Ric Elias, cofounder and CEO of Red Ventures, built one of the most influential digital media and marketing platforms by combining performance marketing with data-driven consumer acquisition. Since launching Red Ventures in 2000, Elias has expanded the company through disciplined reinvestment and major acquisitions, building a diversified portfolio of well-known brands across travel, finance, and home services, including properties such as The Points Guy and Bankrate. Known for an intense execution culture and long-term ownership mindset, Elias has turned Red Ventures into a powerhouse at the intersection of media, commerce, and analytics.

Ray Dalio, founder of Bridgewater Associates, built the world’s largest hedge fund by combining radical transparency, systematic decision-making, and macroeconomic insight. Starting Bridgewater in 1975 from a small apartment, Dalio developed a research-driven approach to global markets that made the firm a dominant force in institutional investing. Known for pioneering “risk parity,” shaping corporate culture through principles-based management, and sharing frameworks for decision-making, Dalio became one of the most influential thinkers in modern finance. Beyond investing, he is a major philanthropist and an active voice on global economic and geopolitical trends.

Mike Speiser, managing partner at Sutter Hill Ventures, is one of Silicon Valley’s most influential venture capitalists, known for backing category-defining enterprise software and infrastructure companies at their earliest stages. Since joining the storied firm in the late 1990s, Speiser has led or co-led investments in transformative businesses such as Snowflake, Pure Storage, and NVIDIA-backed platforms, helping founders scale from technical breakthroughs to global market leaders. Renowned for Sutter Hill’s concentrated, long-term approach, Speiser combines deep technical insight with board-level stewardship, making him a central figure in the evolution of modern enterprise technology.

Matthew Prince, cofounder and CEO of Cloudflare, is one of the most influential figures in modern internet infrastructure, building a company that now protects and accelerates a significant share of global web traffic. After cofounding Cloudflare in 2009, Prince led its transformation from a security startup into a critical platform providing content delivery, DDoS mitigation, zero-trust security, and edge computing services to millions of websites worldwide. Under his leadership, Cloudflare has become a publicly traded company trusted by governments, enterprises, and developers alike, known for its principled stance on internet resilience, free expression, and cybersecurity. Prince’s blend of technical insight, public advocacy, and long-term vision has positioned him as a central architect of the modern, secure internet.

Mark Stevens, longtime partner at Sequoia Capital and former board member of Nvidia, is one of Silicon Valley’s most influential venture capitalists, known for backing foundational technology companies at critical inflection points. Joining Sequoia in the early 1990s, he helped guide investments in Google, YouTube, LinkedIn, PayPal, and Nvidia, playing an active role in scaling engineering-driven businesses into global leaders. Stevens is particularly associated with Nvidia’s rise, serving on its board for more than a decade as the company evolved into a cornerstone of graphics computing and AI infrastructure. His career reflects Sequoia’s hallmark blend of technical insight, long-term conviction, and quiet but decisive governance.

Mark Pincus, founder and former CEO of Zynga, was a pioneer of social gaming, turning casual games into a mass-market phenomenon on Facebook and mobile platforms. After early ventures in internet services and venture capital, Pincus launched Zynga in 2007, scaling hits like FarmVille and Words With Friends into a multibillion-dollar business that went public in 2011. Known for his aggressive growth strategies and product experimentation, he later stepped back from daily operations while remaining an active investor and entrepreneur through Reinvent Capital. Pincus continues to influence consumer technology at the intersection of gaming, social interaction, and digital monetization.

Mark Jones, cofounder and chief growth officer of Goosehead Insurance, helped build one of the fastest-growing independent insurance agencies in the United States by reinventing how personal insurance is sold and serviced. After decades in the insurance industry, Jones partnered with his son to launch Goosehead in 2003, combining a tech-enabled platform with a franchise model that scaled rapidly nationwide. The company went public in 2018, rewarding its founders with significant wealth and cementing Goosehead as a disruptor in a traditionally fragmented industry. Known for his entrepreneurial grit and deep industry expertise, Jones remains a driving force behind the firm’s expansion and culture.

Leon Black, cofounder of Apollo Global Management, is one of the most accomplished private equity investors of the modern era, known for opportunistic deals, distressed investing, and disciplined capital allocation. After a successful career at Drexel Burnham Lambert, Black launched Apollo in 1990 and built it into a multi-hundred-billion-dollar alternative asset powerhouse spanning private equity, credit, and real assets. His tenure included landmark acquisitions, contrarian bets, and a focus on complex, undervalued situations. Although he stepped down from Apollo’s leadership, Black continues to manage his family office and art collection, remaining an influential figure in finance and philanthropy.

Lawrence Golub, founder and CEO of Golub Capital, built one of the largest private credit firms in the United States, specializing in direct lending to middle-market companies and providing financing for private equity buyouts. Since launching the firm in 1994, he has overseen the growth of a multibillion-dollar platform known for consistent performance, deep sponsor relationships, and disciplined risk management. Golub Capital has become a key player in leveraged finance, rivaling major banks in unitranche and senior loan markets. Beyond business, Golub is active in philanthropy, public policy, and education, serving on nonprofit boards and donating to health and academic institutions.

