Joseph Steinberg, longtime chairman of Jefferies Financial Group and one of the most enduring dealmakers on Wall Street, helped guide the firm’s evolution from a diversified industrial holding company into a focused, modern financial services enterprise. Joining the predecessor company in the 1970s, Steinberg built a reputation for disciplined capital allocation, opportunistic acquisitions, and a value-driven investment philosophy that generated strong long-term returns. Over decades, he influenced Jefferies’ strategic direction, its expansion into investment banking and asset management, and oversaw major portfolio transformations. Known for his analytical rigor, understated leadership, and shareholder-oriented governance, Steinberg remains a defining figure in the firm’s history and a respected voice in American finance.

Christian Dumolin, chairman and co-ceo of Koramic Investment Group, is one of Belgium’s most respected industrial and investment leaders, known for transforming a traditional brick-manufacturing company into a diversified European holding with interests spanning real estate, manufacturing, financial services, and private equity. After joining the family business in the 1970s, he led its international expansion, later steering Koramic into a broad investment platform focused on long-term value creation and operational excellence. Dumolin has served on numerous corporate boards, becoming a key figure in Belgium’s entrepreneurial landscape, while his philanthropic work in culture, education, and regional development underscores his influence beyond business.

Joel Greenberg, cofounder of Susquehanna International Group (SIG), is one of the most influential and discreet figures in quantitative trading and options market making. Launching SIG in 1987 with a small group of poker-playing colleagues, Greenberg helped pioneer a probabilistic, game-theory-driven approach to trading that became the firm’s hallmark and propelled it into a global powerhouse across equities, options, fixed income, private equity, and venture capital. Known for his analytical rigor and long-term investment vision, he also helped lead major early bets such as SIG’s stake in ByteDance. Greenberg remains a defining, though intentionally low-profile, architect of the modern quantitative finance ecosystem.

Joe Ricketts, billionaire entrepreneur and philanthropist, is the founder of TD Ameritrade, the online brokerage he launched in 1975 and grew into one of America’s largest trading platforms through early adoption of discount brokerage, digital tools, and retail investor empowerment. After taking the company public and expanding it through major acquisitions, Ricketts became a prominent figure in finance and later sold TD Ameritrade to Charles Schwab in a landmark multibillion-dollar deal. Beyond business, he has invested heavily in journalism, conservation, and civic initiatives through the Ricketts family foundation, and the family also owns the Chicago Cubs. Ricketts remains a defining voice in entrepreneurship, public policy, and philanthropy.

Jeffrey Sprecher, founder, chairman, and CEO of Intercontinental Exchange (ICE), has built one of the most powerful and influential financial infrastructure companies in the world. Starting in 2000 with a small online energy marketplace, he transformed ICE into a global exchange and data powerhouse through bold acquisitions—including NYSE Euronext, bringing the New York Stock Exchange under his leadership. Sprecher’s disciplined approach to technology, clearing, and market structure has reshaped modern trading across commodities, equities, and fixed income. Widely regarded as a visionary architect of today’s financial markets, he continues to drive innovation at the intersection of finance and technology.

Pedro Franceschi, Brazilian-born entrepreneur and technologist, is the cofounder and co-CEO of Brex, a fintech company transforming how startups and enterprises manage credit and financial services. A coding prodigy from a young age, he gained early recognition for developing tools to bring Siri to non-Apple devices before joining forces with Henrique Dubugras to launch Brex in Silicon Valley. Together, they scaled the company into a multibillion-dollar fintech platform, making Franceschi one of the youngest self-made billionaires and a leading voice in the future of global finance and technology.

Henrique Dubugras, Brazilian-born entrepreneur, is the cofounder and co-CEO of Brex, the fintech company revolutionizing corporate credit cards and financial services for startups and enterprises. A tech prodigy, he launched his first startup as a teenager before moving to Silicon Valley, where he and cofounder Pedro Franceschi built Brex into a multibillion-dollar company backed by leading investors. Known for his sharp vision and ability to scale fast-growing businesses, Dubugras has become a defining figure in the new wave of fintech, bridging Silicon Valley innovation with global entrepreneurship.

Hayes Barnard, founder, chairman, and CEO of GoodLeap, has emerged as a major force in sustainable finance by creating one of America’s leading platforms for solar and home efficiency lending. Starting his career in mortgage and financial services, Barnard launched GoodLeap to connect homeowners with affordable financing for clean energy upgrades, while enabling installers and contractors to scale their businesses. The company has facilitated tens of billions in loans for solar panels, batteries, and energy-efficient products, positioning Barnard as a visionary driving both profitability and impact in the transition to renewable energy.

