Nicolas Berggruen, investor and philanthropist, built a global reputation as a contrarian thinker blending capital, policy, and long-term societal vision. Founder of Berggruen Holdings and the Berggruen Institute, he has invested across real estate, finance, and special situations while championing ideas around governance reform, technology, and globalization. Known for his unconventional lifestyle and intellectual focus, Berggruen has positioned himself less as a traditional financier and more as a patron of cross-disciplinary thought, convening global leaders to address structural challenges facing modern societies.

Nicholas Woodman, founder and CEO of GoPro, created one of the most recognizable consumer electronics brands by turning a simple idea—capturing action sports from the participant’s perspective—into a global media and hardware platform. After an early surfing trip inspired the original camera mount, Woodman built GoPro into a publicly traded company whose rugged cameras became synonymous with adventure, user-generated content, and immersive storytelling. Under his leadership, GoPro expanded beyond hardware into software, subscriptions, and content ecosystems, shaping how millions document and share experiences. Woodman’s entrepreneurial journey reflects persistence, product obsession, and the power of creator-driven media.

Mortimer Zuckerman, real estate magnate, media executive, and investor, built a multifaceted career spanning property development, publishing, and public policy influence. As longtime chairman and CEO of Boston Properties, he helped create one of the largest publicly traded office real estate investment trusts in the United States, shaping skylines in New York, Boston, and Washington, D.C. In parallel, Zuckerman became a prominent media figure as owner and editor-in-chief of U.S. News & World Report and publisher of the New York Daily News, using his platforms to weigh in on economics, foreign policy, and urban affairs. His career reflects a rare blend of large-scale real estate execution and national media influence.

Micky Arison, chairman of Carnival Corporation, built the world’s largest cruise company into a dominant force in global leisure travel while also shaping professional sports as owner of the Miami Heat. After taking the helm of his family’s cruise business, Arison expanded Carnival through scale, brand diversification, and operational efficiency, overseeing multiple marquee cruise lines and a vast global fleet. Beyond travel, he transformed the Heat into an NBA powerhouse with multiple championships, applying a disciplined, culture-driven ownership style. Known for a low public profile and long-term focus, Arison remains one of the most influential figures in hospitality and sports ownership.

Mark Cuban, entrepreneur, investor, and owner of the Dallas Mavericks, is one of the most recognizable figures in American business, known for turning bold bets into transformative ventures. After selling Broadcast.com to Yahoo! at the height of the dot-com boom, Cuban built a diversified portfolio spanning sports, media, technology, and healthcare. He later disrupted pharmaceutical pricing through the Mark Cuban Cost Plus Drug Company, applying direct-to-consumer economics to lower drug costs. Outspoken, data-driven, and intensely competitive, Cuban blends venture investing with consumer advocacy, making him a defining personality in modern entrepreneurship.

Jerry Jones, billionaire businessman and owner of the Dallas Cowboys, transformed the franchise into the most valuable team in global sports through bold management, aggressive marketing, and a relentless focus on brand expansion. Since purchasing the Cowboys in 1989, Jones has overseen multiple Super Bowl victories, built state-of-the-art facilities like AT&T Stadium and The Star in Frisco, and reshaped NFL business economics through media deals and sponsorship innovation. A polarizing yet visionary figure, he has turned the Cowboys into a cultural and commercial powerhouse while becoming one of the most influential owners in professional sports.

Barry Zekelman, executive chairman and CEO of Zekelman Industries, leads North America’s largest independent steel pipe and tube manufacturer, a company he and his family built into a dominant force in the industrial and construction supply chain. After taking over the business at a young age following his father’s passing, Zekelman expanded the company through bold acquisitions, vertical integration, and major investments in advanced U.S. manufacturing. Known for his outspoken advocacy of domestic industry and blue-collar jobs, he has positioned Zekelman Industries as a key supplier to infrastructure, energy, and commercial projects across the continent.

Omar Al Futtaim, vice chairman and CEO of the Al-Futtaim Group, oversees one of the Middle East’s largest and most diversified conglomerates, with operations spanning automotive, retail, real estate, finance, and logistics. Under his leadership, the Dubai-based family empire—known for partnerships with brands such as Toyota, Lexus, IKEA, and Marks & Spencer—has expanded across the Middle East, Asia, and Africa. Al Futtaim has guided the group’s transformation through digital modernization, large-scale real estate developments, and strategic global acquisitions, solidifying its position as a cornerstone of regional commerce and one of the UAE’s most influential private enterprises.

