Kevin Systrom, cofounder of Instagram, helped build one of the most influential social platforms of the modern era by combining minimalist design, mobile photography, and frictionless sharing. After early career stints at Google and Nextstop, he launched Instagram with Mike Krieger in 2010, growing it to millions of users in months and selling the company to Facebook for $1 billion in 2012 while continuing to expand it into a global cultural phenomenon. Known for his product craftsmanship and creator-focused approach, Systrom has since turned his attention to algorithmic news and discovery through his startup Artifact, while remaining a major voice in technology and entrepreneurship.

Kenny Troutt, billionaire entrepreneur and founder of Excel Communications, built his fortune by pioneering long-distance telecommunications sales through network marketing, later selling the company to Teleglobe for billions. After exiting telecom, he turned his focus to thoroughbred horse breeding and racing, creating WinStar Farm in Kentucky, which has produced multiple classic winners, including Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes champions. Known for his competitive spirit, strategic investment style, and passion for racing, Troutt has become a major figure in American equestrian sports while maintaining a diverse personal investment portfolio.

Josh Harris, cofounder of Apollo Global Management, is one of the most accomplished investors of his generation, helping build Apollo into a global alternative-asset powerhouse managing hundreds of billions across private equity, credit, and real assets. After three decades of shaping Apollo’s hallmark value-oriented, contrarian investment strategy, Harris expanded his influence into professional sports as cofounder of Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment, owning the Philadelphia 76ers, New Jersey Devils, and, most recently, the Washington Commanders. Known for his analytical discipline, long-term strategy, and philanthropic commitments in education and community development, Harris has become a defining figure in both modern finance and major-league sports ownership.

Joe Lacob, managing partner and chairman of the Golden State Warriors, is the venture capitalist who helped engineer one of the greatest franchise transformations in modern sports. After years at Kleiner Perkins investing in healthcare and technology, Lacob led the group that acquired the Warriors in 2010 and rebuilt the organization through analytics-driven strategy, top-tier talent development, and a bold front-office culture. Under his leadership, the Warriors evolved from a struggling team into a global dynasty with multiple NBA championships, a state-of-the-art arena in San Francisco, and one of the most valuable brands in sports. Lacob’s blend of data rigor, entrepreneurial mindset, and competitive ambition has redefined what ownership can look like in the NBA.

John H. Ruiz, founder and CEO of MSP Recovery, transformed a boutique health-care-law practice into a leading national firm specializing in recovery of Medicare, Medicaid and insurance reimbursements. Since launching MSP Recovery in 2014, Ruiz has built the company into a multibillion-dollar enterprise using proprietary data analytics and legal expertise to reclaim improperly paid claims on behalf of providers and payers. Under his leadership, MSPR has expanded into adjacent services and continues innovating in health-care compliance and recovery, establishing Ruiz as one of America’s foremost entrepreneurial leaders in health-care litigation and finance.

Jimmy John Liautaud, founder of the Jimmy John’s sandwich empire, turned a small college-town deli he opened in 1983 with borrowed money into one of America’s largest and most recognizable fast-casual chains. Known for its simple menu, freaky-fast delivery model, and intense franchise discipline, Jimmy John’s expanded to thousands of locations nationwide before selling a majority stake to private equity giant Roark Capital. Liautaud, who stepped down as chairman after the sale, is also an active philanthropist and investor, channeling his entrepreneurial drive into charitable initiatives and new business ventures.

Jerry Moyes, founder of Swift Transportation, built one of the largest trucking and logistics companies in North America from a small regional operation he inherited in the 1960s. Through bold acquisitions, disciplined cost management, and a relentless focus on fleet expansion, he grew Swift into a national powerhouse serving major retailers, manufacturers, and supply-chain networks across the U.S. and Mexico. After taking Swift public and later merging it with Knight Transportation, Moyes helped create Knight-Swift, the largest full-truckload carrier in the country. Known for his entrepreneurial tenacity and deep industry expertise, he remains a defining figure in American transportation.

Gary Klesch, founder and chairman of the Klesch Group, is a veteran industrialist known for acquiring and restructuring distressed industrial and commodity businesses across Europe. Since launching his firm in 1990, he has built a portfolio spanning chemicals, metals, refining, and energy, often stepping into complex turnaround situations that larger corporations avoid. With a reputation for decisive management, deep operational expertise, and a contrarian investment approach, Klesch has transformed underperforming assets into competitive enterprises while establishing the Klesch Group as a major player in European heavy industry.

Jeffrey Skoll, entrepreneur, philanthropist, and the first president of eBay, has built one of the most influential careers at the intersection of technology, media, and global social impact. After helping scale eBay into an early internet juggernaut, he founded the Skoll Foundation, dedicated to supporting social entrepreneurs tackling the world’s most pressing challenges. Through Participant, his award-winning media company, Skoll has produced socially driven films such as An Inconvenient Truth, Spotlight, and Roma, using storytelling to spark policy change and public engagement. His integrated approach to philanthropy, entertainment, and systems change has made him one of the most impactful visionaries of his generation.