Hartley Rogers, chairman of Hamilton Lane, has guided the investment management firm into a global leader in private markets solutions. With decades of experience in private equity and alternative investments, he helped scale Hamilton Lane’s platform to manage and advise on hundreds of billions in assets for institutional clients worldwide. Known for his strategic leadership and deep industry expertise, Rogers has positioned the firm at the forefront of private markets investing, while also serving on boards and engaging in philanthropic initiatives.

Edward Scott “Eddie” Lampert is an American billionaire investor and founder of ESL Investments, established in 1988 after stints at Goldman Sachs and backing from Richard Rainwater. He famously orchestrated the merger of Kmart and Sears in 2005 and led Sears Holdings until 2019, after acquiring it via bankruptcy auction through Transformco. His record has been polarizing—praised for contrarian success at AutoZone and AutoNation, yet widely criticized for Sears’ collapse.

Edward Johnson IV is an American billionaire heir and real‑estate executive in the Johnson family, which owns and controls Fidelity Investments. As President of Pembroke Real Estate—Fidelity’s global real-estate arm—he directs high-value acquisitions and developments including Boston’s Seaport Place. He also holds roughly 5–10 % of FMR LLC.

David M. Siegel is an American computer scientist turned investor who co-founded Two Sigma Investments in 2001 alongside John Overdeck. With a PhD in Computer Science from MIT and early roles at D. E. Shaw and Tudor, Siegel helped build Two Sigma into a quant trading powerhouse managing roughly $60 billion in assets. He now serves as co-chairman and leads the firm’s technology and philanthropy initiatives through the Siegel Family Endowment.

David E. Shaw is the Stanford‑trained computer scientist turned Wall Street quant and billionaire founder of D. E. Shaw & Co.. Launched in 1988 with $28 million, the firm pioneered algorithmic trading and grew into one of the world’s largest hedge funds—managing ~$65 billion in assets by 2025. Shaw stepped back from daily operations in 2001 to lead D. E. Shaw Research, advancing computational biochemistry and molecular-dynamics simulations.

David Rubenstein is an American lawyer, billionaire investor, and philanthropist who co-founded The Carlyle Group in 1987. From humble beginnings in Baltimore, he built Carlyle into a global private equity powerhouse managing over $426 billion in assets as of 2023. In 2024, he became principal owner of the MLB’s Baltimore Orioles and chairs numerous institutions including the Kennedy Center (until 2025), Council on Foreign Relations, and the National Gallery of Art.

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. 

Daniel D’Aniello is an American business leader and co‑founder of The Carlyle Group, one of the world’s largest private equity firms. A Syracuse and Harvard University alumnus, he served as vice president at Marriott before launching Carlyle in 1987. A decorated U.S. Navy officer, D’Aniello stepped down as chair in 2018 and now emphasizes philanthropy in veterans’ affairs and higher education. 

Clifford “Cliff” Asness is the co‑founder, Managing Principal & Chief Investment Officer of AQR Capital Management, a quantitative investment firm managing roughly $120 billion in assets. A PhD from the University of Chicago and former Goldman Sachs quant strategist, he popularized factor-based investing and author of influential research on value, momentum, and market efficiency.

Christopher “Kit” Goldsbury is the San Antonio–based billionaire who built his wealth through Pace Foods—taking over the company in 1977, buying it outright in the early ’90s, and selling it in 1994 to Campbell Soup for $1.1 billion. Today he leads Silver Ventures, the investment firm behind San Antonio’s revitalized Pearl Brewery district, and supports education and culinary causes through the Goldsbury Foundation. He keeps a famously low public profile.

J. Christopher “Chris” Flowers is a Harvard‑trained private equity investor and managing director & CEO of J.C. Flowers & Co., the premier global firm specializing in financial‑services investments. A former Goldman Sachs partner, Flowers made his name by steering the Shinsei Bank turnaround and advising AIG and Bank of America during the 2008 financial crisis. His firm has backed marquee deals like OSB, Elephant Insurance, and Jefferson Capital.

Chris Britt is the co-founder and CEO of Chime, the pioneering mobile-first fintech platform launched in 2012 as a fee-free alternative to traditional banking. A Tulane University graduate and former product leader at Visa and Green Dot, Britt scaled Chime to serve over 20 million customers and guided its successful 2025 IPO on Nasdaq (ticker: CHYM), which valued the company at $11.6 billion.