Justin Ishbia, founder and managing partner of Shore Capital Partners, has built one of the fastest-growing private equity firms in the lower middle market, backing healthcare, business services, and food companies through a disciplined strategy of operational improvement and platform roll-ups. Under his leadership, Shore has completed hundreds of acquisitions and created scaled national platforms across dental, veterinary, behavioral health, and specialty manufacturing, while consistently generating strong returns. A former practicing attorney with a sharp eye for founder-led businesses, Ishbia is also a major investor in sports as co-owner of the Phoenix Suns and Phoenix Mercury alongside his brother, Mat Ishbia. His combination of analytical rigor, deal intensity, and strategic focus has made him a rising force in private equity.

Julio Mario Santo Domingo III, heir to the Santo Domingo brewing and investment fortune, represents the third generation of one of Latin America’s most influential business families. With family wealth built on Bavaria, Colombia’s largest brewer, and later expanded through a landmark merger with SABMiller and its acquisition by AB InBev, he now oversees a wide-ranging international portfolio alongside his relatives. Known for his discretion, cultural interests, and cosmopolitan lifestyle, Santo Domingo III is also involved in philanthropic and creative projects, helping sustain the family’s legacy across business, the arts, and global investment markets.

Julian Baker, cofounder of Baker Bros. Advisors, is one of the most successful investors in the biotechnology industry, building a multibillion-dollar hedge fund focused on high-conviction positions in drug development and life sciences. Together with his brother Felix, he has backed breakthrough therapeutics and major biotech companies including Seagen, Incyte, and Alexion, often taking large, long-term positions and working closely with management teams. Known for rigorous scientific analysis, patience, and a deep understanding of clinical risk, Baker has become a central figure in biotech capital markets, influencing the trajectory of drug innovation while maintaining one of the top track records in the sector.

Jude Reyes, co-chairman of Reyes Holdings, leads one of the largest food and beverage distribution companies in the world, a privately held enterprise built alongside his brother Chris Reyes. From its beginnings in beer distribution, Reyes Holdings has expanded into a multibillion-dollar platform with operations across the U.S. and Latin America, supplying major brands through the largest beer distribution network in America and serving quick-service restaurants through Martin Brower. Known for disciplined execution, long-term family ownership, and industry-leading scale, Reyes has helped create a powerhouse of consumer logistics while maintaining a low public profile and strong philanthropic presence in education and community initiatives.

Josh Kushner, founder and managing partner of Thrive Capital, is one of the most influential venture investors of his generation, backing category-defining companies across fintech, healthcare, and consumer technology. Since launching Thrive in 2009, he has led early or transformative investments in firms such as Instagram, Stripe, Spotify, GitHub, and OpenAI, building Thrive into a multi-billion-dollar venture platform known for disciplined underwriting and long-horizon conviction. Kushner is also the cofounder of Oscar Health, a technology-driven insurer reshaping the U.S. healthcare landscape. With a rare combination of entrepreneurial experience, investment acumen, and strategic clarity, he has become a central force in shaping the next era of digital innovation.

Josh Harris, cofounder of Apollo Global Management, is one of the most accomplished investors of his generation, helping build Apollo into a global alternative-asset powerhouse managing hundreds of billions across private equity, credit, and real assets. After three decades of shaping Apollo’s hallmark value-oriented, contrarian investment strategy, Harris expanded his influence into professional sports as cofounder of Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment, owning the Philadelphia 76ers, New Jersey Devils, and, most recently, the Washington Commanders. Known for his analytical discipline, long-term strategy, and philanthropic commitments in education and community development, Harris has become a defining figure in both modern finance and major-league sports ownership.

Joseph Steinberg, longtime chairman of Jefferies Financial Group and one of the most enduring dealmakers on Wall Street, helped guide the firm’s evolution from a diversified industrial holding company into a focused, modern financial services enterprise. Joining the predecessor company in the 1970s, Steinberg built a reputation for disciplined capital allocation, opportunistic acquisitions, and a value-driven investment philosophy that generated strong long-term returns. Over decades, he influenced Jefferies’ strategic direction, its expansion into investment banking and asset management, and oversaw major portfolio transformations. Known for his analytical rigor, understated leadership, and shareholder-oriented governance, Steinberg remains a defining figure in the firm’s history and a respected voice in American finance.

