Victoria Mars, a fourth-generation member of the Mars family, is a former chair of Mars Inc. and one of the heirs to the private candy, pet care, and food empire behind M&M’s, Snickers, Pedigree, Whiskas, and Royal Canin. She began working in the family business in France in 1978, later held roles at Mars Electronics and Dove, served as Mars’s first corporate ombudsman, and chaired the company’s board from 2014 to 2017.

Marijke Mars, great-granddaughter of Mars Inc. founder Frank C. Mars, is an heir to one of America’s largest private fortunes. Her wealth comes from the family-owned candy, pet care, and food giant behind brands such as M&M’s, Snickers, Pedigree, Whiskas, and Royal Canin. Unlike some members of the Mars family, she keeps a very low public profile, with her influence tied primarily to ownership in the privately held company.

Robyn Jones, cofounder and vice chairman of Goosehead Insurance, helped build the company from a 2003 startup into one of the fastest-growing personal-lines insurance agencies in the U.S. She launched the business with her husband, Mark Jones, and shaped its culture before stepping back from active management while remaining on the board. The couple also made a $101 million gift to Montana State University to support nursing education.

Weili Dai, cofounder of Marvell Technology, helped build the semiconductor company into a major supplier of chips for storage, networking, and communications. Born in China and educated at UC Berkeley, she cofounded Marvell in 1995 with her husband, Sehat Sutardja, and brother-in-law Pantas Sutardja. One of the few women to cofound a major chip company, Dai became known for her role in business development, partnerships, and expanding Marvell’s global reach.

Randa Duncan Williams, non-executive chairman of Enterprise Products Partners, is the most publicly active heir to the energy fortune built by her father, Dan Duncan. Enterprise Products, founded in 1968, became one of America’s largest pipeline and midstream energy companies, with the Duncan family retaining major ownership. Williams, the only one of Dan Duncan’s four children with an active role in the business, also owns Texas Monthly and remains a prominent figure in Houston business and philanthropy.

Laurene Powell Jobs, founder and president of Emerson Collective, built one of the most influential platforms in modern philanthropy and impact investing after inheriting stakes in Apple and Disney. Through Emerson, she focuses on education, immigration, climate, journalism, and social change, while also serving as owner of The Atlantic and founder of College Track and XQ Institute. Her profile combines Silicon Valley wealth, media ownership, and long-term philanthropic influence.

Melinda French Gates, one of the world’s most influential philanthropists, built her fortune through Microsoft and spent more than two decades co-leading the Gates Foundation. After leaving the foundation in 2024, she shifted her focus to independent giving through Pivotal Ventures, with a major emphasis on women, families, health, and economic power. Her career now stands at the intersection of technology wealth, global philanthropy, and women-focused social investment.

Jayshree Ullal, president and CEO of Arista Networks, helped turn the cloud-networking company into a major supplier of high-speed switches and software for data centers, cloud providers, and AI infrastructure. Born in London and raised in New Delhi, she spent more than 15 years at Cisco before joining Arista in 2008 and leading its 2014 IPO. Her long run at the company has made her one of the most successful women executives in enterprise technology.

Maggie Hardy, owner and CEO of 84 Lumber, leads one of America’s largest privately held building materials suppliers. She took over the company from her father, Joe Hardy, in 1992 at age 26 and helped expand it beyond lumber into a broader construction-supply business serving professional builders nationwide. She also oversees Nemacolin, the luxury resort originally developed by her father.

Ignacio “Nacho” Torras, founder, president, and CEO of Tricon Energy, built the Houston-based company into one of the world’s largest traders and distributors of chemicals and plastics. Born in Barcelona and shaped by early commodity-trading experience in Brazil, he founded Tricon in 1996 with four employees and expanded it into a global platform with more than 20 offices, 400 employees, and over $14 billion in revenue. Beyond commodities, Torras is also active in Houston’s restaurant, arts, education, and philanthropic circles.

Adam Norwitt, president and CEO of Amphenol, has helped turn the connector and sensor maker into a major supplier for the AI, data-center, automotive, aerospace, and communications markets. An Amphenol employee since 1998, he became president in 2007 and CEO in 2009, leading the company through years of acquisitions, global expansion, and rising demand for high-performance electronic components.

