Terry Pegula is the billionaire owner of the Buffalo Bills and Buffalo Sabres, having built his fortune in the natural gas industry. In early 2026, he initiated a major organizational shift by firing longtime Bills head coach Sean McDermott and promoting Joe Brady. He also restructured the front office, naming Brandon Beane as President of Football Operations. While overseeing the construction of a new multi-billion dollar stadium in Orchard Park, Pegula remains a central figure in Buffalo sports, recently drawing headlines for his candid assessment of the team's roster and his focused commitment to finally bringing a Super Bowl title to Western New York.

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.

Rodney Lewis, cofounder of Lewis Energy Group, built one of the most successful privately held natural gas producers in the United States by focusing on disciplined drilling and long-term acreage strategy in South Texas. Alongside his wife EOG Resources cofounder, he helped expand Lewis Energy into a major operator in the Eagle Ford Shale and other prolific basins, developing extensive infrastructure and maintaining a reputation for conservative execution in cyclical commodity markets. Known for operating with a low public profile, Lewis has also become a significant philanthropist supporting education, healthcare, and community development in Texas.

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.

Michael S. Smith, cofounder, chairman, and CEO of Freeport Financial Partners, has built one of the leading private credit platforms focused on non-sponsored middle-market lending. Since launching Freeport in 2008, Smith has emphasized disciplined underwriting, downside protection, and long-term relationships with founder-led businesses, helping the firm scale into a multibillion-dollar manager. A veteran of leveraged finance, he guided Freeport through market cycles by prioritizing capital preservation and consistent income, earning the firm a reputation for reliability among institutional investors. Smith’s steady leadership has positioned Freeport as a cornerstone player in private direct lending.

Kelcy Warren, cofounder and executive chairman of Energy Transfer, built one of North America’s largest pipeline and midstream energy networks through aggressive dealmaking, operational scale, and a deep understanding of U.S. oil and gas logistics. Since launching Energy Transfer in 1996, he has overseen a sweeping expansion across natural gas, crude, and NGL infrastructure, including the development of high-profile projects such as the Dakota Access Pipeline. A self-made billionaire from modest Texas roots, Warren combines engineering discipline with bold acquisitive strategy, while remaining an active philanthropist in education, parks, and music—most notably founding the Texas music venue and nonprofit, Klyde Warren Park in Dallas.

Jon Oringer, founder and executive chairman of Shutterstock, is one of the earliest pioneers of the digital content marketplace economy. In 2003, he launched Shutterstock as a one-man operation—personally shooting the site’s first 30,000 stock photos—before scaling it into a global platform offering millions of images, videos, and creative assets to customers in more than 150 countries. Oringer took Shutterstock public in 2012, becoming New York’s first tech billionaire, and has since focused on building Pareto Holdings, an investment firm backing early-stage startups in Miami and beyond. Known for his product intuition and bootstrap discipline, he remains a central figure in the evolution of digital media licensing.

James Tisch, president and CEO of Loews Corporation, oversees one of America’s most enduring and diversified conglomerates, with major interests in insurance, energy, hospitality, and packaging. A member of the prominent Tisch family, he joined Loews in the 1970s and became CEO in 1998, guiding the company through decades of disciplined capital allocation and strategic acquisitions. Under his leadership, Loews has maintained a reputation for conservative financial management and long-term value creation, anchored by flagship holdings such as CNA Financial and Loews Hotels. Tisch is also a noted philanthropist and civic leader, contributing to education, healthcare, and cultural institutions.

George Bishop, founder of GeoSouthern Energy, built his fortune in oil and gas by focusing on shale plays and unconventional drilling. Starting his career in the energy sector in the 1980s, he grew GeoSouthern into a major player in the Eagle Ford Shale of Texas before selling a large stake to Devon Energy for $6 billion in 2013. Known for his low profile and disciplined approach, Bishop has since diversified into other energy ventures and real estate, establishing himself as one of America’s quietest self-made billionaires.

Farris Wilks is a self-made billionaire who, alongside his brother Dan, founded Frac Tech Services in 2002. After selling their majority stake for approximately $3.5 billion in 2011, Farris now directs his wealth into evangelical philanthropy, major land ownership across Idaho and Montana, and leads the Assembly of Yahweh 7th Day church in Cisco. He is also one of the most prolific conservative donors nationally. 

Dan H. Wilks is an American petroleum entrepreneur who co-founded Frac Tech in 2002 with his brother Farris. They grew the company from their modest beginnings in Cisco, Texas, and sold their 70% interest for $3.5 billion in 2011. Now among the wealthiest Texans, Dan invests in land and energy and is a major conservative political donor. 

Vagit Alekperov is a prominent Russian billionaire and the president of Lukoil, one of the largest oil companies in the world. With a background in the oil industry, he has significantly influenced the energy sector globally. Alekperov is known for his strategic vision and leadership in expanding Lukoil's operations.

Leonid Mikhelson is a prominent Russian billionaire and the CEO and major shareholder of Novatek, one of Russia's largest independent natural gas producers. With extensive experience in the energy sector, Mikhelson has played a pivotal role in shaping Russia's natural gas industry.