Harry Macklowe, New York real estate developer and art collector, is known for bold, high-stakes deals that reshaped the Manhattan skyline. Founder of Macklowe Properties, he developed iconic projects such as 432 Park Avenue, one of the tallest residential towers in the Western Hemisphere. His career has been marked by both spectacular successes and dramatic setbacks, including a leveraged $7 billion office portfolio purchase in 2007. Beyond real estate, Macklowe gained global attention for his blue-chip art collection, reinforcing his image as one of New York’s most colorful and audacious moguls.

Gary Friedman, chairman and CEO of RH (formerly Restoration Hardware), transformed the home furnishings retailer into a high-end lifestyle brand synonymous with luxury design. Since taking the helm in 2001, he has repositioned the company through bold merchandising, exclusive collections, and immersive gallery spaces that blend retail, hospitality, and experience. Under his leadership, RH’s market value has soared, redefining the intersection of home décor and aspirational living while establishing Friedman as one of retail’s most innovative and uncompromising leaders.

Gabe Newell, cofounder and president of Valve Corporation, turned a small game studio into one of the most influential forces in the video game industry. After leaving Microsoft in 1996, he launched Valve with Mike Harrington, debuting the groundbreaking title Half-Life and later creating the Steam platform, which revolutionized digital game distribution. Under Newell’s leadership, Valve has become a multi-billion-dollar powerhouse known for innovation, fan engagement, and industry-defining franchises, making him one of gaming’s most respected and enigmatic figures.

Evan Clark “Ev” Williams is an American pioneer of the social internet. He co-founded Pyra Labs, created Blogger, served as CEO of Twitter (2008–2010), and launched Medium, a leading long-form publishing platform. A graduate by drop‑out who popularized blogging and micro‑blogging, he now leads the impact investment firm Obvious Ventures.

Dean Solon is a self‑made billionaire and founder of Shoals Technologies Group, a leading provider of electrical balance-of-systems gear for solar farms. He took Shoals public in January 2021 and still owns about 40% of the company. Despite the IPO windfall, Solon remains hands‑on—recently launching Create Energy, a vertically integrated solar manufacturing venture aimed at reshaping the industry with U.S.-based production. 

David Zalik is the Canadian‑American entrepreneur who co‑founded GreenSky in 2006. After founding MicroTech at age 14 and launching several tech ventures, he built GreenSky into a fintech unicorn connecting banks, contractors, and homeowners in home‑improvement and healthcare financing. He remains a billionaire with over 50% ownership of the company. 

Daniel Ek is the Swedish-born co-founder, Chairman & CEO of Spotify, the global streaming platform launched in 2006. A tech prodigy who sold his first startup at age 23, Ek scaled Spotify to over 276 million premium subscribers and 696 million total users by mid‑2025. He also chairs Neko Health and leads European moonshot investments through Prima Materia. 

Chris Wanstrath is an American technology entrepreneur and co‑founder and former CEO of GitHub, the world’s leading software collaboration platform launched in 2008. Self‑taught and briefly enrolled at the University of Cincinnati, he grew GitHub from a side project to a global developer hub with millions of users, eventually selling it to Microsoft in 2018 for $7.5 billion. He later founded Null Games in 2023 and co-launched the non‑profit Ladybird Browser Initiative in 2024

Bradley “Brad” Jacobs is an American serial entrepreneur and dealmaker renowned for founding and steering multiple multibillion‑dollar companies—including United Waste, United Rentals, XPO Logistics, GXO, RXO, and now QXO. He’s completed more than 500 acquisitions across logistics, waste, and equipment rental, introducing an unusual leadership style focused on meditation, employee bonding, and operational rigor.

Brad M. Kelley is an American self-made billionaire, best known for founding Commonwealth Brands in 1991 and selling it in 2001 for $1 billion. After building a tobacco empire, he reinvested his wealth by assembling over 1 million acres of land across Texas, Florida, and New Mexico—making him one of the top private landowners in the U.S. His portfolio includes iconic assets like Calumet Farm, horseback racing interests, and media holdings such as Lonely Planet. He’s also a passionate conservationist and philanthropist

Ben Ashkenazy is an Israeli‑American real estate billionaire who founded Ashkenazy Acquisition Corporation in 1987, now overseeing a $12 billion global property portfolio. Known for strategic landmark deals like stakes in New York’s Plaza Hotel, Boston’s Faneuil Hall, and London’s Grosvenor House, he’s raised fresh capital to pursue discounted acquisitions—cementing his reputation as a bold, shrewd titan in commercial real estate.  

Austin Russell is an American entrepreneur and pioneer in automotive safety, best known for founding Luminar Technologies in 2012—before age 17—and leading the company until May 2025. His breakthrough lidar innovations, now integrated into vehicles from Volvo, Toyota, and Mercedes-Benz, made him the world’s youngest self‑made billionaire when Luminar went public in December 2020 at age 25.

Andrew Beal is a billionaire financier, mathematician, and founder of Beal Bank, known for his contrarian investment strategies and deep-value approach to banking. A self-made entrepreneur, Beal built his fortune by acquiring distressed assets and betting against market trends. Beyond finance, he is a noted math enthusiast, real estate investor, and namesake of the unsolved Beal Conjecture, offering $1 million to anyone who can prove it.

Alan Gerry is a pioneering entrepreneur and the founder of Cablevision Industries, once the largest privately owned cable television company in the U.S. A self-made billionaire and former TV repairman, Gerry revolutionized rural cable access and later became a prominent philanthropist, supporting arts, healthcare, and education through the Gerry Foundation.

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.

Jeffrey Katzenberg is a transformative figure in global media—reviving Disney animation, co-founding DreamWorks, and launching bold ventures like Quibi and WndrCo. A visionary producer and strategic political force, his impact spans entertainment, technology, and national influence.