Joe Mansueto, founder and executive chairman of Morningstar, transformed a one-man startup launched in his Chicago apartment into one of the world’s most trusted providers of investment research, ratings, and financial data. Since founding the company in 1984, he has championed transparency, independent analysis, and investor empowerment, expanding Morningstar into a global platform serving millions of investors and thousands of institutions across more than 25 countries. After taking the company public and stepping back from day-to-day operations, Mansueto has become an influential civic leader, philanthropist, and sports owner—acquiring Major League Soccer’s Chicago Fire and supporting major cultural and educational initiatives. His legacy combines entrepreneurship, integrity, and a long-term commitment to investor advocacy.

Joseph Lubin, cofounder of Ethereum and founder of ConsenSys, is one of the most influential builders in the blockchain ecosystem, helping shape the technological and organizational foundations of Web3. After working in software engineering and finance, Lubin joined Vitalik Buterin in launching Ethereum, the decentralized platform that enabled smart contracts and sparked an entire generation of blockchain innovation. Through ConsenSys, he created a global venture studio and software company responsible for critical infrastructure such as MetaMask and Infura, powering millions of developers and users worldwide. Known for his vision of decentralized networks and digital sovereignty, Lubin remains one of Web3’s most enduring evangelists and architects.

Joseph Liemandt, founder of Trilogy and ESW Capital, is one of the most discreet yet influential figures in enterprise software, building a vast portfolio of companies by acquiring and optimizing underperforming software assets. After becoming a young tech millionaire with Trilogy in the 1990s, he shifted to a buy-and-build strategy through ESW Capital, assembling hundreds of enterprise software businesses and implementing data-driven, remote-first operational models long before they became mainstream. Known for his anonymity, contrarian discipline, and rigorous process engineering, Liemandt has quietly shaped the economics of enterprise software while amassing one of the sector’s most substantial private fortunes.

Joe Lau, cofounder and CTO of Alchemy, is one of the central technical architects behind the Web3 infrastructure powering thousands of blockchain applications. After graduating from Stanford, Lau teamed up with Nikil Viswanathan to launch Alchemy in 2017, building the backend platform that supports developers across Ethereum, Polygon, and other leading chains. Under his engineering leadership, Alchemy has become the “AWS of blockchain,” enabling billions of monthly transactions for companies ranging from DeFi protocols to NFT marketplaces and gaming studios. Known for his deep technical rigor, product discipline, and ability to translate complex infrastructure into accessible tools, Lau is a defining force in the maturation of Web3.

Joe Lacob, managing partner and chairman of the Golden State Warriors, is the venture capitalist who helped engineer one of the greatest franchise transformations in modern sports. After years at Kleiner Perkins investing in healthcare and technology, Lacob led the group that acquired the Warriors in 2010 and rebuilt the organization through analytics-driven strategy, top-tier talent development, and a bold front-office culture. Under his leadership, the Warriors evolved from a struggling team into a global dynasty with multiple NBA championships, a state-of-the-art arena in San Francisco, and one of the most valuable brands in sports. Lacob’s blend of data rigor, entrepreneurial mindset, and competitive ambition has redefined what ownership can look like in the NBA.

Joseph Grendys, owner, chairman, and CEO of Koch Foods, built one of America’s largest vertically integrated poultry producers from a small Chicago-based chicken distributor into a multibillion-dollar industry giant. Joining the company in the 1980s, he expanded Koch Foods through strategic acquisitions, processing plant development, and an aggressive focus on efficiency across farming, processing, and distribution. Today, the company supplies major retailers and food-service chains nationwide, ranking among the top poultry producers in the United States. Known for his low profile and disciplined operations, Grendys has become one of the most successful self-made figures in American agribusiness.