J.B. Pritzker, billionaire businessman, philanthropist, and the 43rd governor of Illinois, is a prominent member of the Pritzker family whose fortune stems from the creation of the Hyatt hotel empire and a vast portfolio of industrial holdings. Before entering politics, he founded and led private investment firm Pritzker Group, backing technology, manufacturing, and venture capital ventures and helping shape Chicago’s modern startup ecosystem. As governor since 2019, Pritzker has focused on economic development, infrastructure, education, and social policy, leveraging both his business background and philanthropic commitments to influence public life on a statewide and national scale.

James Tisch, president and CEO of Loews Corporation, oversees one of America’s most enduring and diversified conglomerates, with major interests in insurance, energy, hospitality, and packaging. A member of the prominent Tisch family, he joined Loews in the 1970s and became CEO in 1998, guiding the company through decades of disciplined capital allocation and strategic acquisitions. Under his leadership, Loews has maintained a reputation for conservative financial management and long-term value creation, anchored by flagship holdings such as CNA Financial and Loews Hotels. Tisch is also a noted philanthropist and civic leader, contributing to education, healthcare, and cultural institutions.

Jim Thompson, founder and chairman of Crown Worldwide Group, built one of the world’s leading logistics, relocation, and records management companies from a single operation in Japan in 1965. Over six decades, he expanded Crown into a global enterprise with offices in nearly 50 countries, serving multinational corporations, governments, and private clients with services ranging from international moving to fine art handling and workplace solutions. Known for his global mindset, disciplined expansion, and commitment to service excellence, Thompson has established Crown as a trusted partner to organizations navigating the complexities of international mobility and logistics.

James Goodnight, cofounder and longtime CEO of SAS Institute, built one of the world’s largest privately held software companies by pioneering advanced analytics long before “data science” became a global discipline. Since 1976, he has led SAS with a distinctive focus on research, long-term product development, and a famously employee-centric culture that consistently ranks among the best workplaces in America. Under his guidance, SAS grew into a multibillion-dollar enterprise whose software powers decision-making for governments, corporations, and institutions worldwide, earning Goodnight recognition as a visionary architect of the modern analytics industry.

Jim Crane, billionaire businessman and owner of the Houston Astros, built his fortune through logistics and freight services before becoming one of Major League Baseball’s most successful franchise owners. After founding Eagle Global Logistics and later Crane Worldwide Logistics, he acquired the Astros in 2011 and transformed the team into a championship organization, winning the World Series in 2017 and 2022. Known for his disciplined leadership, data-driven decision-making, and deep involvement in Houston’s business and philanthropic community, Crane has become a defining figure in both sports and global logistics.

Jim Chanos, legendary short-seller and founder of Kynikos Associates, built his reputation as one of Wall Street’s most prominent contrarian investors. Best known for uncovering the Enron scandal by shorting the company before its collapse, Chanos has spent decades analyzing corporate fraud, overvaluation, and financial misrepresentation. His disciplined skepticism and forensic approach to investing have made him a key voice on market bubbles and corporate governance. Beyond finance, Chanos is an active philanthropist supporting education, economic research, and public policy initiatives.

Henry Kravis, cofounder and co-executive chairman of Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co. (KKR), is a pioneer of the leveraged buyout industry and one of private equity’s most influential figures. Alongside Jerome Kohlberg and George Roberts, he helped establish KKR in 1976, building it into a global investment powerhouse managing hundreds of billions in assets. Kravis became a Wall Street icon through landmark deals such as the record-setting acquisition of RJR Nabisco, chronicled in Barbarians at the Gate. Known for his dealmaking acumen and philanthropic contributions, he has shaped both modern finance and charitable giving.

Gary Michelson, orthopedic spinal surgeon turned inventor and philanthropist, amassed his fortune through more than 950 patents for medical devices, instruments, and procedures that revolutionized spinal surgery. After a landmark $1.35 billion settlement with Medtronic in 2005 over patent disputes, he shifted his focus to philanthropy, founding the Michelson Medical Research Foundation, Michelson 20MM Foundation for education, and Michelson Found Animals Foundation for animal welfare. His career blends groundbreaking medical innovation with a deep commitment to scientific research, education, and social impact.

Evan Sharp is the American entrepreneur and design visionary who co‑founded Pinterest in 2010 alongside Ben Silbermann and Paul Sciarra. An architecture graduate from the University of Chicago and Columbia GSAPP alumnus, Sharp led the product’s signature grid design and served as Chief Design & Creative Officer. Known for infusing visual simplicity into engineering, he helped Pinterest evolve from a side project into a global platform with hundreds of millions of users.

Eldrick Tont “Tiger” Woods is widely considered one of golf’s greatest players and one of the few athlete‑billionaires. With 82 PGA Tour wins including 15 majors, he pioneered global value in golf and re‑energized the sport after his 2021 car crash. Woods also owns ventures including PopStroke mini‑golf courses, a restaurant, golf‑course design business, and co-founded TMRW Sports and TGL with Rory McIlroy. Today, he remains active despite injuries and maintains a 15‑time major winner legacy. 

Anthony Pritzker is an heir to the Pritzker family fortune (Hyatt Hotels) and Managing Partner of Pritzker Private Capital. A Dartmouth and University of Chicago MBA graduate, he has steered middle‑market acquisitions while supporting environmental, arts, and educational causes through UCLA and RAND. His low‑profile leadership focuses on operational discipline and civic impact.