Mark Rein, vice chairman and cofounder of Epic Games, is one of the most influential executives in the global video game industry, helping build Epic into a powerhouse behind the Unreal Engine and blockbuster franchises like Fortnite. After early roles in game publishing, Rein partnered with Tim Sweeney in the early 1990s, focusing on business development, publishing strategy, and developer relations while Sweeney led technology. Rein played a central role in Unreal Engine’s rise as the dominant game-development platform and in Epic’s challenge to traditional digital distribution models. Known for his outspoken advocacy for developers and platform fairness, he remains a defining figure in interactive entertainment.

Jon Yarbrough, founder of Video Gaming Technologies (VGT), built a fortune by transforming a niche market—Class II gaming machines for tribal casinos—into one of the most profitable segments in the gaming industry. Launching VGT in 1991, he focused on underserved Native American casino operators, combining tailored game design with revenue-sharing partnerships that allowed tribal gaming to scale rapidly across the United States. After decades of growth and recurring revenue dominance, Yarbrough sold VGT to Aristocrat Leisure for $1.3 billion, becoming one of America’s wealthiest self-made entrepreneurs. Low-profile and disciplined, he has since expanded into private investments, technology ventures, and philanthropy.