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.

Marc Andreessen, cofounder of Netscape and venture capital firm Andreessen Horowitz, is one of Silicon Valley’s most influential architects, shaping both the early internet and the modern startup ecosystem. After creating Mosaic, the first widely adopted web browser, and helping launch Netscape, Andreessen turned to investing, backing industry-defining companies across software, crypto, AI, and consumer technology. Through Andreessen Horowitz, he helped institutionalize venture capital as a full-service platform, supporting founders with capital, talent, and strategic insight. Known for his bold technological manifestos and conviction in software’s transformative power, Andreessen remains a central voice in global innovation.

Louis Bacon, founder of Moore Capital Management, is one of the most accomplished global macro hedge fund managers of his generation, known for combining rigorous risk control with deep geopolitical and economic insight. Since launching Moore in 1989, he delivered decades of strong returns through disciplined trading in currencies, commodities, rates, and equities, becoming a defining figure in the macro-trading world. Beyond finance, Bacon is a major conservation philanthropist, protecting vast tracts of land in the U.S. and the Caribbean through the Moore Charitable Foundation. His blend of trading mastery, discretion, and environmental stewardship has made him a singular presence in global finance.

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.

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.

Ken Langone, cofounder of Home Depot, is one of America’s most respected entrepreneurs and dealmakers, helping turn a radical big-box retail concept into one of the largest home-improvement chains in the world. After early success on Wall Street as an investment banker, Langone helped finance and launch Home Depot in 1978, and the company’s explosive growth made him a billionaire. Known for his blunt, patriotic style and deep loyalty to employees, he is also a major philanthropist—funding medical research, education, and veterans’ causes, including a landmark gift to make tuition free at NYU’s medical school. Langone remains a prominent voice on business, capitalism, and civic leadership.

Kenneth Fisher, founder and executive chairman of Fisher Investments, is one of the most influential voices in modern investing, known for combining empirical market research with accessible financial commentary. Since launching Fisher Investments in 1979, he has grown the firm into a multi-hundred-billion-dollar global asset manager serving private clients and institutions across North America and Europe. A bestselling author and longtime columnist, Fisher popularized the use of price-to-sales ratio in stock analysis and has written extensively on behavioral finance and investor psychology. With a career spanning five decades, he remains a leading advocate of evidence-based investing and long-term market discipline.

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.

Joseph Liemandt, founder of Trilogy and ESW Capital, is one of the most discreet yet influential figures in enterprise software, building a vast portfolio of companies by acquiring and optimizing underperforming software assets. After becoming a young tech millionaire with Trilogy in the 1990s, he shifted to a buy-and-build strategy through ESW Capital, assembling hundreds of enterprise software businesses and implementing data-driven, remote-first operational models long before they became mainstream. Known for his anonymity, contrarian discipline, and rigorous process engineering, Liemandt has quietly shaped the economics of enterprise software while amassing one of the sector’s most substantial private fortunes.

Joseph Craft III, president and CEO of Alliance Resource Partners, is one of the most prominent figures in the American coal industry, overseeing one of the nation’s largest and most efficient coal producers. Since taking leadership in the late 1990s, Craft has expanded Alliance through disciplined capital allocation, long-term supply contracts, and a focus on low-cost, high-productivity mining operations across the Midwest and Appalachia. Beyond energy, he is an influential political and philanthropic figure, supporting education, economic development, and university programs throughout Kentucky and Oklahoma. Craft’s combination of operational expertise and strategic influence has made him a defining leader in U.S. energy and regional industry.

John Griffin, founder of Blue Ridge Capital, became one of the most respected hedge fund managers of his generation through his disciplined long/short equity strategy and reputation for deep fundamental research. A protégé of legendary investor Julian Robertson at Tiger Management, Griffin launched Blue Ridge in 1996 and built it into a multi-billion-dollar “Tiger Cub” fund known for concentrated bets on high-quality growth companies and sharp downside hedging. After closing the fund in 2017 to devote himself to philanthropy, he became CEO of Blue Ridge Foundation and a leading donor to education and medical research, combining investment principles with data-driven social impact initiatives.