Josh Kushner, founder and managing partner of Thrive Capital, is one of the most influential venture investors of his generation, backing category-defining companies across fintech, healthcare, and consumer technology. Since launching Thrive in 2009, he has led early or transformative investments in firms such as Instagram, Stripe, Spotify, GitHub, and OpenAI, building Thrive into a multi-billion-dollar venture platform known for disciplined underwriting and long-horizon conviction. Kushner is also the cofounder of Oscar Health, a technology-driven insurer reshaping the U.S. healthcare landscape. With a rare combination of entrepreneurial experience, investment acumen, and strategic clarity, he has become a central force in shaping the next era of digital innovation.

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.

Jonathan M. Nelson, founder and managing partner of Providence Equity Partners, has built one of the world’s most successful private equity firms specializing in media, communications, education, and technology investments. Since founding Providence in 1989, he has overseen hundreds of transactions and managed billions in assets, backing major companies like Hulu, Univision, Warner Music Group, and Sotheby’s. Known for long-term sector-focused investing and operational support, Nelson has shaped entire industries—particularly media and telecom—while steering Providence as a top-tier global investment house.

John Paulson, founder of Paulson & Co., is one of the most storied figures in modern hedge fund history, best known for his legendary 2007 bet against subprime mortgages that generated profits of more than $15 billion and made him a symbol of prescient, contrarian investing. After building his firm on merger arbitrage and event-driven strategies, Paulson’s success in the financial crisis cemented his reputation as a master of timing and risk management. In recent years, he has shifted toward private investments and family-office operations while becoming a major philanthropist across healthcare, education, and the arts. Paulson’s rise from modest beginnings to one of the wealthiest hedge fund investors underscores the enduring power of disciplined conviction in global markets.

John Foley, cofounder and former CEO of Peloton, turned a home-fitness concept into a global connected workout phenomenon by merging high-end hardware with subscription media. After launching Peloton in 2012 through Kickstarter, Foley pushed a bold bet on streaming-based fitness communities, leading the company through rapid growth, a blockbuster IPO, and a surge in demand during the pandemic. Known for visionary product design and premium branding, he later stepped down amid supply-chain and post-pandemic challenges but remains a defining figure in the evolution of consumer wellness technology. Through subsequent ventures in textiles and wellness, Foley continues to pursue innovation at the intersection of lifestyle, brand, and retail.

John Doerr, chairman of Kleiner Perkins, is one of the most influential venture capitalists in Silicon Valley, backing industry-defining companies that helped shape the modern internet and clean-tech revolutions. Since joining the firm in 1980 after a successful career at Intel, he led investments in Amazon, Google, Netscape, Sun Microsystems, and later climate-focused innovators such as Beyond Meat and QuantumScape. Doerr is also a leading voice for mission-driven entrepreneurship, championing OKR management frameworks and ambitious climate policy through philanthropy and his book Speed & Scale. His decades-long impact continues to steer technology, leadership, and climate innovation on a global scale.

Joe Shoen, longtime chairman and CEO of AMERCO, the parent company of U-Haul, has spent decades shaping one of America’s most iconic consumer and logistics brands. Taking the helm in 1986 after a highly publicized family dispute, Shoen streamlined operations, expanded the truck and trailer fleet, and strengthened U-Haul’s nationwide network of rental centers, storage facilities, and retail locations. Under his leadership, the company grew into the dominant force in do-it-yourself moving and storage, serving millions of customers each year. Known for his frugal discipline, operational focus, and deep understanding of middle-class America, Shoen remains one of the most enduring and influential leaders in the transportation and self-storage industries.

Jeff Greene, billionaire real estate investor, built his fortune by making one of the most successful bets against the U.S. housing market before the 2008 financial crisis, using credit default swaps to hedge his property portfolio. After the crash, he expanded his holdings across South Florida, Los Angeles, and New York, developing and acquiring high-end residential, commercial, and hospitality properties. Known for his contrarian instincts and disciplined approach to leverage, Greene has also pursued ventures in education and sustainability while maintaining an active role in philanthropy and public policy. His investments continue to shape key real estate markets nationwide.

James Breyer, founder and CEO of Breyer Capital, is one of the most successful venture capitalists of his generation, known for early investments in transformative technology companies. As a former partner at Accel Partners, he led the firm’s landmark investment in Facebook, which became one of the most profitable bets in venture history. Through Breyer Capital, he continues to back leading innovators in artificial intelligence, media, and healthcare. With deep ties to both Silicon Valley and China, Breyer has built a global reputation as a visionary investor bridging technology, policy, and capital.

Irving Grousbeck, entrepreneur, investor, and academic, is best known as cofounder of Continental Cablevision, which grew into one of the largest cable television companies in the United States before its sale to US West. After his success in media, he became a prominent figure in academia, serving as a professor at Harvard Business School and later at Stanford Graduate School of Business, where he helped launch the school’s Center for Entrepreneurial Studies. Grousbeck is also a co-owner of the NBA’s Boston Celtics and remains influential in shaping both the entrepreneurial and investment landscapes.

Holden Spaht, managing partner at Thoma Bravo, is a leading figure in private equity with a focus on software and technology investments. Since joining the firm in 2005, he has played a key role in building Thoma Bravo into one of the world’s largest and most successful software-focused buyout firms, managing over $130 billion in assets. Spaht has overseen major deals across enterprise software, cybersecurity, and fintech, earning a reputation for his disciplined investment approach and ability to scale technology businesses.