Hamilton “Tony” James, veteran financier and former executive vice chairman of Blackstone, played a central role in building the firm into the world’s largest alternative asset manager. Joining Blackstone in 2002 after a long career at Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette and Credit Suisse, he helped drive its expansion across private equity, real estate, credit, and hedge fund solutions. Known for his strategic vision and operational discipline, James also became a trusted voice in public policy and philanthropy, cementing his reputation as one of Wall Street’s most influential dealmakers.

Hamdi Ulukaya, founder and CEO of Chobani, transformed the U.S. yogurt market by popularizing Greek yogurt and building a multibillion-dollar food company from humble beginnings. An immigrant from Turkey, he bought a shuttered Kraft plant in upstate New York in 2005 and grew Chobani into America’s top-selling yogurt brand through bold marketing, product innovation, and a commitment to quality. Known for his “anti-CEO” ethos, Ulukaya has championed employee ownership, progressive workplace policies, and refugee support initiatives, redefining what it means to build a purpose-driven business.

George Soros, legendary investor and philanthropist, made his fortune through the Quantum Fund, which delivered outsized returns and cemented his reputation as one of the greatest hedge fund managers of all time. Famous for “breaking the Bank of England” in 1992 with a $1 billion profit bet against the pound, he later shifted his focus toward global philanthropy, channeling more than $30 billion into his Open Society Foundations to promote democracy, human rights, and education. Soros remains an influential—often controversial—figure at the intersection of finance, politics, and global affairs.

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 Martínez Guzmán is a discreet billionaire investor and founder & managing partner of Fintech Advisory, a global advisory and debt investment firm based in New York and London. Known as one of the most influential Mexican financiers on Wall Street, Martínez led major restructurings of Argentina’s sovereign debt and controls sizable stakes in Telecom Argentina, Grupo Clarín, Grupo Televisa, and other Latin American assets. 

David Lichtenstein is a self-made real estate billionaire who founded The Lightstone Group in 1988. He began with a single multifamily unit and grew his firm into a diversified empire—owning 25,000 apartments and over 15 million sq ft of retail, industrial, hotel & life-sciences properties across 25+ states, with more than $9 billion in managed assets. He led major deals such as acquiring Prime Retail malls ($638 M) and Extended Stay Hotels ($8.1 B) and is active in civic service and board leadership across New York institutions. 

David Katzman is the American entrepreneur and venture capitalist behind Camelot Venture Group, and serves as CEO and Chairman of SmileDirectClub. He built Camelot by backing consumer-led disruptors—from Quicken Loans and RealAge to 1‑800‑Contacts and Fathead—and oversaw the Cavaliers business through his vice chair role. Katzman holds a ~10 % stake in SmileDirectClub and maintains a legacy of retail, tech, and sports investing.

David Kaplan is an American billionaire financier and co-founder & Managing Partner of Ares Management Corporation, a leading global alternative investment firm overseeing approximately $419 billion in assets. A University of Michigan finance graduate, Kaplan previously held senior roles at Apollo Management and Shelter Capital before launching Ares in 1997. He oversees the firm’s credit, private equity, and real assets strategies, and serves on multiple corporate and nonprofit boards.

Charles Brandes is an American billionaire investor and value‑investing legend who founded Brandes Investment Partners in 1974. A protégé of Benjamin Graham, he built the firm into a global value-management powerhouse with upwards of $95 billion in assets at peak. Brandes authored Value Investing Today and remains deeply philanthropic, supporting causes such as the Salk Institute and diabetes research institutes.

Carl Icahn is the legendary activist investor and founder of Icahn Enterprises, the diversified conglomerate he controls with an 86% stake. Born in Brooklyn in 1936, he helped pioneer shareholder activism as a high-stakes corporate raider—targeting companies like Trans World Airlines and Time Warner—then transitioned into long-term value investing. His bet on CVR Energy has since become the financial backbone of Icahn Enterprises amid broader portfolio volatility.

Bennett Rosenthal is a billionaire financier and co‑founder of Ares Management, #2 on Forbes’ private credit scale. As Managing Partner and Chairman of the firm’s Private Equity Group, he oversees a diversified portfolio that spans credit, real estate, tech, healthcare, and entertainment. He’s also lead managing owner of LAFC, the MLS’s most valuable team.

Alan Trefler is the founder and CEO of Pegasystems, a global leader in AI-powered business process automation and customer engagement software. A former chess prodigy and systems architect, Trefler has built Pegasystems into a multibillion-dollar enterprise serving Fortune 500 clients worldwide. He is also a thought leader in digital transformation and enterprise AI.

Alan Gerry is a pioneering entrepreneur and the founder of Cablevision Industries, once the largest privately owned cable television company in the U.S. A self-made billionaire and former TV repairman, Gerry revolutionized rural cable access and later became a prominent philanthropist, supporting arts, healthcare, and education through the Gerry Foundation.

Sam Altman is the CEO of OpenAI and one of Silicon Valley’s most influential technologists, known for leading the development of advanced artificial intelligence tools like ChatGPT. A former president of Y Combinator, Altman has shaped the startup ecosystem and AI policy landscape, championing both innovation and regulation in a rapidly evolving field.

Adebayo Ogunlesi is a Nigerian-born investment banker, lawyer, and private equity executive best known as the Chairman and Managing Partner of Global Infrastructure Partners. With a career spanning Wall Street and global finance, Ogunlesi has overseen multibillion-dollar infrastructure deals, including the acquisitions of London Gatwick and Edinburgh Airports, cementing his status as a key figure in global infrastructure investment.

Adam Neumann is the controversial co-founder and former CEO of WeWork, whose ambitious vision for “elevating the world’s consciousness” turned a coworking startup into a global phenomenon—before its dramatic collapse.

Jorge Paulo Lemann is a Brazilian-Swiss billionaire, investment banker, and businessman. He is one of the founders of 3G Capital, a global investment firm known for its acquisitions of major companies such as Anheuser-Busch, Burger King, and Heinz. Lemann is also recognized for his low-profile lifestyle despite his significant wealth and influence in global business.

Aaron Frenkel is a prominent real estate developer and investor known for his extensive portfolio in luxury properties and aviation services. His strategic investments and philanthropic efforts have positioned him as a significant figure in the global real estate and business communities.

Radhakishan Damani is an Indian billionaire investor, businessman, and the founder of DMart, one of India's largest retail chains. Known for his humble lifestyle and strategic investment acumen, he has made a significant impact on India's retail sector.