Jimmy John Liautaud, founder of the Jimmy John’s sandwich empire, turned a small college-town deli he opened in 1983 with borrowed money into one of America’s largest and most recognizable fast-casual chains. Known for its simple menu, freaky-fast delivery model, and intense franchise discipline, Jimmy John’s expanded to thousands of locations nationwide before selling a majority stake to private equity giant Roark Capital. Liautaud, who stepped down as chairman after the sale, is also an active philanthropist and investor, channeling his entrepreneurial drive into charitable initiatives and new business ventures.

Jim McKelvey, cofounder of Square (now Block), is an entrepreneur, inventor, and investor whose work has reshaped modern payments and small-business commerce. A glassblower by training, McKelvey partnered with Jack Dorsey in 2009 to create Square’s iconic card reader after losing a sale because he couldn’t accept credit cards—sparking a multibillion-dollar fintech revolution. Beyond Square, he founded LaunchCode to expand access to technology careers and authored The Innovation Stack, distilling insights from building category-defining companies. Known for his product intuition, creative background, and commitment to economic empowerment, McKelvey remains a major force in American entrepreneurship.

Jim Haslam, founder of Pilot Company, built one of America’s largest fuel, travel center, and logistics businesses from a single gas station he opened in 1958. A former University of Tennessee football standout and U.S. Army officer, Haslam expanded Pilot through disciplined operations, strategic acquisitions, and a relentless focus on serving professional drivers—laying the foundation for what would become a multibillion-dollar national network of travel centers. His leadership shaped the culture and growth of the Haslam family enterprise, while his extensive philanthropy in education, healthcare, and community initiatives established him as one of Tennessee’s most respected civic and business leaders.

Jerry Yang, cofounder of Yahoo!, is one of the earliest architects of the modern internet, helping transform a Stanford hobby project into one of the first global web portals and a defining tech company of the 1990s. After stepping down from Yahoo!, Yang went on to establish AME Cloud Ventures, becoming a major early-stage investor in data-driven startups and emerging technologies. Known for his long-term vision, deep technical roots, and influential role in bridging Silicon Valley with Asian markets, Yang remains a respected entrepreneur, investor, and philanthropist shaping the next generation of innovation.

Jerry Speyer, cofounder and chairman of Tishman Speyer, is one of the most influential real estate developers of the modern era, shaping skylines across New York, major U.S. cities, and global financial hubs. Since launching the firm in 1978 with his father-in-law, Robert Tishman, Speyer has overseen iconic projects such as Rockefeller Center, the MetLife Building, and Frankfurt’s MesseTurm, while expanding the company’s portfolio to more than 200 million square feet of office, residential, and mixed-use assets worldwide. Known for his disciplined investment approach, civic leadership, and long-term urban vision, Speyer remains a defining figure in institutional real estate.

Jerry Reinsdorf, longtime owner of the Chicago Bulls and Chicago White Sox, is one of the most influential figures in American professional sports. After building his wealth in real estate and tax-shelter investments, he purchased the White Sox in 1981 and the Bulls in 1985—guiding the teams through eras that cemented their place in sports history. Under his stewardship, the Bulls won six NBA championships in the Michael Jordan era, while the White Sox captured a World Series title in 2005, ending an 88-year drought. Known for his sharp business acumen, loyalty to his organizations, and major impact on league governance, Reinsdorf remains a defining and sometimes controversial presence in modern sports ownership.

Jerry Moyes, founder of Swift Transportation, built one of the largest trucking and logistics companies in North America from a small regional operation he inherited in the 1960s. Through bold acquisitions, disciplined cost management, and a relentless focus on fleet expansion, he grew Swift into a national powerhouse serving major retailers, manufacturers, and supply-chain networks across the U.S. and Mexico. After taking Swift public and later merging it with Knight Transportation, Moyes helped create Knight-Swift, the largest full-truckload carrier in the country. Known for his entrepreneurial tenacity and deep industry expertise, he remains a defining figure in American transportation.

Jeremy Jacobs, longtime chairman of Delaware North, has built the family-owned company into one of the world’s largest hospitality and food-service enterprises, operating in airports, national parks, sports venues, and entertainment destinations across four continents. Under his leadership, Delaware North expanded from a regional concession business into a multibillion-dollar global powerhouse. Jacobs is also widely known as owner of the NHL’s Boston Bruins since 1975, guiding the franchise to multiple Stanley Cup appearances and a championship in 2011. Renowned for his operational discipline, longevity, and influence in both hospitality and professional sports, he remains one of America’s most prominent private-sector executives.

Jeffrey Talpins, founder, CEO and Chief Investment Officer of Element Capital Management, is a leading architect of the “modern macro” hedge fund era. Launching Element in 2005 after distinguished fixed-income roles at Goldman Sachs and Citigroup, Talpins built the firm into a multi-billion-dollar platform famed for its disciplined, systematic global-macro strategies and strong historical performance. Under his leadership, Element returned 21 % annualized since inception and at one point managed over $18 billion in assets. Talpins also channels his success into high-impact philanthropy, including conservation, education, and peace initiatives through the Jeffrey M. Talpins Foundation.

Hussain Sajwani, founder and chairman of DAMAC Properties, is one of the Middle East’s most prominent real estate developers, known for transforming Dubai’s skyline with luxury residences, branded towers, and large-scale master-planned communities. Starting as a catering entrepreneur serving energy companies across the Gulf, Sajwani shifted into property development in the early 2000s, building DAMAC into a multibillion-dollar enterprise recognized for partnerships with global brands such as Versace, Fendi, Cavalli, and Paramount Hotels. With projects spanning the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Jordan, London, and beyond, Sajwani has become a defining figure in luxury real estate and one of the region’s most influential business leaders.

