Jed McCaleb, pioneering software developer and blockchain innovator, is best known as a cofounder of Ripple and Stellar, two of the most influential protocols in the digital asset ecosystem. A serial entrepreneur with a long history in early crypto infrastructure, McCaleb created the first major cryptocurrency exchange, Mt. Gox, before selling it in 2011, and later launched Stellar to promote low-cost, decentralized cross-border payments. Beyond blockchain, he founded aerospace company Vast to pursue long-term visions in space habitation. Known for his technical creativity and unconventional path, McCaleb has helped shape multiple generations of internet and financial technology.

Jean Madar, cofounder, chairman, and CEO of Inter Parfums, has built one of the world’s most successful fragrance companies by blending luxury branding with disciplined global distribution. Launching the business in 1982 with Philippe Benacin, Madar transformed Inter Parfums into the creative and operational force behind signature fragrances for brands such as Montblanc, Jimmy Choo, Coach, and Guess. Under his leadership, the company has grown into a multibillion-dollar enterprise known for long-term licensing partnerships, strong international presence, and a finely tuned balance of creativity and commercial strategy. Madar is widely regarded as a visionary in luxury fragrance development and brand building.

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.

Jay Schottenstein, chairman and CEO of American Eagle Outfitters and head of the Schottenstein family’s retail empire, has spent decades shaping some of America’s most recognizable consumer brands. Under his leadership, American Eagle evolved into a multibillion-dollar global apparel company, driven by strong lifestyle positioning and the runaway success of Aerie. Beyond fashion, Schottenstein oversees a vast portfolio that spans furniture retail, real estate, and private investments, including leadership roles within Schottenstein Stores Corporation. Known for his disciplined operational approach and long-term family stewardship, he remains one of the most influential figures in the U.S. retail sector.

J.B. Pritzker, billionaire businessman, philanthropist, and the 43rd governor of Illinois, is a prominent member of the Pritzker family whose fortune stems from the creation of the Hyatt hotel empire and a vast portfolio of industrial holdings. Before entering politics, he founded and led private investment firm Pritzker Group, backing technology, manufacturing, and venture capital ventures and helping shape Chicago’s modern startup ecosystem. As governor since 2019, Pritzker has focused on economic development, infrastructure, education, and social policy, leveraging both his business background and philanthropic commitments to influence public life on a statewide and national scale.

Jay Paul, founder of the Jay Paul Company, is one of Silicon Valley’s most influential and discreet real estate developers, known for creating some of the region’s most valuable and sought-after corporate campuses. Since the 1970s, he has transformed underutilized land into cutting-edge office complexes occupied by tech giants such as Google, Amazon, and Apple, while reshaping skylines with projects like San Francisco’s landmark 181 Fremont tower. Renowned for his long-term vision, premium building standards, and exceptional tenant relationships, Paul has built a multibillion-dollar empire that underpins the infrastructure of the modern tech economy—all while maintaining a notably private personal profile.

Jay Chaudhry, founder and CEO of Zscaler, is one of the most successful entrepreneurs in cloud security, having built multiple cybersecurity companies before creating Zscaler in 2007 to redefine how enterprises protect their networks. Born in a small Himalayan village in India with no running water or electricity, Chaudhry immigrated to the U.S., earned multiple engineering and business degrees, and launched a series of security startups acquired by major tech firms. With Zscaler’s zero-trust platform now securing thousands of global enterprises, he has become a leading voice in cloud transformation and one of the wealthiest self-made immigrant founders in Silicon Valley.

Jared Smith, cofounder of Qualtrics, helped build one of the world’s leading experience management platforms, transforming the way companies gather insights and understand customers, employees, and markets. Launching the company with his brother Ryan and their father in a Utah basement, he oversaw product development and technology that powered Qualtrics’ rapid ascent from a bootstrapped startup to a multibillion-dollar enterprise. Following its $8 billion acquisition by SAP, Smith continued as president of Qualtrics, driving global expansion and innovation. Known for his operational discipline and product vision, he remains a key figure in the modern SaaS landscape.

Jared Isaacman, entrepreneur and pilot, is the founder and CEO of Shift4, the payment processing company he launched as a teenager and later scaled into a multibillion-dollar publicly traded enterprise serving restaurants, hotels, stadiums, and major global brands. A skilled aviator with thousands of flight hours, Isaacman gained worldwide attention as commander of Inspiration4—the first all-civilian orbital space mission—funded largely by his own philanthropy in support of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Combining bold entrepreneurial vision with a passion for aerospace and charitable impact, he has emerged as one of the most dynamic business leaders of his generation.

Jamie Dinan, founder and CEO of York Capital Management, is one of the most respected figures in the hedge fund world, known for his disciplined event-driven and distressed investing strategies. After losing his entire savings during the 1987 market crash, Dinan rebuilt his career and launched York in 1991 with just $3.6 million, growing it into a multibillion-dollar global firm with offices in New York, London, and Hong Kong. Renowned for his resilience, rigorous analysis, and long-term perspective, Dinan also holds ownership stakes in major sports franchises and is an active philanthropist in education and healthcare.

