Marcelo Claure, entrepreneur and investor, is best known for building Brightstar into one of the world’s largest wireless distribution companies and for his high-profile leadership roles in global telecommunications. After founding Brightstar in 1997, Claure expanded it into a multibillion-dollar enterprise operating in more than 50 countries, later selling a majority stake to SoftBank. He went on to serve as CEO of Sprint, where he led a multiyear turnaround, and later became chief operating officer of SoftBank Group, overseeing global investments across technology, telecom, and startups. Known for his intense execution style and dealmaking acumen, Claure remains a central figure in international business and private investment.

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.

Manoj Bhargava, founder of 5-Hour Energy, built one of the most successful consumer-products businesses of the past two decades by transforming a simple concept—portable, fast-acting energy—into a multibillion-dollar category. A former monk turned entrepreneur, Bhargava grew the brand through relentless distribution, aggressive marketing, and a deep instinct for mass-market demand. After achieving massive commercial success, he shifted much of his focus to philanthropy and problem-solving, funding large-scale projects in clean energy, water purification, and rural development through his Billions in Change initiative. Bhargava remains a rare figure who pairs entrepreneurial boldness with an equally ambitious commitment to global impact.

Leonid Radvinsky, entrepreneur and owner of Fenix International, transformed OnlyFans into one of the most profitable creator platforms in the digital economy. With a background in building subscription-based and user-generated content businesses, Radvinsky acquired OnlyFans in 2018 and oversaw its explosive growth, turning it into a multibillion-dollar marketplace where creators directly monetize their audiences. His strategy centered on frictionless payments, global accessibility, and empowering creators with high revenue shares. Despite maintaining an extremely low public profile, Radvinsky remains a pivotal figure in the creator economy, shaping how digital content is produced, distributed, and monetized.

Leo KoGuan, billionaire entrepreneur and founder of SHI International, built one of America’s largest privately held IT services companies, supplying software, cloud infrastructure, and enterprise solutions to Fortune 500 clients. A bold technology investor, he is also known as one of the biggest individual shareholders of Tesla, publicly advocating for the company’s mission and long-term strategy. Born in Indonesia and educated in the United States, KoGuan combines global business reach with significant philanthropy, supporting universities, research, and cultural institutions across Asia and the U.S. His career reflects scale, conviction, and a relentless focus on technological progress.

Kieu Hoang, Vietnamese-American entrepreneur and former refugee, built a major fortune in medical diagnostics before becoming a high-profile philanthropist and luxury lifestyle investor. After immigrating to the United States with very little, he joined Abbott Laboratories and later founded RAAS, a blood plasma and biotech company that expanded internationally and generated substantial wealth. Hoang went on to acquire and develop vineyards and wineries in Napa Valley and Malibu, combining business with culture, hospitality, and community engagement. Known for his generosity and global perspective, he has donated to health, disaster relief, and cultural causes across Vietnam and the United States.

Kelcy Warren, cofounder and executive chairman of Energy Transfer, built one of North America’s largest pipeline and midstream energy networks through aggressive dealmaking, operational scale, and a deep understanding of U.S. oil and gas logistics. Since launching Energy Transfer in 1996, he has overseen a sweeping expansion across natural gas, crude, and NGL infrastructure, including the development of high-profile projects such as the Dakota Access Pipeline. A self-made billionaire from modest Texas roots, Warren combines engineering discipline with bold acquisitive strategy, while remaining an active philanthropist in education, parks, and music—most notably founding the Texas music venue and nonprofit, Klyde Warren Park in Dallas.

Kavitark Ram Shriram, early Google investor and founding board member, is one of Silicon Valley’s most influential angel investors, helping shape the modern internet economy through strategic backing and mentorship. A veteran of Netscape and Amazon, Shriram was among the earliest believers in Larry Page and Sergey Brin, providing seed capital and guidance that helped Google scale into a global technology giant. Through his family office, Sherpalo Ventures, he has backed dozens of startups across search, AI, ecommerce, and consumer technology, often bringing hands-on operational insight and long-term partnership. Known for his quiet style and deep conviction, Shriram remains a key figure behind some of the most important companies in tech.

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.

Kam Ghaffarian, serial aerospace entrepreneur and physicist, has built some of the most important private companies operating at the edge of human spaceflight. After founding Stinger Ghaffarian Technologies (SGT) and becoming a major NASA contractor, he went on to cofound Axiom Space, which is building the world’s first commercial space station, and Intuitive Machines, a pioneer in lunar landers and deep-space robotics. Ghaffarian combines long-range vision, technical depth, and mission-driven leadership, investing hundreds of millions into commercial space infrastructure and future crewed missions. His work has made him one of the central architects of the emerging private space economy.

Joseph Bae, co-CEO of KKR, is one of the most powerful private equity leaders of his generation, having played a central role in transforming the firm from a classic buyout shop into a diversified global investment powerhouse. Joining KKR in 1996, he spearheaded the firm’s expansion across Asia—building its offices, teams, and flagship funds—before taking on broader leadership of global private equity, growth, credit, and infrastructure platforms. As co-CEO, Bae oversees hundreds of billions in assets and helps set the strategic direction of one of the world’s most influential alternative asset managers. Known for his global mindset, disciplined dealmaking, and talent-building leadership, he remains a defining voice in the evolution of modern private equity.

