John Paulson, founder of Paulson & Co., is one of the most storied figures in modern hedge fund history, best known for his legendary 2007 bet against subprime mortgages that generated profits of more than $15 billion and made him a symbol of prescient, contrarian investing. After building his firm on merger arbitrage and event-driven strategies, Paulson’s success in the financial crisis cemented his reputation as a master of timing and risk management. In recent years, he has shifted toward private investments and family-office operations while becoming a major philanthropist across healthcare, education, and the arts. Paulson’s rise from modest beginnings to one of the wealthiest hedge fund investors underscores the enduring power of disciplined conviction in global markets.

John Paul DeJoria, cofounder of John Paul Mitchell Systems and Patrón Spirits, is the self-made billionaire whose journey from homelessness to global entrepreneurship has become one of America’s most iconic business stories. After sleeping in his car while starting Paul Mitchell in 1980, he helped turn the professional hair-care brand into a salon staple sold in more than 100 countries, later launching Patrón and redefining premium tequila worldwide. Known for his “success unshared is failure” philosophy, DeJoria has invested heavily in social entrepreneurship, environmental initiatives, and philanthropy, embodying a rare blend of luxury business leadership and mission-driven activism.

John P. McConnell, executive chairman and former CEO of Worthington Industries, has carried forward one of America’s most respected manufacturing legacies, expanding the steel-processing company founded by his father into a diversified industrial group. Under his leadership, Worthington broadened into pressure cylinders, automotive components, and consumer products, while maintaining its signature “Golden Rule” corporate culture rooted in employee-first values, profit sharing, and conservative financial discipline. McConnell has also played a significant civic role in Ohio, including ownership of the NHL’s Columbus Blue Jackets, reinforcing his influence in both regional economic development and professional sports. His long-term stewardship reflects a blend of operational rigor and community-focused leadership uncommon in modern industry.

John Oyler, cofounder and chairman of BeiGene, is one of the most prominent figures in global oncology drug development, helping build a multinational biopharmaceutical company centered on innovative, accessible cancer therapies. After successful ventures in medical technology and data analytics, he launched BeiGene in 2010 with a mission to integrate world-class research with large-scale clinical operations across Asia, Europe, and the United States. Under his leadership, the company has developed breakthrough cancer drugs, secured major partnerships with industry leaders like Novartis and Amgen, and scaled into a global enterprise listed on multiple exchanges. Known for his scientist–entrepreneur mindset, Oyler has reshaped how biotech innovation and commercialization connect across continents.

John Overdeck, cofounder and co-chairman of Two Sigma, is one of the key architects of quantitative hedge fund investing, bringing machine learning, distributed computing, and massive data science into the heart of portfolio management. After an award-winning math background and early leadership roles at D.E. Shaw and Amazon, he partnered with David Siegel in 2001 to build Two Sigma into a global multi-strategy platform managing tens of billions across equities, private investments, insurance tech, venture capital, and market-making. A champion of mathematics and education, Overdeck is also a leading philanthropist through the Overdeck Family Foundation, advancing STEM learning and research at scale.

John Morris, founder of Bass Pro Shops, turned a small fishing gear corner inside his father’s liquor store into one of America’s most iconic outdoor retail empires. Launching the brand in 1972, he built Bass Pro into a destination experience, combining expansive stores, conservation messaging, and immersive outdoor attractions that attract more than 200 million visitors annually. Through acquisitions such as Cabela’s and collaborations with leading conservation groups, Morris expanded the company’s influence across retail, manufacturing, resorts, and wildlife preservation. Known for his passion for nature and customer experience, he has become a transformative force in outdoor recreation and conservation philanthropy.

John Malone, chairman of Liberty Media, is one of the most influential and strategic dealmakers in media and telecommunications, credited with shaping the cable industry and modern pay-TV economics. Often called the “Cable Cowboy,” Malone built Tele-Communications Inc. into the largest U.S. cable operator before selling it to AT&T, then expanded Liberty Media into a sprawling portfolio spanning entertainment, sports, broadband, and satellite broadcasting. Known for his complex tax-efficient structures, minority control positions, and long-term compounding strategy, Malone has influenced everything from streaming competition to global sports ownership. His low-profile persona contrasts sharply with his outsized impact on the business of media.

John Liew, cofounder of AQR Capital Management, is one of the intellectual architects behind quantitative investing, helping bring academic finance into large-scale asset management. Working alongside Cliff Asness and David Kabiller, Liew transformed ideas rooted in factor research, risk premia, and systematic portfolio construction into a multi-hundred-billion-dollar investment platform serving institutions worldwide. With a PhD from the University of Chicago under Nobel laureates, he has championed evidence-based strategies in equities, alternatives, and global macro, while remaining a leading voice in the dialogue between academia and asset management. Liew’s work has been pivotal in cementing quant finance as a mainstream discipline.

John Krystynak, cofounder and former chief technology officer of AppLovin, helped turn a small mobile ad startup into a multibillion-dollar public company at the center of the app economy. An ad-tech and engineering specialist, he architected the core technology that powers AppLovin’s marketing, monetization, and analytics platforms, which serve thousands of mobile developers and support a large portfolio of hit games. After years guiding product and infrastructure behind the scenes, Krystynak stepped back from day-to-day operations but retained a significant ownership stake, placing him among the wealthiest figures in the global mobile technology sector.