Joseph Edelman, founder and CEO of Perceptive Advisors, is one of the most successful and influential biotech hedge fund managers of the modern era. Since launching the firm in 1999, he has built Perceptive into a multibillion-dollar powerhouse specializing in life sciences, backing breakthrough companies across biotechnology, medical devices, and healthcare innovation. Known for his deep scientific understanding, high-conviction portfolio strategy, and early identification of transformative therapies, Edelman has consistently ranked among the top performers in healthcare investing. His disciplined, research-driven approach has made Perceptive a critical source of capital for emerging biotech and a defining force in the global life sciences ecosystem.

Jef Colruyt, chairman and former CEO of the Colruyt Group, leads one of Europe’s most efficient and respected retail empires, built on a disciplined focus on low prices, operational simplicity, and long-term family stewardship. Taking the helm in 1994, he expanded the Belgian retailer into a diversified group spanning supermarkets, wholesale distribution, fuel stations, renewable energy, and digital services, all while maintaining a culture of frugality and sustainability. Under his leadership, Colruyt strengthened its position as the dominant price leader in Belgium and a key player in European retail. Known for his understated style and values-driven governance, Jef Colruyt remains one of the continent’s most influential family-business leaders.

Marc Coucke, Belgian entrepreneur and investor, built his fortune as the cofounder of Omega Pharma, transforming a small over-the-counter medicine distributor into one of Europe’s largest consumer healthcare companies before selling it to Perrigo for billions. After the sale, Coucke diversified through his investment company Alychlo, acquiring and backing businesses across pharmaceuticals, hospitality, sports, real estate, and leisure—including theme parks, luxury resorts, and the Belgian football club R.S.C. Anderlecht. Known for his charismatic style, bold dealmaking, and expansive portfolio, Coucke has become one of Belgium’s most influential business figures, blending entrepreneurial drive with high-profile investments across Europe.

Joseph Craft III, president and CEO of Alliance Resource Partners, is one of the most prominent figures in the American coal industry, overseeing one of the nation’s largest and most efficient coal producers. Since taking leadership in the late 1990s, Craft has expanded Alliance through disciplined capital allocation, long-term supply contracts, and a focus on low-cost, high-productivity mining operations across the Midwest and Appalachia. Beyond energy, he is an influential political and philanthropic figure, supporting education, economic development, and university programs throughout Kentucky and Oklahoma. Craft’s combination of operational expertise and strategic influence has made him a defining leader in U.S. energy and regional industry.

Joseph Chetrit, founder of the Chetrit Group, is one of New York’s most enigmatic and influential real estate investors, known for executing some of the city’s largest and most complex property deals with minimal public profile. After building an early fortune in textiles, Chetrit shifted into real estate in the 1990s, assembling a multibillion-dollar portfolio that includes office towers, residential conversions, hotels, and landmark properties across Manhattan, Miami, Los Angeles, and beyond. His firm has been involved in major transactions such as the Sears Tower sale, the Chelsea Hotel redevelopment, and large-scale waterfront projects. Chetrit’s combination of discretion, scale, and contrarian timing has made him a defining—if quietly spoken—force in American real estate.

Joseph Bae, co-CEO of KKR, is one of the most powerful private equity leaders of his generation, having played a central role in transforming the firm from a classic buyout shop into a diversified global investment powerhouse. Joining KKR in 1996, he spearheaded the firm’s expansion across Asia—building its offices, teams, and flagship funds—before taking on broader leadership of global private equity, growth, credit, and infrastructure platforms. As co-CEO, Bae oversees hundreds of billions in assets and helps set the strategic direction of one of the world’s most influential alternative asset managers. Known for his global mindset, disciplined dealmaking, and talent-building leadership, he remains a defining voice in the evolution of modern private equity.

José E. Feliciano, cofounder and managing partner of Clearlake Capital, is one of the most influential private equity investors of his generation, helping build Clearlake into a top-tier global firm focused on technology, industrials, and consumer businesses. Since launching the firm in 2006 with Behdad Eghbali, Feliciano has overseen a disciplined strategy combining operational transformation with data-driven value creation, driving assets under management to well over $70 billion. A leader in expanding Latino representation in finance, he is also a major philanthropist through the SUPERB and Somos foundations, supporting education, entrepreneurship, and social mobility. Feliciano’s blend of investment rigor, cultural leadership, and long-horizon thinking has made him a defining force in modern private equity.