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.

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.

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.

Jef Colruyt, chairman and former CEO of the Colruyt Group, leads one of Europe’s most efficient and respected retail empires, built on a disciplined focus on low prices, operational simplicity, and long-term family stewardship. Taking the helm in 1994, he expanded the Belgian retailer into a diversified group spanning supermarkets, wholesale distribution, fuel stations, renewable energy, and digital services, all while maintaining a culture of frugality and sustainability. Under his leadership, Colruyt strengthened its position as the dominant price leader in Belgium and a key player in European retail. Known for his understated style and values-driven governance, Jef Colruyt remains one of the continent’s most influential family-business leaders.

Joseph Craft III, president and CEO of Alliance Resource Partners, is one of the most prominent figures in the American coal industry, overseeing one of the nation’s largest and most efficient coal producers. Since taking leadership in the late 1990s, Craft has expanded Alliance through disciplined capital allocation, long-term supply contracts, and a focus on low-cost, high-productivity mining operations across the Midwest and Appalachia. Beyond energy, he is an influential political and philanthropic figure, supporting education, economic development, and university programs throughout Kentucky and Oklahoma. Craft’s combination of operational expertise and strategic influence has made him a defining leader in U.S. energy and regional industry.

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.

Jim McKelvey, cofounder of Square (now Block), is an entrepreneur, inventor, and investor whose work has reshaped modern payments and small-business commerce. A glassblower by training, McKelvey partnered with Jack Dorsey in 2009 to create Square’s iconic card reader after losing a sale because he couldn’t accept credit cards—sparking a multibillion-dollar fintech revolution. Beyond Square, he founded LaunchCode to expand access to technology careers and authored The Innovation Stack, distilling insights from building category-defining companies. Known for his product intuition, creative background, and commitment to economic empowerment, McKelvey remains a major force in American entrepreneurship.

Jerry Jones, billionaire businessman and owner of the Dallas Cowboys, transformed the franchise into the most valuable team in global sports through bold management, aggressive marketing, and a relentless focus on brand expansion. Since purchasing the Cowboys in 1989, Jones has overseen multiple Super Bowl victories, built state-of-the-art facilities like AT&T Stadium and The Star in Frisco, and reshaped NFL business economics through media deals and sponsorship innovation. A polarizing yet visionary figure, he has turned the Cowboys into a cultural and commercial powerhouse while becoming one of the most influential owners in professional sports.

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.

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.

Henry Nicholas III, cofounder of Broadcom, made his fortune by helping build the semiconductor company into one of the world’s leading chipmakers. A former electrical engineer, he launched Broadcom in 1991 with Henry Samueli, driving innovations that powered the growth of broadband and wireless communications. After taking the company public and scaling it into a multibillion-dollar enterprise, Nicholas stepped down in 2003 but retained significant wealth from his stake. Beyond technology, he has been active in philanthropy, particularly through Nicholas Academic Centers, while also drawing attention for his outspoken views and high-profile controversies.

George Kurtz, cofounder and CEO of CrowdStrike, has become one of the most influential leaders in cybersecurity. After a successful career at McAfee, he launched CrowdStrike in 2011 with the vision of using cloud-native technology to stop breaches in real time. Under his leadership, the company went public in 2019 and grew into a multi-billion-dollar enterprise protecting governments, corporations, and institutions worldwide. Known for his technical expertise and entrepreneurial drive, Kurtz is a central figure in shaping the modern cybersecurity landscape.

Garrett Camp, Canadian entrepreneur and investor, is best known as the cofounder of Uber and the founder of startup studio Expa. Before reshaping urban transportation with Uber, Camp created StumbleUpon, the pioneering web discovery platform acquired by eBay in 2007. At Uber, his vision helped scale the company from a niche car service into a global ride-hailing giant operating in hundreds of cities. Through Expa, he continues to back and build innovative startups, cementing his reputation as a tech visionary with a knack for disruptive ideas.

Frank Slootman, chairman and CEO of Snowflake, has earned a reputation as one of Silicon Valley’s most effective scale-up leaders, steering three companies to multibillion-dollar valuations. After leading Data Domain and ServiceNow through explosive growth and successful IPOs, he took the helm of Snowflake in 2019, guiding the cloud data platform to a record-breaking $33 billion IPO in 2020. Known for his no-nonsense leadership style and relentless focus on execution, Slootman has become a benchmark for operational excellence in the tech industry.

Donald E. “Don” Friese rose from an orphanage in rural Pennsylvania to become a self-made billionaire. He joined C.R. Laurence in 1961 as a warehouse worker, bought full ownership by the 1990s, and grew it into the largest glazing‑supplies company in the U.S. He sold the business in 2015 for $1.3 billion while personally gifting more than $86 million in bonuses to employees and remains active philanthropically through the Friese Foundation. 

David Sun is a Taiwanese‑American tech entrepreneur and billionaire who co-founded Kingston Technology in 1987 with John Tu. Educated in Taiwan and emigrating to the U.S. in 1977, Sun built Kingston into the world’s largest independent memory-products company, recognized for its quality-first culture and employee ownership ethos. He serves as COO and is known for philanthropic contributions in education and healthcare.

Clifford “Cliff” Asness is the co‑founder, Managing Principal & Chief Investment Officer of AQR Capital Management, a quantitative investment firm managing roughly $120 billion in assets. A PhD from the University of Chicago and former Goldman Sachs quant strategist, he popularized factor-based investing and author of influential research on value, momentum, and market efficiency.

Bruce Karsh is the co-founder, co-chairman, and Chief Investment Officer of Oaktree Capital Management, the global leader in distressed-debt investing with nearly $190 billion in assets under management. A former appellate clerk for Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy, Karsh transitioned from law to finance, quietly building a reputation as the “quiet secret behind Oaktree’s success” alongside Howard Marks.

Avram Glazer is the American billionaire and co-chairman of Manchester United and part-owner of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. A Washington University and American University Law graduate, he has overseen multiple sports championships—from Manchester United’s Premier League, Champions League, FA Cup wins to the Buccaneers’ two Super Bowl titles.

Antony “Tony” Ressler is a billionaire investor, co-founder of two private equity giants — Apollo Global Management (1990) and Ares Management (1997 )— and principal owner of the NBA’s Atlanta Hawks. A Georgetown-educated financier, he built an empire across credit, private equity, and real estate, and channels his wealth into philanthropy, education, and the arts.