Mat Ishbia, CEO and chairman of United Wholesale Mortgage, built the company into the largest wholesale mortgage lender in the United States by modernizing broker-centric lending through technology, scale, and relentless execution. Taking over the family business in 2013, Ishbia transformed UWM into a national powerhouse, leading it public via a SPAC merger and reshaping the competitive dynamics of mortgage origination. Beyond finance, he is a major sports owner, acquiring controlling stakes in the Phoenix Suns and Phoenix Mercury and investing heavily in team infrastructure and fan experience. Known for his intensity, competitive mindset, and emphasis on culture, Ishbia stands out as one of the most dynamic entrepreneurs in American finance and sports.

Mark Walter, cofounder and CEO of Guggenheim Partners, built one of the world’s largest and most diversified global investment firms, overseeing hundreds of billions in assets across insurance, asset management, and advisory services. A former attorney, Walter helped architect Guggenheim’s distinctive structure, combining long-duration insurance capital with alternative and fixed-income strategies. Beyond finance, he is widely known as the controlling owner of the Los Angeles Dodgers, where he led a dramatic turnaround of the franchise, delivering multiple championships and setting new standards for investment in professional sports. Walter’s influence spans global finance, infrastructure, and elite sports ownership.

Mark Cuban, entrepreneur, investor, and owner of the Dallas Mavericks, is one of the most recognizable figures in American business, known for turning bold bets into transformative ventures. After selling Broadcast.com to Yahoo! at the height of the dot-com boom, Cuban built a diversified portfolio spanning sports, media, technology, and healthcare. He later disrupted pharmaceutical pricing through the Mark Cuban Cost Plus Drug Company, applying direct-to-consumer economics to lower drug costs. Outspoken, data-driven, and intensely competitive, Cuban blends venture investing with consumer advocacy, making him a defining personality in modern entrepreneurship.

Mario Gabelli, founder and CEO of GAMCO Investors, is one of Wall Street’s most respected value investors, known for applying fundamental research and private-market valuation techniques to public equities. After beginning his career at Loeb, Rhoades & Co., Gabelli launched GAMCO in 1977 and built a multibillion-dollar asset management firm specializing in value, merger arbitrage, and global equity strategies. His disciplined approach emphasizes cash flow, asset value, and management quality, often coupled with active engagement in corporate governance. Beyond finance, Gabelli is a major philanthropist and art collector, supporting education, cultural institutions, and charitable causes worldwide.

Marcelo Claure, entrepreneur and investor, is best known for building Brightstar into one of the world’s largest wireless distribution companies and for his high-profile leadership roles in global telecommunications. After founding Brightstar in 1997, Claure expanded it into a multibillion-dollar enterprise operating in more than 50 countries, later selling a majority stake to SoftBank. He went on to serve as CEO of Sprint, where he led a multiyear turnaround, and later became chief operating officer of SoftBank Group, overseeing global investments across technology, telecom, and startups. Known for his intense execution style and dealmaking acumen, Claure remains a central figure in international business and private investment.

Marc Rowan, cofounder and CEO of Apollo Global Management, is one of the most influential figures in alternative investing, helping build Apollo into a global powerhouse across private equity, credit, and real assets. After beginning his career at Drexel Burnham Lambert, Rowan co-launched Apollo in 1990, developing its reputation for contrarian investing, distressed opportunities, and disciplined capital allocation. As CEO, he has overseen Apollo’s evolution into a diversified asset manager with a strong emphasis on credit, insurance partnerships, and long-term yield strategies. Known for his analytical rigor and understated leadership, Rowan stands at the center of modern private markets.

Marc Nathanson, cable television pioneer and philanthropist, helped shape the modern media landscape as a founding figure in the early cable industry. As founder of Falcon Cable TV in the 1970s, he built and later sold one of the largest cable operators in the United States, playing a formative role in the expansion of broadband and pay television. Nathanson went on to serve as U.S. ambassador to Norway and became a major force in philanthropy through the Nathanson Family Foundation, supporting education, public health, and cultural institutions. His career reflects a blend of entrepreneurial foresight, public service, and long-term civic impact.

Marc Lasry, cofounder and CEO of Avenue Capital Group, is one of the most recognized figures in distressed-debt investing, building a multibillion-dollar platform focused on undervalued and special-situation assets around the world. After early success at Amroc Investments, Lasry launched Avenue in 1995 with his sister Sonia, developing a global reputation for navigating complex restructurings and capitalizing on market dislocations. Beyond finance, he is known for his high-profile role in professional sports as former co-owner of the Milwaukee Bucks, helping oversee the team’s rise to NBA championship status. Lasry’s mix of investment discipline, global perspective, and civic engagement has made him a defining voice in alternative assets.

Lloyd Blankfein, former chairman and CEO of Goldman Sachs, led one of the world’s most powerful financial institutions through a transformative and turbulent era, including the 2008 global financial crisis. Rising from a commodities trader to the top of the firm, Blankfein strengthened Goldman’s global reach across investment banking, trading, and asset management while navigating regulatory shifts and market upheaval. Known for his sharp intellect, resilience, and candid public presence, he became one of Wall Street’s most recognizable figures. Since stepping down, he remains active in finance, policy discussions, and philanthropy, advising companies and contributing to major civic initiatives.

Leslie Wexner, founder of L Brands, is one of the most influential figures in American retail, having built Victoria’s Secret, Bath & Body Works, and a portfolio of iconic mall brands that helped define modern specialty retail. Starting with a single apparel store in 1963, Wexner created a multi-billion-dollar empire through sharp merchandising instincts, aggressive expansion, and a deep understanding of consumer psychology. For decades, he set the pace in fashion and retail strategy, while also becoming a major philanthropist supporting education, healthcare, and the arts. Though he has stepped back from the company, Wexner remains a towering figure in the retail industry’s evolution.

