Gayle Benson is an American billionaire businesswoman, philanthropist, and owner of the NFL’s New Orleans Saints and NBA’s New Orleans Pelicans. A New Orleans native, she assumed control of both franchises after the death of her husband, Tom Benson, in 2018, becoming one of the most powerful women in professional sports and a major civic force in Louisiana through sports ownership, business leadership, Catholic philanthropy, and Gulf South community development.

Richard Schulze, founder and chairman emeritus of Best Buy, built one of America’s largest consumer electronics retailers from a small audio store launched in Minnesota in 1966. After surviving industry shifts from stereo equipment to personal computing and e-commerce, he expanded Best Buy into a nationwide retail powerhouse. Following his departure from day-to-day leadership, Schulze became increasingly active in philanthropy, particularly through the Richard M. Schulze Family Foundation’s work in health and human services.

Gary Fegel, founder and chairman of GMF Capital, built his fortune first in commodities at Glencore and then through a single-family office investing across private equity, real estate, media, technology, and alternative assets. Since launching GMF Capital in 2013, he has turned it into a broad global investment platform with interests ranging from aviation and infrastructure to digital media, combining trader instincts with long-term asset ownership. Known for a low public profile and highly diversified approach, Fegel has emerged as one of the more discreet billionaires in modern private investing.

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.

James Pallotta, founder and chairman of Raptor Group, built his fortune in hedge funds and private investing before extending his reach into sports and venture-backed technology. After a high-profile run at Tudor Investment Corporation, he launched Raptor in 2009 and turned it into a family office–backed investment firm with bets across technology, media, consumer, and sports. He later became widely known as the former chairman and owner of AS Roma, giving him a rare profile that spans Wall Street, venture investing, and global sports ownership.

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.

Steve Witkoff, founder and chairman of the Witkoff Group, built his fortune through high-profile real estate investing and development before emerging onto the global political stage as a U.S. special envoy. Long known in New York property circles for bold deals and opportunistic acquisitions, he later expanded his influence beyond business through diplomatic roles tied to Middle East and peace negotiations. Witkoff stands out as a rare figure whose reach now spans both luxury real estate and high-stakes international diplomacy.

John W. Stanton, chairman of Trilogy Equity Partners and chairman/managing partner of the Seattle Mariners ownership group, is a wireless-industry pioneer who helped build multiple major U.S. mobile operators before turning to venture investing and sports ownership. After senior leadership roles at McCaw Cellular, Stanton founded and led Western Wireless and VoiceStream, two formative companies in the rise of modern mobile telecom, and later built Trilogy into an early-stage investment platform focused on wireless and technology opportunities. His career blends telecom entrepreneurship, institutional board influence, and long-term stewardship of one of Major League Baseball’s flagship franchises.

Willis Johnson, founder and chairman of Copart, built one of the most dominant businesses in auto remarketing by turning a single salvage auction yard in California into a global online vehicle auction powerhouse. Since launching Copart in 1982, Johnson helped redefine how insurers, dealers, dismantlers, and buyers transact damaged and used vehicles, scaling the company through technology, logistics, and a highly efficient auction model. He served as CEO until 2010 and has remained chairman since 2004, continuing to shape the company’s long-term direction as Copart expanded internationally and became a major force in digital auto auctions.

William Wrigley Jr. II, former chairman and CEO of the Wm. Wrigley Jr. Company, led the iconic chewing gum manufacturer through a period of global expansion before orchestrating its landmark $23 billion sale to Mars in 2008. A great-grandson of the company’s founder, he modernized Wrigley’s international operations and strengthened its position as the world’s dominant chewing gum brand. After leaving the company, Wrigley focused on private investing through his firm Parallel49 Equity, backing consumer and lifestyle businesses while remaining a prominent figure in American business and philanthropy.

William Harrison is an American investor and the founder of Cathexis Holdings, a Houston-based private investment firm that deploys long-duration family capital across real estate and operating businesses. Known for a low-profile, control-minded approach, he has pursued large, concentrated positions and partnerships where patient ownership and hands-on governance matter more than headline velocity—backing assets that range from property to infrastructure-adjacent industrial and services companies, often in complex, cross-border situations.

Vinod Khosla, cofounder of Sun Microsystems and founder of Khosla Ventures, is one of Silicon Valley’s most influential venture capitalists, known for backing bold, high-impact technologies across software, climate, biotech, and deep tech. After helping launch Sun Microsystems in the early days of the workstation revolution, Khosla turned to investing and built a reputation for funding ambitious, science-driven startups with transformative potential. Through Khosla Ventures, he has supported companies spanning artificial intelligence, clean energy, and healthcare, becoming a leading voice on technological disruption and long-term innovation.

