David Capobianco, founder, CEO, and managing partner of Five Point, built one of the most influential private investment firms focused on energy and infrastructure. Since founding the Houston-based firm in 2012, he has helped turn it into a major force in water midstream, land, and related infrastructure, while also extending its reach through ventures such as LandBridge. Known for disciplined dealmaking and long-term conviction in hard assets, Capobianco has emerged as a standout figure in the modern energy-infrastructure investing boom.

Tony Townley, cofounder of Zaxby’s, helped turn a single Georgia chicken restaurant launched in 1990 into one of America’s most successful fast-casual chains. Building the brand alongside childhood friend Zach McLeroy, he played a central role in Zaxby’s growth into a multibillion-dollar business with more than 900 locations, establishing it as a major force in the competitive chicken segment. Known for long-term brand building and disciplined expansion, Townley remains one of the key entrepreneurs behind Zaxby’s rise.

Zach McLeroy, cofounder and chairman of Zaxby’s, helped turn a small Georgia chicken restaurant launched in 1990 into one of America’s most successful fast-casual chains. Building the brand alongside childhood friend Tony Townley, he scaled Zaxby’s to more than 900 locations and a multibillion-dollar business, carving out a dominant place in the competitive chicken segment. Known for long-term brand stewardship and disciplined expansion, McLeroy remains one of the defining entrepreneurs behind the Southern restaurant boom.

Ron Shaich, cofounder of Au Bon Pain and the architect behind Panera’s rise, built one of the most influential careers in fast-casual dining by pairing sharp consumer insight with disciplined brand building. After helping launch Au Bon Pain, he transformed Panera Bread into a category-defining powerhouse and later expanded into investing and restaurant innovation through Act III Holdings. Known for seeing around corners in food retail, Shaich remains a central figure in the evolution of modern dining.

Steve Ells, founder of Chipotle Mexican Grill, helped pioneer the fast-casual revolution by turning a single Denver burrito shop into one of America’s most influential restaurant brands. Trained at the Culinary Institute of America, he built Chipotle around higher-quality ingredients and a simplified menu, reshaping how consumers think about quick-service dining. After leading the company as CEO until 2018 and executive chairman until 2020, Ells remained a defining figure in the industry and joined the billionaire ranks as the enduring value of his Chipotle stake became clear.

Todd Graves, cofounder and CEO of Raising Cane’s, turned a single Baton Rouge chicken-finger shop into one of America’s fastest-growing restaurant brands by doing one thing exceptionally well. Since opening the first location in 1996, Graves has built Raising Cane’s into a national powerhouse with a tightly focused menu, founder-led culture, and a marketing strategy that blends celebrity partnerships with cult-like customer loyalty. Known for relentless operational simplicity and brand discipline, he has become one of the most successful entrepreneurs in modern quick-service dining.

Peter Cancro, founder and chairman of Jersey Mike’s, built one of America’s fastest-growing restaurant chains by turning a single New Jersey sandwich shop he bought at 17 into a national franchising powerhouse. Over five decades, he expanded the brand through a simple model centered on fresh-sliced subs, operator loyalty, and strong local-store economics, helping Jersey Mike’s surpass 3,000 locations. After Blackstone’s 2024 acquisition of the company at an $8 billion valuation, Cancro stepped down as CEO in 2025 but remained chairman and a significant shareholder, continuing to shape the brand’s long-term growth.