John W. Childs, founder of private equity firm J.W. Childs Associates, is a veteran investor known for building middle-market companies into national consumer and retail brands. After leading buyout efforts at Thomas H. Lee Partners, he launched his own Boston-based firm in 1995, backing companies such as Golden Gate Capital–acquired Mattress Firm, shoe retailer K•Swiss, and consumer products businesses across food, health, and household categories. Over decades in the leveraged buyout industry, Childs became recognized for his disciplined deal selection, long-horizon operational focus, and ability to reshape underperforming companies into profitable market contenders.

Joe Gebbia, cofounder of Airbnb, helped transform a simple idea—renting air mattresses in a San Francisco apartment—into one of the world’s most influential travel and hospitality platforms. As the company’s design visionary, he shaped Airbnb’s user experience, trust systems, and brand identity, guiding its growth from a scrappy startup to a multibillion-dollar public company operating in more than 190 countries. Beyond Airbnb, Gebbia founded Samara, a design lab focused on housing innovation, and became a major philanthropist supporting refugees, homelessness initiatives, and global social causes. His blend of creativity, product instinct, and mission-driven leadership has made him a defining figure in modern tech.

Jerry Jones, billionaire businessman and owner of the Dallas Cowboys, transformed the franchise into the most valuable team in global sports through bold management, aggressive marketing, and a relentless focus on brand expansion. Since purchasing the Cowboys in 1989, Jones has overseen multiple Super Bowl victories, built state-of-the-art facilities like AT&T Stadium and The Star in Frisco, and reshaped NFL business economics through media deals and sponsorship innovation. A polarizing yet visionary figure, he has turned the Cowboys into a cultural and commercial powerhouse while becoming one of the most influential owners in professional sports.

Barry Zekelman, executive chairman and CEO of Zekelman Industries, leads North America’s largest independent steel pipe and tube manufacturer, a company he and his family built into a dominant force in the industrial and construction supply chain. After taking over the business at a young age following his father’s passing, Zekelman expanded the company through bold acquisitions, vertical integration, and major investments in advanced U.S. manufacturing. Known for his outspoken advocacy of domestic industry and blue-collar jobs, he has positioned Zekelman Industries as a key supplier to infrastructure, energy, and commercial projects across the continent.

Jay Adair, CEO of Copart, has transformed the Dallas-based company into a global powerhouse in online vehicle auctions and salvage remarketing. Starting at Copart as a teenager, he rose through the ranks and became CEO in 2010, driving the company’s shift from physical auctions to a fully digital, globally scalable platform. Under his leadership, Copart expanded into more than a dozen countries, partnered with major insurers, and grew into a multibillion-dollar enterprise trusted by buyers and sellers worldwide. Known for his technology-forward strategy and operational discipline, Adair has cemented Copart’s position as the dominant force in its industry.

Jamie Dimon, chairman and CEO of JPMorgan Chase, is widely regarded as one of the most influential bankers of his generation. Since taking the helm in 2005, he has transformed JPMorgan into the largest and most profitable bank in the United States, navigating the 2008 financial crisis with relative strength and shaping global finance through strategic acquisitions, disciplined risk management, and outspoken leadership. Known for his direct, pragmatic style and deep understanding of markets, Dimon has become a key voice in economic policy, financial regulation, and corporate governance, making him a defining figure in modern Wall Street history.

James Dolan, executive chairman and CEO of Madison Square Garden Sports and Madison Square Garden Entertainment, oversees one of the most powerful portfolios in sports and live entertainment. As owner of the New York Knicks and New York Rangers, he has long been a central—often controversial—figure in the world of professional sports. Dolan has expanded his influence through major investments in venues and technology, including the groundbreaking MSG Sphere in Las Vegas, redefining immersive entertainment. Known for his aggressive business style and high-profile presence, he remains one of the most influential and polarizing executives in the sports and entertainment industries.