Tyler Perry is a billionaire filmmaker and media mogul whose 2026 focuses on content dominance and large-scale urban development. In February 2026, his latest Netflix comedy, Joe's College Road Trip, debuted at No. 1, marking a successful franchise pivot by centering on Madea’s cantankerous brother, Joe. Beyond the screen, Perry is moving forward with a massive 1.3 million-square-foot "Entertainment District" adjacent to his 330-acre Atlanta studio, a project slated for completion in 2028 that will feature theaters, retail, and a museum. Despite a temporary pause on his $800 million studio expansion due to concerns over AI's impact on production, he continues to churn out hits like the second part of Beauty in Black Season 2, set for release in March 2026.

Tope Awotona is the billionaire founder and CEO of Calendly, the scheduling automation platform valued at $3 billion. After immigrating from Lagos, Nigeria, and bootstrapping the company with his life savings, he has grown the service to over 20 million monthly users. In 2026, he is leading a strategic shift toward "Agentic AI" to transform scheduling into a fully autonomous experience. Recently inducted into the Technology Association of Georgia Hall of Fame, Awotona remains one of the few Black tech billionaires in the U.S. and a major advocate for diversifying the tech pipeline through his support of organizations like Black Girls Code.

Tim Boyle is the billionaire Chairman and CEO of Columbia Sportswear, a brand he famously helped his mother rescue from bankruptcy in the 1970s. In 2026, he was inducted into the Sporting Goods Industry Hall of Fame, joining his mother, Gert, as the first mother-son duo to be honored. While still at the helm, he recently formalized a succession plan by naming his son, Joe Boyle, and Peter Bragdon as co-presidents to oversee the "Project Accelerate" strategy. A major benefactor of the University of Oregon, he has donated tens of millions to the life sciences, specifically funding genomics research and facilities that have established the university as a global leader in the field.

Ted Waitt is the billionaire co-founder of Gateway, Inc. who famously built a PC empire from an Iowa cow barn before pivoting to global philanthropy. Today, he leads the Waitt Foundation and Waitt Institute, driving the "Blue Prosperity" movement to protect 30% of the world’s oceans. His work focuses on partnering with island nations—including Fiji, Samoa, and the Azores—to implement sustainable marine spatial planning and resilient blue economies. Beyond the sea, Waitt is a major benefactor of the Salk Institute and National Geographic, blending his entrepreneurial roots with a mission to preserve the planet’s biodiversity and advance biomedical research through biophotonics.

Ted Leonsis is the founder and CEO of Monumental Sports & Entertainment, owning the Capitals, Wizards, and Mystics. A former AOL executive, he pioneered the "teams as platforms" model, though his 2024 attempt to move his franchises to Virginia hit a high-profile dead end. He ultimately secured a deal to renovate D.C.’s Capital One Arena, anchoring his teams in the District through 2050. A venture capitalist at Revolution Growth, Leonsis operates with a "double bottom line" philosophy, valuing community impact alongside financial success. Whether chasing Stanley Cups or tech disruptions, he remains a central figure in the digital evolution of global sports.

Steven Rales is the co-founder and chairman of Danaher Corporation, which he and his brother Mitchell transformed from a real estate trust into a global science and technology powerhouse. He is the architect of the Danaher Business System, a management philosophy rooted in Kaizen that emphasizes continuous improvement and has guided the acquisition of hundreds of companies in the life sciences and diagnostics sectors. Under his leadership, Danaher became one of the most successful industrial conglomerates in history, known for its disciplined capital allocation. In addition to his business career, Rales is a significant figure in the film industry as the founder of Indian Paintbrush, the production company behind nearly all of Wes Anderson’s films, and he recently acquired the Criterion Collection to ensure the preservation of classic cinema.

Stephen Winn is the founder and CEO of Mirasol Capital, an investment firm focused on real estate, technology, and entertainment. He is best known for founding RealPage, a leading provider of property management software, which he led as chairman and CEO for over two decades before selling it to Thoma Bravo for $10.2 billion in 2021. An electrical engineer by training with an MBA from Stanford, Winn has consistently operated at the intersection of data and physical assets. His current ventures include Cosm, an immersive technology firm, and the 1,400-acre Mirasol Springs conservation project in Texas, reflecting a career-long commitment to innovation and land stewardship.

Stanley Druckenmiller is a legendary figure in global finance, widely regarded as one of the most successful hedge fund managers in history through his Duquesne Family Office and former leadership at Soros Fund Management. He gained international fame as George Soros’s chief strategist, playing a pivotal role in the 1992 "breaking of the Bank of England" by shorting the British pound. Throughout his career, Druckenmiller achieved an unprecedented record of zero losing years over three decades, managing billions with a focus on macroeconomic trends, currencies, and equities. A committed philanthropist, he has donated hundreds of millions to medical research, education, and poverty fight through the Druckenmiller Foundation and the Robin Hood Foundation.