Richard Sands, longtime leader of Constellation Brands, helped build one of the world’s most influential beverage alcohol companies through disciplined acquisitions, premium brand strategy, and global distribution scale. As CEO and later chairman, Sands oversaw Constellation’s transformation from a regional wine and spirits distributor into a powerhouse with iconic beer brands such as Corona and Modelo in the U.S., alongside leading wine and spirits portfolios. Known for strategic foresight and long-term capital allocation, he positioned the company to benefit from premiumization and shifting consumer preferences. Sands’ legacy reflects decades of value creation at the intersection of consumer branding and global supply chains.

Richard Perry, founder of Perry Capital, was one of Wall Street’s most recognized hedge fund managers, known for event-driven investing and complex special situations across credit and equities. After early success at Goldman Sachs, Perry launched Perry Capital in 1988 and built it into a multibillion-dollar firm with a reputation for aggressive risk-taking and sophisticated arbitrage strategies. At its peak, the fund was a major player in merger arbitrage, distressed debt, and structured credit, navigating both market booms and severe downturns. Though the firm ultimately closed after years of volatility and underperformance, Perry remains a defining figure of the hedge fund era.

Richard Peery, founder of the Peery family real estate enterprise, built one of Silicon Valley’s most influential commercial property portfolios by specializing in high-quality office and industrial developments in Northern California. Known for acquiring and developing strategic assets near the world’s leading technology corridors, Peery helped shape the physical infrastructure that supported the region’s growth for decades. Operating with a low public profile, he expanded through long-term ownership, disciplined management, and a deep understanding of location-driven value. Peery is also recognized for philanthropy supporting education, community development, and civic initiatives.

Richard LeFrak, chairman and CEO of LeFrak Organization, leads one of America’s most enduring real estate dynasties, overseeing a vast portfolio of residential, commercial, and mixed-use assets. Building on the legacy of his father Samuel LeFrak, he expanded the family’s holdings across New York, New Jersey, and Florida, including landmark developments such as Newport in Jersey City. Known for long-term ownership, disciplined capital deployment, and large-scale urban development, LeFrak has shaped major waterfront and city-center projects while maintaining the firm as a privately held powerhouse.

Richard Kayne, cofounder and CEO of Kayne Anderson Capital Advisors, built one of the leading U.S. alternative investment firms focused on real assets, with deep expertise in energy infrastructure, real estate, and credit. Since founding Kayne Anderson in 1984, Kayne has guided the firm through multiple market cycles by emphasizing asset-backed investing, disciplined underwriting, and long-term partnerships with operators. Under his leadership, the platform expanded across private equity, direct lending, and public market strategies tied to essential infrastructure. Kayne’s career reflects a long-horizon approach to capital deployment in sectors where durability and cash flow matter most.

Richard Hayne, cofounder and CEO of Urban Outfitters, built one of America’s most distinctive retail empires by blending fashion, lifestyle branding, and cultural intuition. Since launching the original Urban Outfitters store in 1970, Hayne expanded the company into a portfolio of powerful brands—including Anthropologie and Free People—known for strong identity, merchandising creativity, and loyal customer communities. Under his long-term leadership, the business evolved from a single campus store into a multibillion-dollar public company with global reach. Hayne is recognized for hands-on control, contrarian instincts, and an ability to anticipate shifting consumer tastes.

Richard Fairbank, founder and CEO of Capital One, reshaped consumer finance by applying data science and direct marketing to credit, turning a niche issuer into one of America’s largest banks. After early roles in consulting and banking, Fairbank launched Capital One in the 1990s with a belief that analytics could price risk more precisely and expand access to credit. Under his leadership, the company grew into a diversified financial institution spanning credit cards, auto lending, and consumer banking, while investing heavily in technology and digital-first operations. Known for long-term execution and analytical rigor, Fairbank remains a defining architect of modern fintech-driven banking.

Dick DeVos, businessman and former CEO of Amway, is a member of one of America’s most prominent entrepreneurial families, helping expand the global direct-selling giant founded by his father, Rich DeVos. During his leadership, DeVos focused on international growth and organizational modernization while maintaining Amway’s multi-generational ownership structure. Beyond business, he is a major civic and philanthropic figure in Michigan, supporting education, healthcare, and community development, and he has also been active in politics and public policy debates. His career reflects a blend of family enterprise stewardship, institutional leadership, and regional impact.

Richard Barton, serial entrepreneur and cofounder of Zillow and Expedia, has repeatedly built category-defining consumer internet companies by applying transparency, data, and user-first design to opaque markets. After helping launch Expedia inside Microsoft, Barton went on to cofound Zillow, reshaping real estate search through pricing data and digital discovery tools, and later founded Glassdoor to bring similar transparency to the labor market. Known for a consistent “power to the people” philosophy, Barton has influenced how millions make decisions about homes, jobs, and travel.

Ric Elias, cofounder and CEO of Red Ventures, built one of the most influential digital media and marketing platforms by combining performance marketing with data-driven consumer acquisition. Since launching Red Ventures in 2000, Elias has expanded the company through disciplined reinvestment and major acquisitions, building a diversified portfolio of well-known brands across travel, finance, and home services, including properties such as The Points Guy and Bankrate. Known for an intense execution culture and long-term ownership mindset, Elias has turned Red Ventures into a powerhouse at the intersection of media, commerce, and analytics.

