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.

Pedro Franceschi, Brazilian-born entrepreneur and technologist, is the cofounder and co-CEO of Brex, a fintech company transforming how startups and enterprises manage credit and financial services. A coding prodigy from a young age, he gained early recognition for developing tools to bring Siri to non-Apple devices before joining forces with Henrique Dubugras to launch Brex in Silicon Valley. Together, they scaled the company into a multibillion-dollar fintech platform, making Franceschi one of the youngest self-made billionaires and a leading voice in the future of global finance and technology.

Henrique Dubugras, Brazilian-born entrepreneur, is the cofounder and co-CEO of Brex, the fintech company revolutionizing corporate credit cards and financial services for startups and enterprises. A tech prodigy, he launched his first startup as a teenager before moving to Silicon Valley, where he and cofounder Pedro Franceschi built Brex into a multibillion-dollar company backed by leading investors. Known for his sharp vision and ability to scale fast-growing businesses, Dubugras has become a defining figure in the new wave of fintech, bridging Silicon Valley innovation with global entrepreneurship.

Geeta Gupta-Fisker, cofounder, CFO, and COO of Fisker Inc., has played a pivotal role in shaping the electric vehicle company’s financial and operational strategy. With a background in investment management and healthcare finance, she has combined disciplined capital allocation with a vision for sustainable innovation. Alongside her husband, Henrik Fisker, she has helped position the company as a challenger in the EV space, driving the launch of models like the Fisker Ocean while focusing on affordability, design, and environmental impact. Gupta-Fisker is recognized for her leadership in both corporate governance and advancing women in business and technology.

Henrik Fisker, Danish-born automotive designer and entrepreneur, is best known for creating some of the world’s most iconic luxury cars and for founding Fisker Inc., an electric vehicle manufacturer. After a celebrated design career at BMW and Aston Martin—where he shaped models like the BMW Z8 and Aston Martin DB9—he launched his own ventures to blend sustainability with high design. Although his first company, Fisker Automotive, faced setbacks, he returned with Fisker Inc., focusing on stylish, affordable EVs like the Fisker Ocean. Renowned for bold creativity and resilience, Fisker remains a leading figure in the push toward sustainable mobility.

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 Michelson, orthopedic spinal surgeon turned inventor and philanthropist, amassed his fortune through more than 950 patents for medical devices, instruments, and procedures that revolutionized spinal surgery. After a landmark $1.35 billion settlement with Medtronic in 2005 over patent disputes, he shifted his focus to philanthropy, founding the Michelson Medical Research Foundation, Michelson 20MM Foundation for education, and Michelson Found Animals Foundation for animal welfare. His career blends groundbreaking medical innovation with a deep commitment to scientific research, education, and social impact.

Evan Spiegel co‑founded Snap Inc. (initially Snapchat) in 2011 while studying product design at Stanford. Under his leadership, Snap evolved into a global social media firm with ~400+ million daily users, launching viral innovations like Stories and AR lenses. Spiegel holds over 95 % of Snap’s voting power alongside co‑founder Bobby Murphy and remains its CEO. He also supports youth arts and education through the Spiegel Family Fund with his wife Miranda Kerr.

Edward P. “Ed” Roski Jr. is the billionaire president and chairman of Majestic Realty Co., one of the largest privately held real estate developers in the U.S., with over 80–90 million square feet of industrial and commercial properties. A decorated Vietnam veteran who earned two Purple Hearts and a Bronze Star, he is also a part-owner of the Los Angeles Lakers and Kings, co-founded the Land of the Free Foundation supporting veterans, and serves on USC’s board and numerous museum and civic boards. 

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. 

Don R. Hankey is a self-made billionaire and conservative financier. He founded the Hankey Group, including Westlake Financial Services, a top U.S. subprime auto lender, and Knight Specialty Insurance. His companies provided the $175 million bond in 2024 for Donald Trump’s New York civil fraud appeal. He extended high-risk loans to megadevelopers like Nile Niami—such as funding the troubled Bel-Air mansion “The One”—and now oversees $23 billion in diversified assets.

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.

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.

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.

Benjamin Nazarian is a Los Angeles–based entrepreneur, investor, and co-founder & CEO of Therabody, the global wellness technology company known for Theragun percussive therapy devices. With a USC law and accounting background, he previously served as managing partner at Omninet Capital and co‑founded Parkview Financial, helping originate over $1 billion in loans. He also invests in early-stage ventures through Nazarian Capital. 

Behdad Eghbali is an Iranian–American billionaire and co‑founder & managing partner of Clearlake Capital, the fast‑growing private equity firm with over $90 billion in assets under management. A UC Berkeley Haas alumnus and former TPG and Morgan Stanley banker, he has steered high-profile investments in technology, industrials, and more. In May 2022, he became co-owner of Chelsea Football Club, reflecting his expanding global influence in sports ownership.

Bassam Alghanim is a Kuwaiti‑American billionaire heir and former CEO of Alghanim Industries, a sprawling Gulf conglomerate founded in 1932. He held a joint stake with his brother Kutayba—each controlling half—and today focuses on U.S. real estate (notably a Bel‑Air compound) and cannabis investments in Canada, while maintaining a low-profile philanthropic and business presence.

Anthony Pritzker is an heir to the Pritzker family fortune (Hyatt Hotels) and Managing Partner of Pritzker Private Capital. A Dartmouth and University of Chicago MBA graduate, he has steered middle‑market acquisitions while supporting environmental, arts, and educational causes through UCLA and RAND. His low‑profile leadership focuses on operational discipline and civic impact.

Eric Smidt is the CEO and co-founder of Harbor Freight Tools, a privately held tool and equipment retailer with over 1,200 locations across the United States. Known for his keen business acumen, Smidt transformed Harbor Freight from a small mail-order business into a retail giant. He is also a notable philanthropist, with significant contributions to education and healthcare.

Donald Bren is an American businessman and philanthropist, known as the chairman and owner of the Irvine Company, one of the largest real estate companies in the United States. He has been instrumental in developing and transforming the landscape of Orange County, California. With a keen focus on urban planning and sustainable development, Bren is one of the most influential figures in the real estate industry.