Jerry Jones, billionaire businessman and owner of the Dallas Cowboys, transformed the franchise into the most valuable team in global sports through bold management, aggressive marketing, and a relentless focus on brand expansion. Since purchasing the Cowboys in 1989, Jones has overseen multiple Super Bowl victories, built state-of-the-art facilities like AT&T Stadium and The Star in Frisco, and reshaped NFL business economics through media deals and sponsorship innovation. A polarizing yet visionary figure, he has turned the Cowboys into a cultural and commercial powerhouse while becoming one of the most influential owners in professional sports.

Barry Zekelman, executive chairman and CEO of Zekelman Industries, leads North America’s largest independent steel pipe and tube manufacturer, a company he and his family built into a dominant force in the industrial and construction supply chain. After taking over the business at a young age following his father’s passing, Zekelman expanded the company through bold acquisitions, vertical integration, and major investments in advanced U.S. manufacturing. Known for his outspoken advocacy of domestic industry and blue-collar jobs, he has positioned Zekelman Industries as a key supplier to infrastructure, energy, and commercial projects across the continent.

Omar Al Futtaim, vice chairman and CEO of the Al-Futtaim Group, oversees one of the Middle East’s largest and most diversified conglomerates, with operations spanning automotive, retail, real estate, finance, and logistics. Under his leadership, the Dubai-based family empire—known for partnerships with brands such as Toyota, Lexus, IKEA, and Marks & Spencer—has expanded across the Middle East, Asia, and Africa. Al Futtaim has guided the group’s transformation through digital modernization, large-scale real estate developments, and strategic global acquisitions, solidifying its position as a cornerstone of regional commerce and one of the UAE’s most influential private enterprises.

Dmitry Rybolovlev, billionaire investor and art collector, built his fortune through his majority stake in Uralkali, one of the world’s largest potash producers, before divesting and shifting into global investments. Known for high-profile real estate purchases across Monaco, Switzerland, the United States, and Greece, he has also been a major figure in the international art market, assembling a celebrated—and controversial—collection of masterpieces. As owner of AS Monaco FC since 2011, Rybolovlev has guided the club through periods of strong performance, including a Ligue 1 title. Despite legal disputes and intense media attention, he remains one of Europe’s most notable and influential private investors.

Gary Klesch, founder and chairman of the Klesch Group, is a veteran industrialist known for acquiring and restructuring distressed industrial and commodity businesses across Europe. Since launching his firm in 1990, he has built a portfolio spanning chemicals, metals, refining, and energy, often stepping into complex turnaround situations that larger corporations avoid. With a reputation for decisive management, deep operational expertise, and a contrarian investment approach, Klesch has transformed underperforming assets into competitive enterprises while establishing the Klesch Group as a major player in European heavy industry.

Patrick Dovigi, founder, president, and CEO of GFL Environmental, has built one of North America’s fastest-growing waste management and environmental services companies. Starting GFL in 2007 with a single truck operation, he executed an aggressive consolidation and acquisition strategy that transformed the business into a multibillion-dollar green-branded powerhouse operating across Canada and the United States. Known for his dealmaking acumen, entrepreneurial intensity, and distinctive “Green For Life” vision, Dovigi has reshaped the competitive landscape of waste collection, recycling, and infrastructure services while maintaining one of the industry’s most recognizable consumer-facing brands.

Yuri Milner, tech investor and science philanthropist, is one of the most influential figures in global venture capital through his firm DST Global, which backed companies such as Facebook, Airbnb, Spotify, Alibaba, and ByteDance long before they became industry giants. A former physicist, Milner is known for his data-driven approach to identifying transformative internet businesses and for shaping a new model of late-stage tech investing. Beyond finance, he cofounded the Breakthrough Prizes—often called the “Oscars of Science”—and launched initiatives supporting fundamental research, SETI, and human curiosity, establishing himself as one of the world’s leading patrons of science and discovery.

Jeffrey Sprecher, founder, chairman, and CEO of Intercontinental Exchange (ICE), has built one of the most powerful and influential financial infrastructure companies in the world. Starting in 2000 with a small online energy marketplace, he transformed ICE into a global exchange and data powerhouse through bold acquisitions—including NYSE Euronext, bringing the New York Stock Exchange under his leadership. Sprecher’s disciplined approach to technology, clearing, and market structure has reshaped modern trading across commodities, equities, and fixed income. Widely regarded as a visionary architect of today’s financial markets, he continues to drive innovation at the intersection of finance and technology.

Jeffrey Skoll, entrepreneur, philanthropist, and the first president of eBay, has built one of the most influential careers at the intersection of technology, media, and global social impact. After helping scale eBay into an early internet juggernaut, he founded the Skoll Foundation, dedicated to supporting social entrepreneurs tackling the world’s most pressing challenges. Through Participant, his award-winning media company, Skoll has produced socially driven films such as An Inconvenient Truth, Spotlight, and Roma, using storytelling to spark policy change and public engagement. His integrated approach to philanthropy, entertainment, and systems change has made him one of the most impactful visionaries of his generation.

Jeffrey Lurie, billionaire businessman and owner of the Philadelphia Eagles, has transformed the franchise into one of the NFL’s most consistently competitive and analytically driven organizations. After purchasing the team in 1994, he oversaw decades of playoff appearances, multiple NFC championships, and the Eagles’ first Super Bowl victory in 2018. A former film producer with a PhD from Brandeis, Lurie blends data-focused decision-making with a commitment to culture, innovation, and community impact. His leadership has positioned the Eagles as a model modern franchise and solidified his status as one of the most influential owners in professional sports.