Reinhold Schmieding, founder and CEO of Arthrex, built one of the world’s most influential orthopedic device companies by focusing on minimally invasive surgical innovation. After launching Arthrex in 1981, Schmieding transformed it into a global leader in sports medicine, arthroscopy, and surgical implants, supplying cutting-edge tools and techniques to surgeons worldwide. Known for obsessive product development, surgeon education, and privately held discipline, he scaled Arthrex into a multibillion-dollar enterprise while maintaining a strong culture of engineering and clinical excellence.

Reid Hoffman, cofounder of LinkedIn, is one of Silicon Valley’s most influential entrepreneurs and investors, known for shaping professional networking at global scale. After early roles at PayPal and Socialnet, Hoffman launched LinkedIn in 2002, turning it into the world’s dominant platform for career identity, recruiting, and business relationships before its landmark acquisition by Microsoft. As a partner at Greylock, he backed major companies including Airbnb and Facebook, while also becoming a prominent public intellectual through books, podcasts, and AI advocacy. Hoffman’s work blends network economics, venture investing, and strategic thinking about the future of technology.

Reed Hastings, cofounder and former CEO of Netflix, reshaped global entertainment by transforming a DVD-by-mail startup into the world’s dominant streaming platform. Under his leadership, Netflix pioneered subscription streaming, disrupted traditional media distribution, and later reinvented television again by investing heavily in original programming and global content production. Known for his bold strategic pivots, data-driven culture, and the influential “Netflix culture deck,” Hastings helped build one of the most impactful consumer technology companies of the modern era. Beyond business, he is a major philanthropist focused on education reform and civic initiatives.

Raymond J. Harbert, founder and CEO of Harbert Management Corporation, built a major alternative investment platform spanning private equity, real estate, infrastructure, and credit. After starting his career in banking and leveraged finance, Harbert founded his firm in 1993 and grew it into a global manager serving institutions and high-net-worth investors with long-term, diversified strategies. Known for disciplined capital allocation and a conservative, steady approach across market cycles, Harbert has also become a prominent philanthropist supporting education, medical research, and civic initiatives, particularly in the American South.

Ray Davis, cofounder of Energy Transfer Partners, built a multibillion-dollar fortune in U.S. midstream energy by expanding pipeline and logistics infrastructure across natural gas and liquids. Working alongside Kelcy Warren, he helped scale Energy Transfer into one of the nation’s largest energy networks through aggressive acquisitions and large-scale development. Beyond energy, Davis is the majority owner of Major League Baseball’s Texas Rangers, playing a central role in turning the franchise into a modern sports business and ultimately overseeing its rise to a World Series championship. Known for a low public profile and long-term mindset, he remains a powerful figure in both energy and sports ownership.

Ray Dalio, founder of Bridgewater Associates, built the world’s largest hedge fund by combining radical transparency, systematic decision-making, and macroeconomic insight. Starting Bridgewater in 1975 from a small apartment, Dalio developed a research-driven approach to global markets that made the firm a dominant force in institutional investing. Known for pioneering “risk parity,” shaping corporate culture through principles-based management, and sharing frameworks for decision-making, Dalio became one of the most influential thinkers in modern finance. Beyond investing, he is a major philanthropist and an active voice on global economic and geopolitical trends.

Randal Nardone, cofounder and co-CEO of Fortress Investment Group, helped build one of the most influential alternative asset managers by scaling institutional investing across credit, real estate, and special situations. After early experience at BlackRock and UBS, Nardone cofounded Fortress in 1998 and guided its evolution into a global platform managing tens of billions through market cycles. Under his leadership, Fortress became known for opportunistic, asset-based investing and disciplined risk management, culminating in its acquisition by SoftBank. Nardone remains a defining figure in modern alternative investing and private capital strategy.

Randal J. Kirk, biotech entrepreneur and investor, built his fortune by creating and scaling life-sciences companies focused on drug development, specialty pharmaceuticals, and healthcare innovation. Best known as the founder of Intrexon and as the driving force behind multiple public biotech ventures, Kirk has pursued an aggressive strategy of acquiring scientific platforms, recruiting top research talent, and commercializing high-value therapies. His long-term influence spans pharmaceuticals, genetics, and medical technology, reflecting a rare ability to combine capital markets skill with scientific ambition.

Ralph Lauren, founder of Ralph Lauren Corporation, built one of the most iconic luxury lifestyle brands in the world by transforming American style into a global symbol of aspiration. Starting with a single line of neckties in the late 1960s, he created a brand universe spanning fashion, fragrance, home, and hospitality—anchored by timeless design, storytelling, and impeccable merchandising. Through decades of disciplined brand control and cultural influence, Lauren turned his name into a multibillion-dollar global empire and remains a defining figure in modern fashion and brand building.

Rakesh Gangwal, cofounder of IndiGo, helped build India’s largest airline by applying rigorous cost discipline, operational simplicity, and scale economics to commercial aviation. Drawing on decades of global airline experience, including senior roles at United Airlines and US Airways, Gangwal co-launched IndiGo in 2006 with a sharp focus on on-time performance, single-aircraft fleets, and low-cost efficiency. The strategy transformed IndiGo into the dominant carrier in one of the world’s fastest-growing aviation markets, reshaping air travel across India.