Israel Englander, billionaire hedge fund manager, is the founder and CEO of Millennium Management, one of the world’s largest and most successful multi-strategy hedge funds. Launching the firm in 1989 with $35 million, he has grown Millennium into a powerhouse managing more than $50 billion in assets, employing a decentralized model with hundreds of portfolio managers. Known for his risk management discipline and ability to adapt to shifting markets, Englander has built a reputation as one of the most influential figures in modern hedge fund investing.

Ira Rennert, billionaire industrialist, is the founder of Renco Group, a private holding company with investments in mining, metals, manufacturing, and defense. Starting in the 1970s with junk bonds, he expanded into heavy industry, building a diversified empire that has included steel, magnesium, and automotive companies. Known for his controversial business practices as well as his immense wealth, Rennert also drew attention for constructing one of the largest private homes in the United States, the 62,000-square-foot Fair Field estate in the Hamptons. Despite criticism, he remains a powerful and enduring figure in American industry and finance.

Howard Schultz, former longtime CEO and chairman emeritus of Starbucks, transformed a small Seattle coffee chain into a global brand with more than 35,000 stores worldwide. Inspired by Italy’s espresso culture, he built Starbucks into a company that blended premium coffee with community-driven “third place” experiences. Schultz became known not only for scaling the brand into a multibillion-dollar enterprise but also for his focus on employee benefits, ethical sourcing, and social responsibility. A visionary entrepreneur and occasional political voice, he remains one of the most influential figures in modern retail and consumer culture.

Herbert Simon, billionaire real estate developer, is chairman emeritus of Simon Property Group, the largest shopping mall operator in the United States. Alongside his late brother Melvin, he expanded the Indianapolis-based company into a global retail real estate powerhouse, with hundreds of malls and premium outlets worldwide. Under his leadership, Simon Property Group grew into a publicly traded giant and a bellwether of the retail industry. Beyond real estate, Simon is also known as owner of the NBA’s Indiana Pacers and as a philanthropist supporting education, culture, and community development.

David Walentas is the self-made real estate developer behind Two Trees Management, the Brooklyn firm that transformed Dumbo and Williamsburg from industrial decline into high-end residential and creative districts. A University of Virginia alumnus, Walentas began with a small Manhattan partnership in 1968 and leveraged $12 million to acquire nearly 2 million sq ft in Dumbo, reshaping it through bold vision and rezoning advocacy.

David Lichtenstein is a self-made real estate billionaire who founded The Lightstone Group in 1988. He began with a single multifamily unit and grew his firm into a diversified empire—owning 25,000 apartments and over 15 million sq ft of retail, industrial, hotel & life-sciences properties across 25+ states, with more than $9 billion in managed assets. He led major deals such as acquiring Prime Retail malls ($638 M) and Extended Stay Hotels ($8.1 B) and is active in civic service and board leadership across New York institutions. 

Carl Icahn is the legendary activist investor and founder of Icahn Enterprises, the diversified conglomerate he controls with an 86% stake. Born in Brooklyn in 1936, he helped pioneer shareholder activism as a high-stakes corporate raider—targeting companies like Trans World Airlines and Time Warner—then transitioned into long-term value investing. His bet on CVR Energy has since become the financial backbone of Icahn Enterprises amid broader portfolio volatility.

Bruce Kovner is a self-made hedge fund billionaire and the founder of Caxton Associates in 1983, the global macro fund he led for nearly three decades. A Harvard graduate who once drove a NYC taxi and dabbled in harpsichord before launching a career in trading, Kovner turned $3,000 borrowed on a credit card into billions—later retiring to manage his firm CAM Capital and lead elite arts and education philanthropy.