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 Tisch, president and CEO of Loews Corporation, oversees one of America’s most enduring and diversified conglomerates, with major interests in insurance, energy, hospitality, and packaging. A member of the prominent Tisch family, he joined Loews in the 1970s and became CEO in 1998, guiding the company through decades of disciplined capital allocation and strategic acquisitions. Under his leadership, Loews has maintained a reputation for conservative financial management and long-term value creation, anchored by flagship holdings such as CNA Financial and Loews Hotels. Tisch is also a noted philanthropist and civic leader, contributing to education, healthcare, and cultural institutions.

Jim Thompson, founder and chairman of Crown Worldwide Group, built one of the world’s leading logistics, relocation, and records management companies from a single operation in Japan in 1965. Over six decades, he expanded Crown into a global enterprise with offices in nearly 50 countries, serving multinational corporations, governments, and private clients with services ranging from international moving to fine art handling and workplace solutions. Known for his global mindset, disciplined expansion, and commitment to service excellence, Thompson has established Crown as a trusted partner to organizations navigating the complexities of international mobility and logistics.

James Scapa, founder, chairman, and CEO of Altair, has spent four decades building the company into a global leader in simulation, high-performance computing, and data analytics. Starting Altair in 1985 with a small engineering team, Scapa helped pioneer computer-aided engineering tools that transformed product design across automotive, aerospace, manufacturing, and technology industries. Under his leadership, Altair expanded into cloud computing, AI, and enterprise analytics, evolving into a multibillion-dollar publicly traded company. Known for his long-term vision and engineering-driven culture, Scapa remains one of the most respected leaders in applied simulation and computational science.

James Monsees, cofounder of Juul Labs, helped transform the nicotine industry by developing one of the most disruptive consumer products of the decade. Alongside Adam Bowen, he created the vapor technology that became JUUL while both were graduate students at Stanford, ultimately scaling the company into a multibillion-dollar business that reshaped global tobacco markets. Monsees’ work—focused on design, user experience, and harm-reduction alternatives—made him a central figure in one of the most controversial and fast-growing consumer product stories of the 21st century.

Jim Koch, founder and chairman of The Boston Beer Company, helped ignite America’s craft beer revolution by turning a family beer recipe into the iconic Samuel Adams brand. Launching the company in 1984 from his kitchen, Koch built it into one of the largest and most influential craft brewers in the United States, known for quality, innovation, and an unwavering commitment to traditional brewing principles. Under his leadership, Boston Beer expanded into hard seltzers, ciders, and spirits while maintaining its independent ethos. Koch’s entrepreneurial grit and industry leadership have made him one of the most respected figures in American brewing.

Jim Kennedy, chairman emeritus of Cox Enterprises, is the longtime steward of one of America’s largest and most influential privately held companies. Grandson of founder James M. Cox, he helped transform the family’s newspaper holdings into a diversified powerhouse spanning cable and broadband (Cox Communications), automotive services (Cox Automotive), and emerging clean-tech investments. Under his leadership, Cox became a multibillion-dollar enterprise known for operational discipline, innovation, and a strong commitment to sustainability and philanthropy. Kennedy remains one of the wealthiest and most prominent family-business leaders in the United States.

Jim Kavanaugh, cofounder and CEO of World Wide Technology, has built one of America’s largest private companies by transforming a small tech reseller into a global IT solutions powerhouse. Since launching WWT in 1990, he has scaled it into a multi-billion-dollar enterprise delivering advanced networking, cloud, cybersecurity, and digital transformation services to Fortune 500 and public sector clients worldwide. A former professional soccer player turned entrepreneur, Kavanaugh is known for his disciplined leadership, people-first culture, and long-term partnership approach, making WWT a dominant force in enterprise technology.

Jim Jannard, founder of Oakley and RED Digital Cinema, is a self-made billionaire whose innovations reshaped both the eyewear and filmmaking industries. Starting Oakley in 1975 with just $300, he revolutionized sports performance gear with proprietary materials and bold design, growing the brand into a global icon before selling it to Luxottica for over $2 billion. Never one to slow down, Jannard went on to disrupt Hollywood with RED Digital Cinema, introducing high-resolution digital cameras that transformed modern filmmaking. Known for his rebellious streak, obsession with engineering excellence, and aversion to the spotlight, Jannard remains one of America’s most influential product visionaries.

Jimmy Haslam, chairman of Pilot Company, has built one of America’s largest privately held businesses in fuel, logistics, and travel centers. Under his leadership, Pilot transformed into a nationwide powerhouse with thousands of locations serving professional drivers and consumers across North America. Haslam is also widely known as co-owner of the Cleveland Browns and the Milwaukee Bucks, where he has applied his competitive, operations-focused leadership style to professional sports. With a portfolio spanning energy, transportation, and major league franchises, Haslam remains a prominent and influential figure in both American business and sports.