Peter Thiel, cofounder of PayPal and Palantir Technologies, is one of Silicon Valley’s most influential and contrarian thinkers, known for backing companies that challenge consensus and reshape entire industries. As an early investor in Facebook and the first outside investor in several category-defining startups, Thiel helped popularize a philosophy centered on building monopolies through deep technology rather than incremental competition. Through Founders Fund, he has backed transformative ventures across software, defense, biotech, and space. Thiel’s impact extends beyond investing into ideas, shaping debates around technology, globalization, and the future of innovation.

Nicolas Berggruen, investor and philanthropist, built a global reputation as a contrarian thinker blending capital, policy, and long-term societal vision. Founder of Berggruen Holdings and the Berggruen Institute, he has invested across real estate, finance, and special situations while championing ideas around governance reform, technology, and globalization. Known for his unconventional lifestyle and intellectual focus, Berggruen has positioned himself less as a traditional financier and more as a patron of cross-disciplinary thought, convening global leaders to address structural challenges facing modern societies.

Mitchell Rales, cofounder of Danaher Corporation, is one of America’s most successful industrial builders, known for pairing disciplined capital allocation with a relentless focus on operational excellence. Alongside his brother Steven, Rales transformed Danaher from a small real estate company into a global science and technology conglomerate by pioneering the Danaher Business System, a management framework rooted in continuous improvement and lean manufacturing. After stepping back from day-to-day operations, Rales has remained an influential investor and philanthropist, supporting education, public policy, and cultural institutions through the Rales Foundation and Glenstone Museum.

Steve Cohen is an American billionaire hedge fund manager, art collector, and owner of the New York Mets. He is the founder of Point72 Asset Management and S.A.C. Capital Advisors, renowned for his aggressive trading strategies and substantial influence in both the financial and sports industries.

He Xiangjian is a prominent Chinese businessman, known for founding Midea Group, one of the world's largest manufacturers of electrical appliances. With a keen eye for innovation and expansion, He Xiangjian has made significant contributions to the global appliance industry.

Alice Walton, daughter of Walmart founder Sam Walton, is a prominent American heiress, businesswoman, and philanthropist. Known for her significant contributions to the art world, she founded the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art and is actively involved in various philanthropic efforts through her foundations.