Israel Englander, billionaire hedge fund manager, is the founder and CEO of Millennium Management, one of the world’s largest and most successful multi-strategy hedge funds. Launching the firm in 1989 with $35 million, he has grown Millennium into a powerhouse managing more than $50 billion in assets, employing a decentralized model with hundreds of portfolio managers. Known for his risk management discipline and ability to adapt to shifting markets, Englander has built a reputation as one of the most influential figures in modern hedge fund investing.

Ira Rennert, billionaire industrialist, is the founder of Renco Group, a private holding company with investments in mining, metals, manufacturing, and defense. Starting in the 1970s with junk bonds, he expanded into heavy industry, building a diversified empire that has included steel, magnesium, and automotive companies. Known for his controversial business practices as well as his immense wealth, Rennert also drew attention for constructing one of the largest private homes in the United States, the 62,000-square-foot Fair Field estate in the Hamptons. Despite criticism, he remains a powerful and enduring figure in American industry and finance.

Howard Schultz, former longtime CEO and chairman emeritus of Starbucks, transformed a small Seattle coffee chain into a global brand with more than 35,000 stores worldwide. Inspired by Italy’s espresso culture, he built Starbucks into a company that blended premium coffee with community-driven “third place” experiences. Schultz became known not only for scaling the brand into a multibillion-dollar enterprise but also for his focus on employee benefits, ethical sourcing, and social responsibility. A visionary entrepreneur and occasional political voice, he remains one of the most influential figures in modern retail and consumer culture.

Howard Marks, cofounder and co-chairman of Oaktree Capital Management, is one of the most respected investors in distressed debt and value investing. Known for his widely read investment memos, Marks has built a reputation for clear thinking on risk, cycles, and market psychology. Since founding Oaktree in 1995, he has helped grow it into a global alternative asset manager with more than $150 billion under management. Revered by peers like Warren Buffett, Marks combines investment mastery with thought leadership, making him a guiding voice for both professionals and individual investors.

David Simon, chairman, CEO, and president of Simon Property Group, has led the company to become the largest shopping mall operator in the United States and a global leader in retail real estate. Taking over leadership in the mid-1990s, he steered the Indianapolis-based firm through major acquisitions, including the purchase of Taubman Centers, and successfully navigated challenges posed by e-commerce and shifting consumer trends. Under his guidance, Simon Property Group has maintained dominance with hundreds of malls and premium outlets, while Simon himself has earned a reputation as one of the most influential executives in American real estate.

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.

Henry Swieca, billionaire investor and hedge fund manager, cofounded Highbridge Capital Management in 1992, transforming it into one of the world’s leading alternative investment firms before selling a majority stake to JPMorgan Chase in 2004. After exiting Highbridge, he launched Talpion Fund Management, his family office, focusing on a broad range of investments across public and private markets. A child of Holocaust survivors, Swieca has coupled financial success with extensive philanthropy in education, Jewish causes, and healthcare, underscoring his reputation as both a disciplined investor and committed benefactor.

Henry Kravis, cofounder and co-executive chairman of Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co. (KKR), is a pioneer of the leveraged buyout industry and one of private equity’s most influential figures. Alongside Jerome Kohlberg and George Roberts, he helped establish KKR in 1976, building it into a global investment powerhouse managing hundreds of billions in assets. Kravis became a Wall Street icon through landmark deals such as the record-setting acquisition of RJR Nabisco, chronicled in Barbarians at the Gate. Known for his dealmaking acumen and philanthropic contributions, he has shaped both modern finance and charitable giving.

Henry Jarecki, psychiatrist-turned-financier, built his fortune through trading and investment ventures after an early career in medicine. He founded and led several successful commodities and securities firms, including Mocatta Metals and Brody White & Co., becoming a prominent figure in the global precious metals market. Beyond finance, Jarecki has been a dedicated philanthropist and supporter of scientific research, education, and cultural initiatives, channeling his wealth into causes ranging from marine conservation to academic institutions. His unique path from medicine to markets highlights both intellectual range and entrepreneurial vision.