José E. Feliciano, cofounder and managing partner of Clearlake Capital, is one of the most influential private equity investors of his generation, helping build Clearlake into a top-tier global firm focused on technology, industrials, and consumer businesses. Since launching the firm in 2006 with Behdad Eghbali, Feliciano has overseen a disciplined strategy combining operational transformation with data-driven value creation, driving assets under management to well over $70 billion. A leader in expanding Latino representation in finance, he is also a major philanthropist through the SUPERB and Somos foundations, supporting education, entrepreneurship, and social mobility. Feliciano’s blend of investment rigor, cultural leadership, and long-horizon thinking has made him a defining force in modern private equity.

Jorge Pérez, founder, chairman, and CEO of The Related Group, is widely known as the “Condo King of Miami,” having shaped the modern skyline of South Florida through four decades of large-scale residential development. Since launching the firm in 1979, Pérez has built tens of thousands of luxury, mixed-income, and urban revitalization units across the region, partnering with top global architects and redefining Miami as an international hub of design, culture, and luxury real estate. A major patron of the arts, Pérez played a central role in establishing the Pérez Art Museum Miami and continues to support cultural and community development across the city. His influence spans real estate, philanthropy, and the transformation of Miami into a global destination.

John Catsimatidis, billionaire businessman and founder of the Red Apple Group, built a diversified empire spanning supermarkets, energy, real estate, and aviation. After immigrating to the United States from Greece as a child, he left college to take over a small grocery store and expanded it into the Gristedes supermarket chain, later branching into oil refining and fuel distribution through United Refining. Catsimatidis also became a major New York real estate developer, adding residential towers and mixed-use properties to his portfolio. A prominent political donor, radio host, and philanthropist, he remains one of New York’s most outspoken and influential entrepreneurial figures.

Joe Kiani, founder, chairman, and CEO of Masimo, is a pioneering medical-technology entrepreneur whose innovations in noninvasive monitoring have transformed modern patient care. Since launching Masimo in 1989, he has built the company into a global leader in pulse oximetry and hospital automation, driven by breakthrough signal-processing technology that set new clinical standards worldwide. Kiani has also become a prominent advocate for patient safety and healthcare transparency, founding the Patient Safety Movement Foundation to reduce preventable hospital deaths. With a blend of engineering vision, mission-driven leadership, and bold industry advocacy, he remains one of the most influential figures in medical technology.

Jerry Yang, cofounder of Yahoo!, is one of the earliest architects of the modern internet, helping transform a Stanford hobby project into one of the first global web portals and a defining tech company of the 1990s. After stepping down from Yahoo!, Yang went on to establish AME Cloud Ventures, becoming a major early-stage investor in data-driven startups and emerging technologies. Known for his long-term vision, deep technical roots, and influential role in bridging Silicon Valley with Asian markets, Yang remains a respected entrepreneur, investor, and philanthropist shaping the next generation of innovation.

Jay Chaudhry, founder and CEO of Zscaler, is one of the most successful entrepreneurs in cloud security, having built multiple cybersecurity companies before creating Zscaler in 2007 to redefine how enterprises protect their networks. Born in a small Himalayan village in India with no running water or electricity, Chaudhry immigrated to the U.S., earned multiple engineering and business degrees, and launched a series of security startups acquired by major tech firms. With Zscaler’s zero-trust platform now securing thousands of global enterprises, he has become a leading voice in cloud transformation and one of the wealthiest self-made immigrant founders in Silicon Valley.

Jahm Najafi, Iranian-American investor and philanthropist, is the founder and CEO of The Najafi Companies, a private equity firm specializing in consumer, media, sports, and technology investments. Based in Phoenix, he has built a reputation for long-term, values-driven investing, with notable stakes in ventures such as the Phoenix Suns, McLaren Racing, and other high-profile brands. Najafi also serves as vice chairman of the Phoenix Suns and is recognized for his thoughtful leadership style, combining strategic acumen with a strong commitment to social impact and community development.

Isaac Larian, founder and CEO of MGA Entertainment, built one of the world’s largest privately held toy companies, best known for creating the global hit Bratz dolls and, more recently, the L.O.L. Surprise! franchise. An Iranian-born immigrant, Larian started with a small import business before transforming it into a multibillion-dollar toy empire that competes with industry giants like Mattel and Hasbro. Known for his bold marketing strategies and willingness to take creative risks, he has made MGA a dominant force in the global toy market while also engaging in philanthropy and outspoken advocacy on industry issues.

Ion Stoica, computer scientist and entrepreneur, is cofounder and executive chairman of Databricks, one of the world’s most valuable data and AI companies. A professor at the University of California, Berkeley, Stoica is also a co-creator of Apache Spark, the open-source framework that revolutionized big data processing. Under his leadership, Databricks has scaled into a multibillion-dollar enterprise serving global enterprises with cloud-based analytics and AI platforms. Known for bridging academia and industry, Stoica has become a leading figure in advancing the future of data infrastructure and machine learning.