Leonard Stern, chairman and CEO of Hartz Mountain Industries, transformed his family’s small pet-supply enterprise into one of the largest privately held real estate empires in the United States. After taking over the business in the 1950s, he expanded Hartz Mountain into a diversified powerhouse spanning industrial properties, office buildings, hotels, and residential developments concentrated in the New York–New Jersey region. Known for long-term strategy, disciplined capital deployment, and a deep commitment to family ownership, Stern also stands out as a major philanthropist—supporting education, entrepreneurship, and the arts, including significant contributions to NYU’s Stern School of Business, named in his honor.

Leon Cooperman, founder of Omega Advisors, is one of Wall Street’s most respected value investors, known for decades of disciplined stock-picking and outspoken market commentary. After a long career at Goldman Sachs, where he led the asset management division, Cooperman launched Omega in 1991 and produced strong returns through concentrated, research-driven investing in equities and credit. Though he has since converted Omega into a family office, he remains active in markets and philanthropy, donating hundreds of millions to education, medical research, and Jewish causes. Cooperman’s blend of candor, conviction, and lifelong commitment to investing has made him a defining figure in the hedge fund era.

Leon Black, cofounder of Apollo Global Management, is one of the most accomplished private equity investors of the modern era, known for opportunistic deals, distressed investing, and disciplined capital allocation. After a successful career at Drexel Burnham Lambert, Black launched Apollo in 1990 and built it into a multi-hundred-billion-dollar alternative asset powerhouse spanning private equity, credit, and real assets. His tenure included landmark acquisitions, contrarian bets, and a focus on complex, undervalued situations. Although he stepped down from Apollo’s leadership, Black continues to manage his family office and art collection, remaining an influential figure in finance and philanthropy.

Leo KoGuan, billionaire entrepreneur and founder of SHI International, built one of America’s largest privately held IT services companies, supplying software, cloud infrastructure, and enterprise solutions to Fortune 500 clients. A bold technology investor, he is also known as one of the biggest individual shareholders of Tesla, publicly advocating for the company’s mission and long-term strategy. Born in Indonesia and educated in the United States, KoGuan combines global business reach with significant philanthropy, supporting universities, research, and cultural institutions across Asia and the U.S. His career reflects scale, conviction, and a relentless focus on technological progress.

Lee Bass, heir to the Bass family fortune of Fort Worth, has maintained and expanded one of America’s most influential private family investment enterprises. A grandson of legendary oilman Sid Richardson, Bass built on his family’s wealth through disciplined investments in energy, real estate, and private equity, while keeping a deliberately low public profile. Beyond business, he is a major philanthropist and conservationist, supporting education, wildlife preservation, and cultural institutions across Texas. His combination of quiet stewardship, long-term capital management, and community commitment has made him a respected figure in Texas business and family enterprise.

Lee Ainslie, founder and managing partner of Maverick Capital, is one of the most successful hedge fund managers from the original Tiger Cub generation, known for disciplined stock-picking, sector specialization, and rigorous research. After training under Julian Robertson at Tiger Management, Ainslie launched Maverick in 1993 and built it into a multibillion-dollar long/short equity platform with deep expertise in technology, healthcare, and consumer companies. Over three decades, he has produced strong returns with a patient, fundamentals-driven approach and an internal culture that emphasizes analytical depth and risk control. Ainslie is also active in philanthropy and governance, serving on nonprofit boards and promoting educational initiatives.

Lawrence Golub, founder and CEO of Golub Capital, built one of the largest private credit firms in the United States, specializing in direct lending to middle-market companies and providing financing for private equity buyouts. Since launching the firm in 1994, he has overseen the growth of a multibillion-dollar platform known for consistent performance, deep sponsor relationships, and disciplined risk management. Golub Capital has become a key player in leveraged finance, rivaling major banks in unitranche and senior loan markets. Beyond business, Golub is active in philanthropy, public policy, and education, serving on nonprofit boards and donating to health and academic institutions.

Larry Fink, cofounder, chairman, and CEO of BlackRock, built the world’s largest asset manager by combining risk management discipline with vast global reach. Since launching the firm in 1988, he has grown BlackRock into a financial powerhouse overseeing trillions in assets through index funds, ETFs, and institutional mandates, anchored by the Aladdin risk analytics platform. Fink is one of the most influential figures in modern finance, shaping discussions around markets, corporate governance, and sustainability, while maintaining close relationships with governments and CEOs worldwide. His leadership has made BlackRock a central force in global capital allocation.

Larry Silverstein, chairman of Silverstein Properties, is one of New York’s most influential real estate developers, best known for rebuilding the World Trade Center site after the September 11 attacks. A major force in Manhattan commercial property since the 1970s, Silverstein has led the development of millions of square feet of office, residential, and mixed-use space, including icons such as 7 World Trade Center, 4 World Trade Center, and the soaring 3 World Trade Center. His combination of resilience, political navigation, and long-term vision turned tragedy into an unprecedented urban redevelopment effort, cementing Silverstein as a defining figure in modern New York real estate.

Larry Robbins, founder and CEO of Glenview Capital Management, is one of the most respected hedge fund managers in healthcare and event-driven investing. After early success at Leon Cooperman’s Omega Advisors, Robbins launched Glenview in 2000 and built a reputation for deep industry research, concentrated positions, and long-term conviction—particularly in hospitals, insurers, and medical services. His activist work has influenced major healthcare operators, while his philanthropic efforts in education, through the Robbins Family Foundation, focus on charter schools and educational reform. Known for patient, fundamental investing and outspoken views on healthcare policy, Robbins remains a defining figure in the sector.