RingCentral, has played a key role in building one of the leading global cloud communications platforms powering enterprise voice, video, and messaging. As an early engineering leader and longtime technology executive at the company, Vendrow helped architect RingCentral’s shift from legacy telephony toward scalable, cloud-native communications infrastructure used by businesses worldwide. Known for deep technical expertise and product-focused execution, he has been central to the company’s evolution into a major unified communications SaaS provider.

Vlad Shmunis, founder and CEO of RingCentral, built one of the most successful cloud communications platforms by anticipating the shift from on-premise phone systems to software-based enterprise voice and messaging. After launching RingCentral in 1999, Shmunis guided its transformation into a global unified communications leader serving businesses with cloud telephony, video, and collaboration tools. Under his leadership, the company scaled internationally, formed major partnerships, and became a publicly traded SaaS powerhouse, helping redefine how organizations communicate in the digital workplace.