Ken Langone, cofounder of Home Depot, is one of America’s most respected entrepreneurs and dealmakers, helping turn a radical big-box retail concept into one of the largest home-improvement chains in the world. After early success on Wall Street as an investment banker, Langone helped finance and launch Home Depot in 1978, and the company’s explosive growth made him a billionaire. Known for his blunt, patriotic style and deep loyalty to employees, he is also a major philanthropist—funding medical research, education, and veterans’ causes, including a landmark gift to make tuition free at NYU’s medical school. Langone remains a prominent voice on business, capitalism, and civic leadership.

Kenneth Fisher, founder and executive chairman of Fisher Investments, is one of the most influential voices in modern investing, known for combining empirical market research with accessible financial commentary. Since launching Fisher Investments in 1979, he has grown the firm into a multi-hundred-billion-dollar global asset manager serving private clients and institutions across North America and Europe. A bestselling author and longtime columnist, Fisher popularized the use of price-to-sales ratio in stock analysis and has written extensively on behavioral finance and investor psychology. With a career spanning five decades, he remains a leading advocate of evidence-based investing and long-term market discipline.

Kenneth Feld, chairman and CEO of Feld Entertainment, has built the world’s largest producer of live family entertainment, stewarding iconic brands such as Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey, Disney on Ice, Marvel Universe Live, and Monster Jam. Taking over the business from his father Irvin, Feld expanded a single circus operation into a global touring empire that stages thousands of shows annually across dozens of countries. Known for meticulous show production, operational scale, and brand partnerships with entertainment giants like Disney, Feld has shaped live family entertainment for generations while keeping the company privately held and family-led.

Kelcy Warren, cofounder and executive chairman of Energy Transfer, built one of North America’s largest pipeline and midstream energy networks through aggressive dealmaking, operational scale, and a deep understanding of U.S. oil and gas logistics. Since launching Energy Transfer in 1996, he has overseen a sweeping expansion across natural gas, crude, and NGL infrastructure, including the development of high-profile projects such as the Dakota Access Pipeline. A self-made billionaire from modest Texas roots, Warren combines engineering discipline with bold acquisitive strategy, while remaining an active philanthropist in education, parks, and music—most notably founding the Texas music venue and nonprofit, Klyde Warren Park in Dallas.

Kelcy Warren, cofounder and executive chairman of Energy Transfer, built one of North America’s largest pipeline and midstream energy networks through aggressive dealmaking, operational scale, and a deep understanding of U.S. oil and gas logistics. Since launching Energy Transfer in 1996, he has overseen a sweeping expansion across natural gas, crude, and NGL infrastructure, including the development of high-profile projects such as the Dakota Access Pipeline. A self-made billionaire from modest Texas roots, Warren combines engineering discipline with bold acquisitive strategy, while remaining an active philanthropist in education, parks, and music—most notably founding the Texas music venue and nonprofit, Klyde Warren Park in Dallas.

Kavitark Ram Shriram, early Google investor and founding board member, is one of Silicon Valley’s most influential angel investors, helping shape the modern internet economy through strategic backing and mentorship. A veteran of Netscape and Amazon, Shriram was among the earliest believers in Larry Page and Sergey Brin, providing seed capital and guidance that helped Google scale into a global technology giant. Through his family office, Sherpalo Ventures, he has backed dozens of startups across search, AI, ecommerce, and consumer technology, often bringing hands-on operational insight and long-term partnership. Known for his quiet style and deep conviction, Shriram remains a key figure behind some of the most important companies in tech.

Karthik Sarma, founder of SRS Investment Management, is the hedge fund manager who turned a concentrated activist position in Avis Budget Group into one of the most spectacular investment wins of the past decade. After founding SRS in 2006, the former Tiger Cub built a reputation for deep, research-driven conviction, long time horizons, and strategic influence behind the scenes. His most famous trade—SRS’s stake in Avis—generated multibillion-dollar gains as the company’s market value surged, making Sarma one of the top-earning hedge fund managers in America. Known for his low profile, analytical intensity, and disciplined patience, he has become a defining figure in modern activist investing.

Kam Ghaffarian, serial aerospace entrepreneur and physicist, has built some of the most important private companies operating at the edge of human spaceflight. After founding Stinger Ghaffarian Technologies (SGT) and becoming a major NASA contractor, he went on to cofound Axiom Space, which is building the world’s first commercial space station, and Intuitive Machines, a pioneer in lunar landers and deep-space robotics. Ghaffarian combines long-range vision, technical depth, and mission-driven leadership, investing hundreds of millions into commercial space infrastructure and future crewed missions. His work has made him one of the central architects of the emerging private space economy.

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.