Hartley Rogers, chairman of Hamilton Lane, has guided the investment management firm into a global leader in private markets solutions. With decades of experience in private equity and alternative investments, he helped scale Hamilton Lane’s platform to manage and advise on hundreds of billions in assets for institutional clients worldwide. Known for his strategic leadership and deep industry expertise, Rogers has positioned the firm at the forefront of private markets investing, while also serving on boards and engaging in philanthropic initiatives.

Hamilton “Tony” James, veteran financier and former executive vice chairman of Blackstone, played a central role in building the firm into the world’s largest alternative asset manager. Joining Blackstone in 2002 after a long career at Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette and Credit Suisse, he helped drive its expansion across private equity, real estate, credit, and hedge fund solutions. Known for his strategic vision and operational discipline, James also became a trusted voice in public policy and philanthropy, cementing his reputation as one of Wall Street’s most influential dealmakers.

Hamdi Ulukaya, founder and CEO of Chobani, transformed the U.S. yogurt market by popularizing Greek yogurt and building a multibillion-dollar food company from humble beginnings. An immigrant from Turkey, he bought a shuttered Kraft plant in upstate New York in 2005 and grew Chobani into America’s top-selling yogurt brand through bold marketing, product innovation, and a commitment to quality. Known for his “anti-CEO” ethos, Ulukaya has championed employee ownership, progressive workplace policies, and refugee support initiatives, redefining what it means to build a purpose-driven business.

Gregg Hymowitz, founder, chairman, and CEO of EnTrust Global, has built one of the world’s leading alternative investment firms, managing billions across hedge funds, private equity, real assets, and impact investments. With a career spanning decades in finance, Hymowitz launched EnTrust in 1997 and later orchestrated its merger with Permal to expand global reach. Known for his innovative approach to portfolio construction and commitment to ESG strategies, he has positioned EnTrust Global as a trusted partner for institutional investors worldwide.

Greg Mondre, co-CEO of Silver Lake, is one of the most influential investors in technology private equity. Since joining the firm in 1999, he has played a central role in building it into a global powerhouse with over $100 billion in assets under management. Mondre has overseen landmark deals in companies such as Dell Technologies, Skype, and Twitter, cementing his reputation as a shrewd dealmaker with a deep understanding of the tech sector. His leadership continues to shape Silver Lake’s strategy at the forefront of high-growth, innovation-driven investments.

Glenn Dubin, billionaire hedge fund manager and philanthropist, cofounded Highbridge Capital Management in 1992, growing it into one of the world’s premier alternative investment firms before selling a majority stake to JPMorgan Chase in 2004. After leaving Highbridge, he launched Dubin & Co., a private investment firm with interests spanning energy, healthcare, and consumer businesses. Known for his disciplined approach to investing and extensive philanthropic commitments in health, education, and community development, Dubin has cemented his reputation as both a savvy financier and committed benefactor.

George Yancopoulos, cofounder, president, and chief scientific officer of Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, is one of the most accomplished scientist-executives in biotechnology. A Columbia-trained physician and molecular immunologist, he helped shape Regeneron’s R&D engine, leading to breakthrough therapies in ophthalmology, immunology, oncology, and infectious disease. Under his guidance, the company developed Eylea, a blockbuster treatment for macular degeneration, and partnered in creating COVID-19 antibody therapies. With hundreds of patents and a reputation for scientific rigor, Yancopoulos has become a driving force behind Regeneron’s rise as a global biotech leader.

O. Francis Biondi, cofounder of King Street Capital Management, launched the hedge fund in 1995 alongside fellow First Boston alum Brian Higgins, building it into a global powerhouse with over $25 billion in assets under management. Specializing in contrarian plays across stocks and bonds, the firm became a dominant force in distressed and value investing. Biondi retired in 2020 but retained his ownership stake, cementing his legacy as a shrewd investor and architect of one of the most respected names in alternative asset management.

Felix Baker is a highly influential biotech-focused investor and co-founder of Baker Brothers Advisors, a leading hedge fund specializing in healthcare and biotechnology investing. Through his firm, established in 2000, Felix manages over $20 billion in assets and helped generate an estimated $8 billion gain from early investments in Seagen. A PhD immunologist and Stanford alumnus, he also serves on boards of key biotech companies and contributes to Stanford’s biosciences initiatives.

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.