Marc Lasry, cofounder and CEO of Avenue Capital Group, is one of the most recognized figures in distressed-debt investing, building a multibillion-dollar platform focused on undervalued and special-situation assets around the world. After early success at Amroc Investments, Lasry launched Avenue in 1995 with his sister Sonia, developing a global reputation for navigating complex restructurings and capitalizing on market dislocations. Beyond finance, he is known for his high-profile role in professional sports as former co-owner of the Milwaukee Bucks, helping oversee the team’s rise to NBA championship status. Lasry’s mix of investment discipline, global perspective, and civic engagement has made him a defining voice in alternative assets.

Louis Bacon, founder of Moore Capital Management, is one of the most accomplished global macro hedge fund managers of his generation, known for combining rigorous risk control with deep geopolitical and economic insight. Since launching Moore in 1989, he delivered decades of strong returns through disciplined trading in currencies, commodities, rates, and equities, becoming a defining figure in the macro-trading world. Beyond finance, Bacon is a major conservation philanthropist, protecting vast tracts of land in the U.S. and the Caribbean through the Moore Charitable Foundation. His blend of trading mastery, discretion, and environmental stewardship has made him a singular presence in global finance.

Leon Cooperman, founder of Omega Advisors, is one of Wall Street’s most respected value investors, known for decades of disciplined stock-picking and outspoken market commentary. After a long career at Goldman Sachs, where he led the asset management division, Cooperman launched Omega in 1991 and produced strong returns through concentrated, research-driven investing in equities and credit. Though he has since converted Omega into a family office, he remains active in markets and philanthropy, donating hundreds of millions to education, medical research, and Jewish causes. Cooperman’s blend of candor, conviction, and lifelong commitment to investing has made him a defining figure in the hedge fund era.

Lee Ainslie, founder and managing partner of Maverick Capital, is one of the most successful hedge fund managers from the original Tiger Cub generation, known for disciplined stock-picking, sector specialization, and rigorous research. After training under Julian Robertson at Tiger Management, Ainslie launched Maverick in 1993 and built it into a multibillion-dollar long/short equity platform with deep expertise in technology, healthcare, and consumer companies. Over three decades, he has produced strong returns with a patient, fundamentals-driven approach and an internal culture that emphasizes analytical depth and risk control. Ainslie is also active in philanthropy and governance, serving on nonprofit boards and promoting educational initiatives.

Larry Robbins, founder and CEO of Glenview Capital Management, is one of the most respected hedge fund managers in healthcare and event-driven investing. After early success at Leon Cooperman’s Omega Advisors, Robbins launched Glenview in 2000 and built a reputation for deep industry research, concentrated positions, and long-term conviction—particularly in hospitals, insurers, and medical services. His activist work has influenced major healthcare operators, while his philanthropic efforts in education, through the Robbins Family Foundation, focus on charter schools and educational reform. Known for patient, fundamental investing and outspoken views on healthcare policy, Robbins remains a defining figure in the sector.

Karthik Sarma, founder of SRS Investment Management, is the hedge fund manager who turned a concentrated activist position in Avis Budget Group into one of the most spectacular investment wins of the past decade. After founding SRS in 2006, the former Tiger Cub built a reputation for deep, research-driven conviction, long time horizons, and strategic influence behind the scenes. His most famous trade—SRS’s stake in Avis—generated multibillion-dollar gains as the company’s market value surged, making Sarma one of the top-earning hedge fund managers in America. Known for his low profile, analytical intensity, and disciplined patience, he has become a defining figure in modern activist investing.

Julian Baker, cofounder of Baker Bros. Advisors, is one of the most successful investors in the biotechnology industry, building a multibillion-dollar hedge fund focused on high-conviction positions in drug development and life sciences. Together with his brother Felix, he has backed breakthrough therapeutics and major biotech companies including Seagen, Incyte, and Alexion, often taking large, long-term positions and working closely with management teams. Known for rigorous scientific analysis, patience, and a deep understanding of clinical risk, Baker has become a central figure in biotech capital markets, influencing the trajectory of drug innovation while maintaining one of the top track records in the sector.

Joseph Edelman, founder and CEO of Perceptive Advisors, is one of the most successful and influential biotech hedge fund managers of the modern era. Since launching the firm in 1999, he has built Perceptive into a multibillion-dollar powerhouse specializing in life sciences, backing breakthrough companies across biotechnology, medical devices, and healthcare innovation. Known for his deep scientific understanding, high-conviction portfolio strategy, and early identification of transformative therapies, Edelman has consistently ranked among the top performers in healthcare investing. His disciplined, research-driven approach has made Perceptive a critical source of capital for emerging biotech and a defining force in the global life sciences ecosystem.

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 Overdeck, cofounder and co-chairman of Two Sigma, is one of the key architects of quantitative hedge fund investing, bringing machine learning, distributed computing, and massive data science into the heart of portfolio management. After an award-winning math background and early leadership roles at D.E. Shaw and Amazon, he partnered with David Siegel in 2001 to build Two Sigma into a global multi-strategy platform managing tens of billions across equities, private investments, insurance tech, venture capital, and market-making. A champion of mathematics and education, Overdeck is also a leading philanthropist through the Overdeck Family Foundation, advancing STEM learning and research at scale.