Greg Abel, president and CEO of Berkshire Hathaway, is the executive chosen to succeed Warren Buffett after decades inside the conglomerate. A Canadian-born accountant, he rose through MidAmerican Energy and Berkshire Hathaway Energy before becoming vice chairman of non-insurance operations in 2018. Known for operational discipline, deep knowledge of Berkshire’s businesses, and a low public profile, Abel now oversees one of the world’s largest and most closely watched companies.

Michael Hsing, founder, president, and CEO of Monolithic Power Systems, built the semiconductor company into a major supplier of high-performance power management chips. Born in China and trained as an engineer, he founded MPS in 1997 and took it public in 2004, growing it into a key player serving markets such as data centers, automotive, industrial, communications, and consumer electronics. His fortune is tied to the long rise of specialized chips that make modern electronics more efficient.

Johan H. Andresen, owner and chair of Ferd, oversees one of Norway’s largest privately held investment groups, with interests spanning industrial companies, financial assets, real estate, and impact-driven ventures. A member of the family behind the business’s 19th-century roots, he helped transform Ferd from its tobacco legacy into a modern investment powerhouse while building a reputation for long-term ownership and social entrepreneurship. Known for pairing private capital with public-purpose ambitions, Andresen stands out as one of Norway’s most influential business figures.

Jeffrey Soffer, chairman and CEO of Fontainebleau Development, is one of America’s most prominent luxury real estate developers, known for turning landmark hospitality and mixed-use assets into high-profile lifestyle destinations. A member of the Soffer family behind Aventura’s rise, he helped extend that legacy through marquee projects in South Florida and beyond, including the revival and expansion of the Fontainebleau brand. Known for bold scale, long-term control, and a taste for trophy assets, Soffer has remained a major force in hospitality-driven real estate.

William "Bill" Crown, a general partner at Henry Crown and Company and longtime leader of CC Industries, represents one of America’s most quietly influential business dynasties. As part of the Crown family’s investment empire, he has helped oversee interests spanning industrial companies, private investments, and real estate, extending the legacy built by one of Chicago’s most powerful families. Known for a low public profile and long-term ownership approach, Crown remains a key figure in one of the country’s most enduring private investment organizations.

David Capobianco, founder, CEO, and managing partner of Five Point, built one of the most influential private investment firms focused on energy and infrastructure. Since founding the Houston-based firm in 2012, he has helped turn it into a major force in water midstream, land, and related infrastructure, while also extending its reach through ventures such as LandBridge. Known for disciplined dealmaking and long-term conviction in hard assets, Capobianco has emerged as a standout figure in the modern energy-infrastructure investing boom.

David Grain, founder and CEO of Grain Management, built one of the most influential private equity firms focused on digital infrastructure, with investments spanning broadband, wireless spectrum, and communications networks. Since launching the firm in 2007, he has positioned it at the center of the infrastructure economy by backing assets tied to connectivity and long-term data demand. Known for disciplined dealmaking and a sharp focus on strategic infrastructure, Grain has emerged as a prominent figure in private equity and telecommunications investing.

Dan Friedkin, chairman and CEO of The Friedkin Group, built one of America’s most diversified private empires by expanding a family automotive fortune into hospitality, entertainment, and global sports. Best known for leading Gulf States Toyota, he has also extended his reach through luxury resorts, film production, and high-profile football ownership, including AS Roma and Everton. With a low public profile and a long-term ownership style, Friedkin stands out as one of the most quietly influential billionaires in business.

Gerry Cardinale, founder and managing partner of RedBird Capital Partners, has built one of the most influential private investment firms at the intersection of sports, media, entertainment, and financial services. A former Goldman Sachs partner, he launched RedBird in 2014 and expanded it into a firm managing about $14 billion, with high-profile bets tied to brands and platforms such as Fenway Sports Group, AC Milan, Skydance, and YES Network. Known for strategic dealmaking and a sharp eye for culturally powerful assets, Cardinale has become one of the standout financiers in modern sports and media investing.