Justin Ishbia, founder and managing partner of Shore Capital Partners, has built one of the fastest-growing private equity firms in the lower middle market, backing healthcare, business services, and food companies through a disciplined strategy of operational improvement and platform roll-ups. Under his leadership, Shore has completed hundreds of acquisitions and created scaled national platforms across dental, veterinary, behavioral health, and specialty manufacturing, while consistently generating strong returns. A former practicing attorney with a sharp eye for founder-led businesses, Ishbia is also a major investor in sports as co-owner of the Phoenix Suns and Phoenix Mercury alongside his brother, Mat Ishbia. His combination of analytical rigor, deal intensity, and strategic focus has made him a rising force in private equity.

Joe Mansueto, founder and executive chairman of Morningstar, transformed a one-man startup launched in his Chicago apartment into one of the world’s most trusted providers of investment research, ratings, and financial data. Since founding the company in 1984, he has championed transparency, independent analysis, and investor empowerment, expanding Morningstar into a global platform serving millions of investors and thousands of institutions across more than 25 countries. After taking the company public and stepping back from day-to-day operations, Mansueto has become an influential civic leader, philanthropist, and sports owner—acquiring Major League Soccer’s Chicago Fire and supporting major cultural and educational initiatives. His legacy combines entrepreneurship, integrity, and a long-term commitment to investor advocacy.

Joseph Grendys, owner, chairman, and CEO of Koch Foods, built one of America’s largest vertically integrated poultry producers from a small Chicago-based chicken distributor into a multibillion-dollar industry giant. Joining the company in the 1980s, he expanded Koch Foods through strategic acquisitions, processing plant development, and an aggressive focus on efficiency across farming, processing, and distribution. Today, the company supplies major retailers and food-service chains nationwide, ranking among the top poultry producers in the United States. Known for his low profile and disciplined operations, Grendys has become one of the most successful self-made figures in American agribusiness.

Jerry Reinsdorf, longtime owner of the Chicago Bulls and Chicago White Sox, is one of the most influential figures in American professional sports. After building his wealth in real estate and tax-shelter investments, he purchased the White Sox in 1981 and the Bulls in 1985—guiding the teams through eras that cemented their place in sports history. Under his stewardship, the Bulls won six NBA championships in the Michael Jordan era, while the White Sox captured a World Series title in 2005, ending an 88-year drought. Known for his sharp business acumen, loyalty to his organizations, and major impact on league governance, Reinsdorf remains a defining and sometimes controversial presence in modern sports ownership.

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.

David Steward is an American billionaire tech entrepreneur who founded World Wide Technology (WWT) in 1990 with minimal capital. A Central Missouri alumnus, he transformed WWT into one of the largest African-American–owned companies in the U.S., generating over $11 billion in annual revenues. Known for his faith-driven leadership and civic engagement, Steward also founded Telcobuy and chairs major nonprofit boards.

David Kabiller is the co‑founding principal and Head of Business Development at AQR Capital Management, the global quantitative investment firm he launched in 1998 alongside Cliff Asness and others. He spearheaded AQR’s international expansion, retail mutual fund offerings, and educational initiatives such as AQR University and the AQR Insight Award. A former athlete, he holds degrees in economics and finance from Northwestern and continues to support research via prizes at Northwestern and London Business School. 

Craig Duchossois is an American billionaire investment executive and lifelong leader of the Duchossois Group, the diversified family firm originally built by his father, Richard L. Duchossois. Under his tenure, the firm became the largest individual shareholder of Churchill Downs, with over $700 million in equity. He has served in the U.S. Marine Corps, earned an MBA from SMU, and led the evolution of Duchossois Capital Management into a family office powerhouse.

Carl Thoma is a veteran private-equity pioneer and co-founder/managing partner of Thoma Bravo, one of the world’s largest software-focused buyout firms managing more than $130 billion in assets. A Stanford MBA and Oklahoma State alumnus, he began his career in 1980 with the predecessor firm GTCR and helped invent the “buy and build” consolidation strategy that underpins his longtime success in PE.

Bradley Keywell is the American billionaire entrepreneur behind Uptake Technologies, an industrial AI powerhouse. A serial founder, he co-founded Groupon, Echo Global Logistics, MediaOcean, Lightbank, and Tempus, and serves as Executive Chairman at Uptake. Named EY World Entrepreneur of the Year in 2019, he’s also the creative force behind Chicago Ideas and the immersive WNDR Museum, and a signatory of The Giving Pledge. 

Sam Altman is the CEO of OpenAI and one of Silicon Valley’s most influential technologists, known for leading the development of advanced artificial intelligence tools like ChatGPT. A former president of Y Combinator, Altman has shaped the startup ecosystem and AI policy landscape, championing both innovation and regulation in a rapidly evolving field.

Lukas Walton is an American billionaire heir and environmental advocate, best known as the grandson of Walmart founder Sam Walton. He has a significant stake in the retail giant and actively participates in philanthropic efforts focusing on environmental sustainability.

Kenneth C. Griffin is an American billionaire hedge fund manager, entrepreneur, and investor, best known as the founder and CEO of Citadel, a global financial institution. Griffin has made significant contributions to the finance industry through his innovative approach to hedge fund management and market making.