John Liew, cofounder of AQR Capital Management, is one of the intellectual architects behind quantitative investing, helping bring academic finance into large-scale asset management. Working alongside Cliff Asness and David Kabiller, Liew transformed ideas rooted in factor research, risk premia, and systematic portfolio construction into a multi-hundred-billion-dollar investment platform serving institutions worldwide. With a PhD from the University of Chicago under Nobel laureates, he has championed evidence-based strategies in equities, alternatives, and global macro, while remaining a leading voice in the dialogue between academia and asset management. Liew’s work has been pivotal in cementing quant finance as a mainstream discipline.

John Griffin, founder of Blue Ridge Capital, became one of the most respected hedge fund managers of his generation through his disciplined long/short equity strategy and reputation for deep fundamental research. A protégé of legendary investor Julian Robertson at Tiger Management, Griffin launched Blue Ridge in 1996 and built it into a multi-billion-dollar “Tiger Cub” fund known for concentrated bets on high-quality growth companies and sharp downside hedging. After closing the fund in 2017 to devote himself to philanthropy, he became CEO of Blue Ridge Foundation and a leading donor to education and medical research, combining investment principles with data-driven social impact initiatives.

John Arnold, former hedge fund trader and cofounder of Arnold Ventures, built one of the most successful careers in energy trading before devoting his wealth to large-scale philanthropy. After rising quickly at Enron’s trading desk, he launched Centaurus Energy in 2002 and became known for prescient bets on natural gas markets that produced billions in profits, earning a reputation as one of the most skilled traders of his generation. Retiring from finance in his 30s, Arnold shifted his focus to philanthropic work through Arnold Ventures, targeting data-driven policy reform in criminal justice, healthcare, education, and public finance. His rare trajectory from billionaire trader to systems-change philanthropist has made him a uniquely influential figure in both markets and public policy.

Jeffrey Talpins, founder, CEO and Chief Investment Officer of Element Capital Management, is a leading architect of the “modern macro” hedge fund era. Launching Element in 2005 after distinguished fixed-income roles at Goldman Sachs and Citigroup, Talpins built the firm into a multi-billion-dollar platform famed for its disciplined, systematic global-macro strategies and strong historical performance. Under his leadership, Element returned 21 % annualized since inception and at one point managed over $18 billion in assets. Talpins also channels his success into high-impact philanthropy, including conservation, education, and peace initiatives through the Jeffrey M. Talpins Foundation.

Jamie Dinan, founder and CEO of York Capital Management, is one of the most respected figures in the hedge fund world, known for his disciplined event-driven and distressed investing strategies. After losing his entire savings during the 1987 market crash, Dinan rebuilt his career and launched York in 1991 with just $3.6 million, growing it into a multibillion-dollar global firm with offices in New York, London, and Hong Kong. Renowned for his resilience, rigorous analysis, and long-term perspective, Dinan also holds ownership stakes in major sports franchises and is an active philanthropist in education and healthcare.

Israel Englander, billionaire hedge fund manager, is the founder and CEO of Millennium Management, one of the world’s largest and most successful multi-strategy hedge funds. Launching the firm in 1989 with $35 million, he has grown Millennium into a powerhouse managing more than $50 billion in assets, employing a decentralized model with hundreds of portfolio managers. Known for his risk management discipline and ability to adapt to shifting markets, Englander has built a reputation as one of the most influential figures in modern hedge fund investing.

Greg Jensen, co–chief investment officer of Bridgewater Associates, helps oversee the world’s largest hedge fund with more than $150 billion under management. Joining the firm in 1996, he rose through the ranks under founder Ray Dalio to become one of Bridgewater’s top strategists, shaping its macroeconomic research and investment frameworks. Known for his analytical rigor and role in refining the firm’s “Principles”-driven culture, Jensen has been instrumental in maintaining Bridgewater’s dominance in global macro investing and guiding its long-term strategic direction.

Glenn Dubin, billionaire hedge fund manager and philanthropist, cofounded Highbridge Capital Management in 1992, growing it into one of the world’s premier alternative investment firms before selling a majority stake to JPMorgan Chase in 2004. After leaving Highbridge, he launched Dubin & Co., a private investment firm with interests spanning energy, healthcare, and consumer businesses. Known for his disciplined approach to investing and extensive philanthropic commitments in health, education, and community development, Dubin has cemented his reputation as both a savvy financier and committed benefactor.

O. Francis Biondi, cofounder of King Street Capital Management, launched the hedge fund in 1995 alongside fellow First Boston alum Brian Higgins, building it into a global powerhouse with over $25 billion in assets under management. Specializing in contrarian plays across stocks and bonds, the firm became a dominant force in distressed and value investing. Biondi retired in 2020 but retained his ownership stake, cementing his legacy as a shrewd investor and architect of one of the most respected names in alternative asset management.

Felix Baker is a highly influential biotech-focused investor and co-founder of Baker Brothers Advisors, a leading hedge fund specializing in healthcare and biotechnology investing. Through his firm, established in 2000, Felix manages over $20 billion in assets and helped generate an estimated $8 billion gain from early investments in Seagen. A PhD immunologist and Stanford alumnus, he also serves on boards of key biotech companies and contributes to Stanford’s biosciences initiatives.