David Grain, founder and CEO of Grain Management, built one of the most influential private equity firms focused on digital infrastructure, with investments spanning broadband, wireless spectrum, and communications networks. Since launching the firm in 2007, he has positioned it at the center of the infrastructure economy by backing assets tied to connectivity and long-term data demand. Known for disciplined dealmaking and a sharp focus on strategic infrastructure, Grain has emerged as a prominent figure in private equity and telecommunications investing.

Mark Attanasio, cofounder and managing partner of Crescent Capital, built his fortune in alternative asset management before becoming chairman and principal owner of the Milwaukee Brewers. Since leading the club’s purchase in 2005, he has paired Wall Street discipline with long-term sports ownership, establishing himself as a rare figure with influence in both high finance and professional baseball.

Neal Aronson, founder and managing partner of Roark Capital, built one of the most influential private equity firms in franchising, restaurants, and multi-location consumer businesses. Since founding Roark in 2001, he has developed a reputation for patient capital, operational focus, and deep expertise in brand-driven businesses, helping assemble a portfolio that has included major names such as Subway, Dunkin’, Arby’s, and Buffalo Wild Wings. Before Roark, Aronson cofounded U.S. Franchise Systems, giving him an early grounding in the economics of scalable branded businesses.

Jean-Marc Chapus, cofounder and managing partner of Crescent Capital, helped build one of the most established private credit firms in the market by focusing on below-investment-grade debt, private equity-backed financing, and disciplined risk management. A former leveraged finance banker at Drexel Burnham Lambert and later a senior executive at TCW, Chapus co-founded Crescent in 1991 and played a central role in shaping its investment philosophy across private and tradeable credit. Under his leadership, Crescent grew into a globally recognized credit platform managing tens of billions of dollars and became a key capital partner to private equity sponsors and growth companies.

Michael Milken, financier and philanthropist, is widely recognized as the pioneer of the modern high-yield bond market, reshaping corporate finance and enabling a wave of entrepreneurial growth in the 1980s. After a controversial career at Drexel Burnham Lambert and subsequent legal challenges, Milken redirected his focus toward global health, medical research, and education—founding research institutions, spearheading public-health initiatives, and establishing major philanthropic programs through the Milken Institute. His enduring influence spans financial innovation and large-scale social impact, making him one of the most consequential—and debated—figures in modern business history.

Marc Rowan, cofounder and CEO of Apollo Global Management, is one of the most influential figures in alternative investing, helping build Apollo into a global powerhouse across private equity, credit, and real assets. After beginning his career at Drexel Burnham Lambert, Rowan co-launched Apollo in 1990, developing its reputation for contrarian investing, distressed opportunities, and disciplined capital allocation. As CEO, he has overseen Apollo’s evolution into a diversified asset manager with a strong emphasis on credit, insurance partnerships, and long-term yield strategies. Known for his analytical rigor and understated leadership, Rowan stands at the center of modern private markets.

Lowell Milken, cofounder of Knowledge Universe and a longtime leader in education reform and philanthropy, has built a wide-ranging career focused on improving teaching quality and expanding access to effective learning models. After an early career in law and finance, he helped develop Knowledge Universe into one of the world’s largest private education companies, spanning early childhood learning, professional development, and technology-enabled instruction. As chairman of the Milken Family Foundation, he has created nationally recognized programs such as the Milken Educator Awards and TAP: The System for Teacher and Student Advancement. Known for his strategic vision and commitment to education innovation, Milken is a defining figure in modern philanthropic efforts to strengthen America’s schools.

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.

Antony “Tony” Ressler is a billionaire investor, co-founder of two private equity giants — Apollo Global Management (1990) and Ares Management (1997 )— and principal owner of the NBA’s Atlanta Hawks. A Georgetown-educated financier, he built an empire across credit, private equity, and real estate, and channels his wealth into philanthropy, education, and the arts.