Tom Steyer is a billionaire businessman, climate activist, and prominent candidate in the 2026 California gubernatorial election. After building his fortune as the founder of the hedge fund Farallon Capital, he pivoted to full-time advocacy, founding NextGen America to mobilize young voters on issues like climate change and social justice. In late 2025, he launched his bid to succeed Gavin Newsom, framing himself as a "populist billionaire" focused on tackling California's affordability crisis and pledging to build one million affordable homes. To focus on his campaign, he took a formal leave of absence from his leadership role at Galvanize Climate Solutions, the investment firm he co-founded with Secretary John Kerry to finance the global energy transition.

Stanley Druckenmiller is a legendary figure in global finance, widely regarded as one of the most successful hedge fund managers in history through his Duquesne Family Office and former leadership at Soros Fund Management. He gained international fame as George Soros’s chief strategist, playing a pivotal role in the 1992 "breaking of the Bank of England" by shorting the British pound. Throughout his career, Druckenmiller achieved an unprecedented record of zero losing years over three decades, managing billions with a focus on macroeconomic trends, currencies, and equities. A committed philanthropist, he has donated hundreds of millions to medical research, education, and poverty fight through the Druckenmiller Foundation and the Robin Hood Foundation.

Roger Penske, founder and chairman of Penske Corporation, built one of the most influential transportation and automotive empires in the world, spanning truck leasing, logistics, dealerships, and motorsports. A racing legend turned industrial operator, Penske scaled Penske Truck Leasing and Penske Automotive Group into global leaders through disciplined execution and operational excellence. He is also an iconic force in racing as owner of Team Penske and steward of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and IndyCar, extending his impact from business to the very infrastructure of American motorsport. Penske’s career is defined by precision, scale, and relentless performance.

Evan Spiegel co‑founded Snap Inc. (initially Snapchat) in 2011 while studying product design at Stanford. Under his leadership, Snap evolved into a global social media firm with ~400+ million daily users, launching viral innovations like Stories and AR lenses. Spiegel holds over 95 % of Snap’s voting power alongside co‑founder Bobby Murphy and remains its CEO. He also supports youth arts and education through the Spiegel Family Fund with his wife Miranda Kerr.

J. Christopher “Chris” Burch is an American entrepreneur and investor who founded Burch Creative Capital and co-founded Tory Burch LLC. A self-made billionaire, he started with Eagle’s Eye apparel—sold for $60 million—and built a diverse investment portfolio spanning fashion (BaubleBar, STAUD), hospitality (Faena Hotel + Universe, Nihiwatu resort), and consumer tech (Jawbone, Poppin). Known for his artistic aesthetic and creative ventures, he also launched C. Wonder and invests globally in lifestyle and venture brands.

Charlie Ergen is the co‑founder and chairman of Dish Network and EchoStar. After launching the business in 1980 with just $60,000 and satellite dishes from the back of a truck, he built a telecommunications empire. Known for his frugality, poker ethos, and bold bids for wireless spectrum, Ergen now oversees major satellite, broadband, and wireless initiatives. He has climbed Everest, supports mountain-climbing causes, and continues to wield outsized influence in media and telecom.