James Clark, pioneering computer scientist and serial entrepreneur, has founded some of Silicon Valley’s most transformative companies. As cofounder of Silicon Graphics, Netscape, and Healtheon, Clark played a pivotal role in shaping modern computing, the internet, and digital health. His early vision helped usher in the dot-com era, with Netscape’s 1995 IPO marking a defining moment in tech history. Beyond business, Clark has devoted much of his wealth to scientific research, education, and ocean conservation, establishing himself as both an innovator and philanthropist at the intersection of technology and progress.

Ira Rennert, billionaire industrialist, is the founder of Renco Group, a private holding company with investments in mining, metals, manufacturing, and defense. Starting in the 1970s with junk bonds, he expanded into heavy industry, building a diversified empire that has included steel, magnesium, and automotive companies. Known for his controversial business practices as well as his immense wealth, Rennert also drew attention for constructing one of the largest private homes in the United States, the 62,000-square-foot Fair Field estate in the Hamptons. Despite criticism, he remains a powerful and enduring figure in American industry and finance.

Howard Marks, cofounder and co-chairman of Oaktree Capital Management, is one of the most respected investors in distressed debt and value investing. Known for his widely read investment memos, Marks has built a reputation for clear thinking on risk, cycles, and market psychology. Since founding Oaktree in 1995, he has helped grow it into a global alternative asset manager with more than $150 billion under management. Revered by peers like Warren Buffett, Marks combines investment mastery with thought leadership, making him a guiding voice for both professionals and individual investors.

Herb Chambers, self-made billionaire and founder of The Herb Chambers Companies, built one of the largest and most successful auto dealership groups in the United States. Starting with a single Cadillac store in 1985, he expanded into a network of more than 30 dealerships across New England, representing top luxury and premium brands such as Mercedes-Benz, Porsche, and Rolls-Royce. Known for his relentless focus on customer service and sales innovation, Chambers turned a struggling dealership into a multibillion-dollar enterprise, cementing his reputation as one of America’s top automotive entrepreneurs.

David Geffen is an American entertainment mogul, record‑label founder, and philanthropist. He launched Asylum Records (1970), Geffen Records (1980), DGC Records (1990), and co‑founded DreamWorks SKG in 1994. His music and film empire helped define modern pop culture and Hollywood.

Daniel Snyder is the American entrepreneur who founded Snyder Communications and later owned the Washington Commanders (NFL) from 1999 to 2023. He purchased the team for $800 million and controversially sold it for a record $6.05 billion amid investigations, fan backlash, and workplace misconduct scandals that ultimately led to his forced exit. He now resides in London and remains a polarizing sports legacy figure

Daniel Loeb is an American investor, hedge‑fund manager, and founder & CEO of Third Point LLC, a New York‑based activist investment firm launched in 1995 with ~$3–4 million in capital. Renowned for his scathing public letters and event‑driven strategy, he has built Third Point into a multi‑billion‑dollar fund and a major force in corporate turnarounds and governance reform. He is also a philanthropist active in education and civil‑rights causes.

Arthur Blank is the co‑founder of The Home Depot and the visionary behind the Blank family’s $10 billion enterprise, including the Atlanta Falcons, Atlanta United FC, Mercedes‑Benz Stadium, PGA TOUR Superstore, and Montana guest ranches. A Babson College graduate and committed philanthropist, Blank has given over $1 billion through his family foundation and led a $200 million donation to Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta.

Anthony Hsieh is the serial entrepreneur behind loanDepot, the fourth-largest non-bank mortgage lender in the U.S. A seasoned innovator in online lending, he created LoansDirect and HomeLoanCenter before launching loanDepot in 2010. After its 2021 IPO, he recently returned as Executive Chairman to guide mortgage originations and navigate a leadership transition.

Alfonso Fanjul Jr. is the Chairman and CEO of Fanjul Corp., a privately held sugar and real estate conglomerate with deep roots in both Cuba and the United States. As the public face of the Fanjul family empire, he oversees Florida Crystals and Domino Sugar, playing a pivotal role in the U.S. sugar industry. Known for his political connections, philanthropic activity, and low public profile, Fanjul has shaped policy and commerce in agriculture and beyond.

Stephen M. Ross is a real estate magnate, philanthropist, and sports team owner known for founding Related Companies, the real estate firm behind iconic projects like Hudson Yards, and for owning the Miami Dolphins. With a significant influence in real estate, sports, and philanthropy.

Lakshmi Mittal is an Indian-born British business tycoon and the chairman and CEO of ArcelorMittal, the largest steelmaking company globally. His strategic acquisitions and innovative approaches have significantly shaped the global steel industry. Beyond business, Mittal is known for his philanthropic endeavors, especially in education and healthcare.