William Randolph Hearst III is chairman of Hearst, one of the largest privately held media and information companies in the world, spanning television, publishing, data, and digital businesses. A grandson of founder William Randolph Hearst, he has played a central role in modernizing and stewarding the family-controlled enterprise while maintaining its long-term private ownership structure. Earlier in his career he was active in venture investing and philanthropy, including leadership roles within the Hearst Foundations. Known for low-profile governance and multigenerational stewardship, Hearst represents the modern continuation of one of America’s most enduring business dynasties.

Thomas Secunda is a co-founder and Vice Chairman of Bloomberg L.P., where he famously served as the chief engineer for the Bloomberg Terminal. Over his four-decade career, he has been the primary architect of the company’s financial products, overseeing the development of the data and analytics tools that define modern global finance. In early 2026, he made headlines for his landmark $30 million gift to his alma mater, Binghamton University, to establish the Center for AI Responsibility and Research. This contribution is a cornerstone of the "Empire AI" initiative, a public-private partnership aimed at positioning New York as a leader in ethical and transparent artificial intelligence development.

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.

Charlie Ergen is the co‑founder and chairman of Dish Network and EchoStar. After launching the business in 1980 with just $60,000 and satellite dishes from the back of a truck, he built a telecommunications empire. Known for his frugality, poker ethos, and bold bids for wireless spectrum, Ergen now oversees major satellite, broadband, and wireless initiatives. He has climbed Everest, supports mountain-climbing causes, and continues to wield outsized influence in media and telecom. 

Charles Zegar is an American technologist and billionaire investor who co-founded Bloomberg L.P. in 1982 alongside Michael Bloomberg, Tom Secunda, and Duncan MacMillan. As lead software architect, he built the original infrastructure for what became the Bloomberg Terminal—a core engine of global financial markets. Today he remains a discreet yet influential philanthropist through the Zegar Family Foundation.