Hansjörg Wyss, Swiss billionaire and philanthropist, built his fortune through medical device maker Synthes, which he sold to Johnson & Johnson for nearly $20 billion in 2012. An engineer by training, Wyss expanded Synthes into a global leader in orthopedic implants before turning his focus to large-scale philanthropy. Through the Wyss Foundation, he has committed billions to environmental conservation, scientific research, and public interest journalism, becoming one of the world’s most influential advocates for protecting wild lands and advancing sustainable solutions.

Hamilton “Tony” James, veteran financier and former executive vice chairman of Blackstone, played a central role in building the firm into the world’s largest alternative asset manager. Joining Blackstone in 2002 after a long career at Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette and Credit Suisse, he helped drive its expansion across private equity, real estate, credit, and hedge fund solutions. Known for his strategic vision and operational discipline, James also became a trusted voice in public policy and philanthropy, cementing his reputation as one of Wall Street’s most influential dealmakers.

Edward Perry “Ed” Bass is a Texas oil heir, financier, philanthropist, and environmental advocate. A Yale alumnus, he is the chairman of venture firm Fine Line and co-founded the avant‑garde Biosphere 2 project in Arizona. He spearheaded Fort Worth’s Sundance Square urban renewal, built the acclaimed Bass Performance Hall, and oversees conservation land holdings across Kansas prairies through his Philecology Trust. 

David Filo is an American engineer‑entrepreneur best known for co‑founding Yahoo! alongside Stanford classmate Jerry Yang in 1995. As the company’s “Chief Yahoo,” he led the engineering behind early web directories and services. A Sam Houston High and Tulane graduate who earned a master’s in electrical engineering from Stanford, Filo grew Yahoo into an internet pioneer and became a billionaire after its IPO. A longtime tech philanthropist, he has donated millions to sustainability and journalism initiatives.

Craig McCaw is an American telecom visionary who transformed his family’s cable-TV company into McCaw Cellular, pioneering U.S. mobile networks in the 1980s. After selling the business to AT&T in 1994 for over $11 billion, he went on to build Nextel, Clearwire, and other wireless ventures—shaping modern cell-phone infrastructure. A Stanford graduate and dyslexia survivor, he continues investing through Eagle River Inc. and supports environmental, education, and tech philanthropy.

Chris Sacca is an American investor, entrepreneur, and former Google executive who founded Lowercase Capital, backing early-stage winners like Twitter, Uber, Instagram, Twilio, Stripe, and Kickstarter. After retiring from tech investing in 2017, he returned in 2021 through Lowercarbon Capital, channeling capital into startups focused on climate solutions and energy innovation.

Byron Trott is the founder, chairman and co‑CEO of BDT & MSD Partners, a high-end merchant bank advising and investing alongside family‑ and founder‑led firms. A former Goldman Sachs vice chairman turned confidant to billionaires including Warren Buffett and Michael Dell, Trott built his firm into a discreet powerhouse managing over $33 billion in capital. He is also a committed philanthropist and trustee at the University of Chicago, and current president emeritus of the Horatio Alger Association.

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

Christy Walton is an American billionaire philanthropist, best known as the widow of John T. Walton, one of the sons of Walmart founder Sam Walton. After her husband's death in 2005, she inherited his fortune and became one of the richest women in the world. She is recognized for her significant philanthropic contributions, particularly in education, and environmental causes.