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.

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.

Irwin Jacobs, cofounder and former CEO of Qualcomm, is a pioneering engineer and entrepreneur who helped revolutionize wireless communications. After an academic career at MIT and UC San Diego, he launched Qualcomm in 1985, driving the development and commercialization of CDMA technology, which became the global standard for mobile networks. Under his leadership, Qualcomm grew into a multibillion-dollar powerhouse at the heart of the mobile phone industry. Beyond technology, Jacobs is a noted philanthropist, supporting education, science, and the arts, particularly in San Diego, where his contributions have had lasting civic impact.

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 Schultz, former longtime CEO and chairman emeritus of Starbucks, transformed a small Seattle coffee chain into a global brand with more than 35,000 stores worldwide. Inspired by Italy’s espresso culture, he built Starbucks into a company that blended premium coffee with community-driven “third place” experiences. Schultz became known not only for scaling the brand into a multibillion-dollar enterprise but also for his focus on employee benefits, ethical sourcing, and social responsibility. A visionary entrepreneur and occasional political voice, he remains one of the most influential figures in modern retail and consumer culture.

Herbert Wertheim, optometrist, inventor, and investor, built his fortune through a mix of innovation in vision care and shrewd long-term investing. Founder of Brain Power Inc., he developed tints and protective coatings for eyeglass lenses that became widely adopted in the optical industry. Beyond his business, Wertheim amassed a multibillion-dollar portfolio by investing early in companies like Apple, Microsoft, and Intel, often reinvesting dividends over decades. A noted philanthropist, he has pledged much of his wealth to education, science, and medical research, cementing his legacy as both a pioneer and a benefactor.

David Simon, chairman, CEO, and president of Simon Property Group, has led the company to become the largest shopping mall operator in the United States and a global leader in retail real estate. Taking over leadership in the mid-1990s, he steered the Indianapolis-based firm through major acquisitions, including the purchase of Taubman Centers, and successfully navigated challenges posed by e-commerce and shifting consumer trends. Under his guidance, Simon Property Group has maintained dominance with hundreds of malls and premium outlets, while Simon himself has earned a reputation as one of the most influential executives in American real estate.

Herbert Simon, billionaire real estate developer, is chairman emeritus of Simon Property Group, the largest shopping mall operator in the United States. Alongside his late brother Melvin, he expanded the Indianapolis-based company into a global retail real estate powerhouse, with hundreds of malls and premium outlets worldwide. Under his leadership, Simon Property Group grew into a publicly traded giant and a bellwether of the retail industry. Beyond real estate, Simon is also known as owner of the NBA’s Indiana Pacers and as a philanthropist supporting education, culture, and community development.

Henry Swieca, billionaire investor and hedge fund manager, cofounded Highbridge Capital Management in 1992, transforming it into one of the world’s leading alternative investment firms before selling a majority stake to JPMorgan Chase in 2004. After exiting Highbridge, he launched Talpion Fund Management, his family office, focusing on a broad range of investments across public and private markets. A child of Holocaust survivors, Swieca has coupled financial success with extensive philanthropy in education, Jewish causes, and healthcare, underscoring his reputation as both a disciplined investor and committed benefactor.

Henry Jarecki, psychiatrist-turned-financier, built his fortune through trading and investment ventures after an early career in medicine. He founded and led several successful commodities and securities firms, including Mocatta Metals and Brody White & Co., becoming a prominent figure in the global precious metals market. Beyond finance, Jarecki has been a dedicated philanthropist and supporter of scientific research, education, and cultural initiatives, channeling his wealth into causes ranging from marine conservation to academic institutions. His unique path from medicine to markets highlights both intellectual range and entrepreneurial vision.

Harry Macklowe, New York real estate developer and art collector, is known for bold, high-stakes deals that reshaped the Manhattan skyline. Founder of Macklowe Properties, he developed iconic projects such as 432 Park Avenue, one of the tallest residential towers in the Western Hemisphere. His career has been marked by both spectacular successes and dramatic setbacks, including a leveraged $7 billion office portfolio purchase in 2007. Beyond real estate, Macklowe gained global attention for his blue-chip art collection, reinforcing his image as one of New York’s most colorful and audacious moguls.

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.

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.

Geoffrey H. Palmer, founder of G.H. Palmer Associates, is one of Los Angeles’s largest apartment developers, with more than 13,000 units across the metro. He stamped downtown with Italianate mega-complexes like the Medici, Orsini, Piero, Da Vinci, and Lorenzo, and reshaped policy with the 2009 appellate win Palmer v. City of Los Angeles, which limited rental inclusionary mandates under California’s Costa-Hawkins Act. A prolific Republican donor, he remains a powerful—if polarizing—force in L.A. real estate.

Gary Friedman, chairman and CEO of RH (formerly Restoration Hardware), transformed the home furnishings retailer into a high-end lifestyle brand synonymous with luxury design. Since taking the helm in 2001, he has repositioned the company through bold merchandising, exclusive collections, and immersive gallery spaces that blend retail, hospitality, and experience. Under his leadership, RH’s market value has soared, redefining the intersection of home décor and aspirational living while establishing Friedman as one of retail’s most innovative and uncompromising leaders.

Eric Lefkofsky is a tech entrepreneur, investor, and philanthropist. He co‑founded Groupon, InnerWorkings, Echo Global Logistics, and Mediaocean, and now serves as CEO of Tempus AI, advancing precision medicine using AI. He also co-leads Lightbank, a venture fund backing disruptive startups, and chairs the Lefkofsky Family Foundation.

Edward Scott “Eddie” Lampert is an American billionaire investor and founder of ESL Investments, established in 1988 after stints at Goldman Sachs and backing from Richard Rainwater. He famously orchestrated the merger of Kmart and Sears in 2005 and led Sears Holdings until 2019, after acquiring it via bankruptcy auction through Transformco. His record has been polarizing—praised for contrarian success at AutoZone and AutoNation, yet widely criticized for Sears’ collapse.

David Zalik is the Canadian‑American entrepreneur who co‑founded GreenSky in 2006. After founding MicroTech at age 14 and launching several tech ventures, he built GreenSky into a fintech unicorn connecting banks, contractors, and homeowners in home‑improvement and healthcare financing. He remains a billionaire with over 50% ownership of the company. 

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 Rubenstein is an American lawyer, billionaire investor, and philanthropist who co-founded The Carlyle Group in 1987. From humble beginnings in Baltimore, he built Carlyle into a global private equity powerhouse managing over $426 billion in assets as of 2023. In 2024, he became principal owner of the MLB’s Baltimore Orioles and chairs numerous institutions including the Kennedy Center (until 2025), Council on Foreign Relations, and the National Gallery of Art.