John W. Henry, billionaire investor and principal owner of the Boston Red Sox and Liverpool FC, built his fortune as a pioneering commodities trader before reshaping the global sports industry through Fenway Sports Group. After founding the quantitative hedge fund J.W. Henry & Co., he acquired the Red Sox in 2002 and led the team to multiple World Series championships, breaking the “Curse of the Bambino.” Expanding his sports empire internationally, Henry later bought Liverpool FC, guiding the Premier League club to Champions League and English title victories. Known for his data-driven, value-focused leadership, he has become one of the most influential owners in modern professional sports.

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 Goff, billionaire investor and founder of Crescent Real Estate and Goff Capital, built one of the most successful real estate and private investment enterprises in Texas. After joining the fledgling Crescent Realty Trust in the early 1990s, he helped grow it into a multibillion-dollar office and mixed-use portfolio, later engineering its sale to Morgan Stanley and reacquiring major assets during the financial crisis at steep discounts. Through Goff Capital, he has expanded into hospitality, aviation, and energy, while backing high-growth ventures and serving as chairman of luxury travel company Omni Hotels & Resorts. Known for contrarian timing, discipline, and opportunistic dealmaking, Goff remains a defining figure in modern Texas business and real estate.

John Foley, cofounder and former CEO of Peloton, turned a home-fitness concept into a global connected workout phenomenon by merging high-end hardware with subscription media. After launching Peloton in 2012 through Kickstarter, Foley pushed a bold bet on streaming-based fitness communities, leading the company through rapid growth, a blockbuster IPO, and a surge in demand during the pandemic. Known for visionary product design and premium branding, he later stepped down amid supply-chain and post-pandemic challenges but remains a defining figure in the evolution of consumer wellness technology. Through subsequent ventures in textiles and wellness, Foley continues to pursue innovation at the intersection of lifestyle, brand, and retail.

John Fisher, billionaire investor and owner of the San Francisco Giants–affiliated interests through Pisces, Inc., manages one of the most diversified private investment portfolios linked to the Fisher family, heirs to the Gap retail fortune. As president of Pisces, Fisher oversees long-term capital allocation across real estate, private equity, and strategic sports holdings, including his majority stake in Major League Baseball’s Oakland Athletics. Known for his discreet, media-averse style, he has built influence in professional sports ownership and large-scale development projects, while maintaining a complex role in the Athletics’ future and broader West Coast commercial investments.

John Fish, chairman and CEO of Suffolk Construction, has built one of the largest and most innovative privately held construction firms in the United States, known for its advanced use of technology and data in large-scale building projects. Since taking over the company in the early 1980s, Fish has expanded Suffolk beyond its Boston roots into a national powerhouse with work spanning commercial, healthcare, aviation, and residential megaprojects. A prominent civic leader, he has chaired major business organizations, led education and workforce initiatives, and played key roles in economic development across Massachusetts. Fish’s blend of entrepreneurial growth, tech-driven strategy, and civic engagement has made him one of the most respected voices in American construction and urban policy.

John Doerr, chairman of Kleiner Perkins, is one of the most influential venture capitalists in Silicon Valley, backing industry-defining companies that helped shape the modern internet and clean-tech revolutions. Since joining the firm in 1980 after a successful career at Intel, he led investments in Amazon, Google, Netscape, Sun Microsystems, and later climate-focused innovators such as Beyond Meat and QuantumScape. Doerr is also a leading voice for mission-driven entrepreneurship, championing OKR management frameworks and ambitious climate policy through philanthropy and his book Speed & Scale. His decades-long impact continues to steer technology, leadership, and climate innovation on a global scale.

John Collison, cofounder and president of Stripe, is one of the youngest self-made billionaires in tech, helping build the financial infrastructure that powers much of the modern internet economy. Alongside his brother Patrick, he launched Stripe in 2010 to simplify online payments for developers and businesses, growing it into a global platform used by millions of companies—from startups to industry giants like Amazon and Lyft. Known for his product discipline, engineering rigor, and long-term focus on expanding digital commerce, Collison has positioned Stripe as a cornerstone of global fintech, enabling seamless payments and financial services across over 100 countries.

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.

John Catsimatidis, billionaire businessman and founder of the Red Apple Group, built a diversified empire spanning supermarkets, energy, real estate, and aviation. After immigrating to the United States from Greece as a child, he left college to take over a small grocery store and expanded it into the Gristedes supermarket chain, later branching into oil refining and fuel distribution through United Refining. Catsimatidis also became a major New York real estate developer, adding residential towers and mixed-use properties to his portfolio. A prominent political donor, radio host, and philanthropist, he remains one of New York’s most outspoken and influential entrepreneurial figures.

John Calamos, founder and global CIO of Calamos Investments, is a pioneering figure in convertible securities and risk-managed equity investing. After serving as a U.S. Air Force fighter pilot, he launched his investment firm in 1977 with a strategy centered on convertibles—an overlooked asset class he helped bring into mainstream institutional portfolios. Under his leadership, Calamos Investments grew into a multibillion-dollar asset manager serving global institutions, public funds, and private wealth clients, while Calamos became known as a leading author and educator on volatility, capital structure, and portfolio construction. His disciplined, analytical approach has earned him a reputation as both an innovator and one of the most respected long-term investors in modern finance.