Norman Braman, founder and chairman of Braman Automotive Group, built one of the largest luxury auto dealership empires in the United States by focusing on premium brands, prime real estate, and disciplined operations. Starting in the 1970s, Braman expanded aggressively in South Florida, assembling a portfolio that includes top marques such as BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Porsche, and Rolls-Royce. Beyond automotive retail, he is a prominent civic figure and philanthropist, investing heavily in healthcare, education, and urban development in Miami. Braman’s career blends entrepreneurial scale with sustained local impact.

Nicholas Woodman, founder and CEO of GoPro, created one of the most recognizable consumer electronics brands by turning a simple idea—capturing action sports from the participant’s perspective—into a global media and hardware platform. After an early surfing trip inspired the original camera mount, Woodman built GoPro into a publicly traded company whose rugged cameras became synonymous with adventure, user-generated content, and immersive storytelling. Under his leadership, GoPro expanded beyond hardware into software, subscriptions, and content ecosystems, shaping how millions document and share experiences. Woodman’s entrepreneurial journey reflects persistence, product obsession, and the power of creator-driven media.

Mortimer Zuckerman, real estate magnate, media executive, and investor, built a multifaceted career spanning property development, publishing, and public policy influence. As longtime chairman and CEO of Boston Properties, he helped create one of the largest publicly traded office real estate investment trusts in the United States, shaping skylines in New York, Boston, and Washington, D.C. In parallel, Zuckerman became a prominent media figure as owner and editor-in-chief of U.S. News & World Report and publisher of the New York Daily News, using his platforms to weigh in on economics, foreign policy, and urban affairs. His career reflects a rare blend of large-scale real estate execution and national media influence.

Ming Hsieh, founder and executive chairman of Fulgent Genetics, built a leading precision diagnostics company by applying advanced automation, data systems, and scalable lab infrastructure to genetic testing. After decades as a successful entrepreneur in aerospace simulation software, Hsieh founded Fulgent in 2011 and guided it from a startup into a publicly traded genomics platform offering comprehensive clinical and diagnostic testing. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Fulgent rapidly scaled nationwide testing capacity, demonstrating its operational agility and cementing its position in molecular diagnostics. Known for his engineering rigor and long-term vision, Hsieh has also emerged as a major philanthropist supporting education, medical research, and STEM initiatives.

Micky Arison, chairman of Carnival Corporation, built the world’s largest cruise company into a dominant force in global leisure travel while also shaping professional sports as owner of the Miami Heat. After taking the helm of his family’s cruise business, Arison expanded Carnival through scale, brand diversification, and operational efficiency, overseeing multiple marquee cruise lines and a vast global fleet. Beyond travel, he transformed the Heat into an NBA powerhouse with multiple championships, applying a disciplined, culture-driven ownership style. Known for a low public profile and long-term focus, Arison remains one of the most influential figures in hospitality and sports ownership.

John H. Ruiz, founder and CEO of MSP Recovery, transformed a boutique health-care-law practice into a leading national firm specializing in recovery of Medicare, Medicaid and insurance reimbursements. Since launching MSP Recovery in 2014, Ruiz has built the company into a multibillion-dollar enterprise using proprietary data analytics and legal expertise to reclaim improperly paid claims on behalf of providers and payers. Under his leadership, MSPR has expanded into adjacent services and continues innovating in health-care compliance and recovery, establishing Ruiz as one of America’s foremost entrepreneurial leaders in health-care litigation and finance.

Jeffrey Hines, chairman and co-CEO of Hines, leads one of the world’s largest and most respected privately held real estate investment, development, and management firms. The son of legendary founder Gerald D. Hines, he joined the company in the 1980s and helped expand its global footprint from a U.S.-focused developer into a multinational powerhouse operating in 30+ countries. Under his leadership, Hines has executed billions in landmark office, residential, industrial, and mixed-use projects—combining cutting-edge architecture, disciplined capital management, and long-term partnerships. Known for his steady strategic vision and global mindset, Hines has cemented the firm’s position as a standard-setter in institutional real estate.

Al Waleed bin Talal Al Saud, Saudi billionaire investor and philanthropist, is the founder and chairman of Kingdom Holding Company, a global investment powerhouse with stakes in banking, hospitality, real estate, and technology. Known for high-profile holdings in companies like Citigroup, Four Seasons Hotels, and Twitter, he has combined bold, long-term investments with a flair for global deal-making. A member of the Saudi royal family, Al Waleed has also pledged the majority of his wealth to philanthropy, reinforcing his image as both a shrewd businessman and a global humanitarian.

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.

Dennis R. Washington is a self‑made billionaire industrialist who founded The Washington Companies, a diversified conglomerate spanning heavy construction, mining, railroads, marine shipping, aviation, equipment, and environmental cleanup. From starting with a single bulldozer in Montana, he built a business empire that now includes Seaspan Marine and Montana Rail Link—and is rated one of Montana’s wealthiest residents. 

Darwin Deason is an American billionaire entrepreneur and founder of Affiliated Computer Services (ACS). Under his leadership, ACS became a global outsourcing powerhouse before being sold to Xerox for $6.4 billion in 2010. After the sale, Deason emerged as Xerox’s largest individual shareholder (~12%). He is also a high-profile Republican political donor and owner of the mega-yacht Apogee and an opulent La Jolla estate called “The Sand Castle.” 

Charles Simonyi is a Hungarian‑American software pioneer, former Microsoft distinguished engineer, and space tourist. He architected the first versions of Microsoft Word and Excel, co-founded Intentional Software, and became the only private citizen to fund and complete two separate missions to the International Space Station—logging over 26 days in orbit. His tech and philanthropic impact includes endowed science professorships and arts funding at top institutions.