Tom Golisano is the billionaire founder of Paychex and a prolific philanthropist who has donated over $1 billion to healthcare, education, and disability services. In early 2026, his legacy expanded through the Golisano Children's Alliance, a network of ten hospitals bolstered by his recent $50 million gifts to centers in Buffalo, Connecticut, and Kentucky. He is also scaling his Golisano Institute for Business & Entrepreneurship, with a new campus opening in the former Buffalo News building in fall 2026. Beyond his business empire, the former Buffalo Sabres owner remains a leading advocate for tax reform and inclusive health for individuals with intellectual disabilities.

Steve Tisch is the Chairman and Co-Owner of the New York Giants and a prominent film producer through his firm, Escape Artists. He famously holds both an Oscar for "Forrest Gump" and two Super Bowl rings. Currently, he is producing the 2026 "Masters of the Universe" film. Recently, he has faced scrutiny following the 2026 release of the Epstein files, which detailed past email correspondence with Jeffrey Epstein regarding adult women and investments. While the NFL is investigating his conduct, Tisch has denied any wrongdoing, describing the association as brief and expressing regret over the connection while remaining a central figure in professional sports and cinema.

Sid Bass, a prominent investor and heir to an oil fortune, has long been a central figure in American finance and philanthropy. Along with his brothers and the guidance of investor Richard Rainwater, he transformed the family’s wealth into a diversified empire with significant holdings in companies like Disney. Under his leadership, the Bass family became synonymous with sophisticated, large-scale investing and played a key role in the revitalization of downtown Fort Worth. Bass’s strategic foresight and long-term investment approach helped shape the modern landscape of private equity and corporate governance, particularly during the 1980s and 1990s.

Ryan Kavanaugh, founder of Relativity Media, rose to prominence by creating an ambitious Hollywood financing and production model that combined film development with structured finance. During the 2000s, he became one of the industry’s most visible dealmakers, backing major movies and building Relativity into a significant studio brand with large-scale distribution partnerships. His career has also been marked by controversy, legal disputes, and the eventual bankruptcy of Relativity, making him a polarizing figure in entertainment and corporate finance. Kavanaugh remains associated with high-risk, high-profile business strategy at the intersection of media and capital markets.

Ronald Perelman, billionaire investor and corporate dealmaker, built his fortune through high-profile acquisitions and turnarounds across consumer goods, manufacturing, and media. As chairman of MacAndrews & Forbes, he assembled a vast portfolio of iconic brands, most notably through Revlon, while becoming one of the defining figures of the 1980s takeover era. Known for aggressive negotiation and opportunistic investing, Perelman has remained a powerful force in American business for decades. He is also a major philanthropist and prominent art collector, supporting medical research, education, and cultural institutions.

Herbert Simon, billionaire real estate developer, is chairman emeritus of Simon Property Group, the largest shopping mall operator in the United States. Alongside his late brother Melvin, he expanded the Indianapolis-based company into a global retail real estate powerhouse, with hundreds of malls and premium outlets worldwide. Under his leadership, Simon Property Group grew into a publicly traded giant and a bellwether of the retail industry. Beyond real estate, Simon is also known as owner of the NBA’s Indiana Pacers and as a philanthropist supporting education, culture, and community development.

Herbert Allen Jr., billionaire investment banker, is the former president and CEO of Allen & Company, the storied family-run boutique bank known for advising on some of Wall Street’s most significant media and technology deals. During his tenure, he helped solidify the firm’s reputation as a discreet but powerful player in mergers and acquisitions, particularly in entertainment, sports, and digital industries. Allen is also widely recognized for launching the annual Sun Valley Conference, an exclusive gathering of global business leaders, tech titans, and media moguls that has become a hallmark of elite dealmaking.