CEOs

Jesse Itzler Net Worth

Jesse Itzler is an American entrepreneur, author, rapper, and speaker. Born on August 22, 1968, in Roslyn, New York, he has made a name for himself across diverse fields. Initially, Itzler gained recognition in the music industry, releasing his debut album as Jesse Jaymes in 1991 and even penning the New York Knicks’ theme song. Transitioning into entrepreneurship, he co-founded Alphabet City Sports Records and later Marquis Jet, a pioneering private jet card company acquired by Berkshire Hathaway’s NetJets. He was also a partner in ZICO Coconut Water, later acquired by The Coca-Cola Company. Beyond his business ventures, Itzler is a New York Times bestselling author, sharing his experiences in books like ‘Living with a SEAL’ and ‘Living with the Monks’. He is also a part-owner of the Atlanta Hawks NBA team. Known for his energetic personality and motivational speaking, Jesse Itzler continues to inspire audiences with his unique blend of business acumen and adventurous spirit.

Thomas N. Staub Net Worth

Thomas N. Staub is an American businessman known for his involvement in the fitness equipment industry. He gained prominence as CFO and later CEO of Aerobics Inc., a family business specializing in manufacturing pacemaker treadmills. Staub attended Seton Hall University, where he earned a B.S. in Accounting, laying a solid foundation for his business career. In the late 1990s, Thomas and his brother acquired Aerobics Inc. from their father but eventually sold it to a private equity firm. After the private equity firm declared bankruptcy, the brothers attempted to revive the company under the name PaceMaster LLC, but it closed in 2011. In 2012, Staub joined Gym Source as the Vice President of Sales and Operations. He is also known for his former marriage to Danielle Staub, a television personality from ‘The Real Housewives of New Jersey’. Thomas made an appearance on the show at his daughter Christine’s Sweet 16 party.

Jason Citron Net Worth

Jason Citron is an American internet entrepreneur best known as the co-founder and CEO of Discord, a widely used social platform, particularly popular among gamers. Born on September 21, 1987, in San Francisco, California, Citron displayed an early passion for technology and gaming. He taught himself coding at a young age and pursued his interest by earning a degree in Game Design and Development from Full Sail University. Before Discord, Citron founded OpenFeint, a social gaming platform that was acquired by GREE for $104 million in 2011. In 2015, he co-founded Discord with Stanislav Vishnevskiy, aiming to create a better communication tool for gamers. Discord quickly evolved from a gaming-centric platform to a broader communication service with over 150 million monthly active users. Citron’s leadership and vision have been instrumental in Discord’s growth and success, establishing him as a prominent figure in the tech industry. He has two children and he is married to a partner whose name is not publicly known.

Zak Brown Net Worth

Zak Brown is an American businessman and former professional racing driver, currently residing in England. He is best known as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of McLaren Racing, a position he has held since 2018. Before joining McLaren, Brown founded Just Marketing International (JMI) in 1995, which became the largest motorsport marketing agency in the world. As a racing driver, Brown competed in various series, including Formula Ford 1600, the Opel-Lotus Benelux Series, and the British Formula Three Championship. He also participated in events like the 24 Hours of Daytona and the 12 Hours of Sebring. Beyond his role at McLaren, Brown is involved in various business ventures, including co-ownership of United Autosports. He is also an avid collector of racing cars and memorabilia.

Alex Meruelo Net Worth

Alex Meruelo is a Cuban-American businessman with a net worth of $2 billion. He was born in New York City on March 27, 1964. His parents fled Cuba after the Castro regime came to power and eventually settled in Los Angeles, California. Meruelo earned a B.S. from California State University, Long Beach. He began his career in his father’s tuxedo business. In 1985, he started his first pizza restaurant, La Pizza Loca, which expanded to 25 locations within five years. Meruelo then founded the Meruelo Group, a real estate development and construction firm. The group owns various businesses, including TV stations, radio stations, the Grand Sierra Resort in Reno, Nevada, and Commercial Bank of California. He was also the owner of the Arizona Coyotes NHL team until 2024. Meruelo has a diverse portfolio spanning real estate, entertainment, gaming, banking, and media.

Gene Haas Net Worth

Gene Francis Haas, born on November 12, 1952, is an American businessman and entrepreneur. He is the founder, president, and sole stockholder of Haas Automation, a CNC machine tool manufacturer. Haas also has a significant presence in motorsports, founding the NASCAR team Stewart-Haas Racing and the Formula One team, Haas F1 Team. Born in Youngstown, Ohio, Haas graduated from California State University, Northridge, with a degree in accounting and finance. He initially worked as a machinist and CNC programmer before opening his own machine shop, Pro-turn Engineering, in 1978. In 1983, he founded Haas Automation, which has become the largest machine tool manufacturer in the United States. In addition to his business ventures, Haas is involved in philanthropy through the Gene Haas Foundation, which supports various charitable causes and manufacturing education programs. He was also involved in legal issues, serving time in prison for tax-related offenses.

Jenny Craig Net Worth

Jenny Craig, born Genevieve Guidroz, is an American businesswoman and entrepreneur best known as the co-founder of the weight loss, weight management, and nutrition company Jenny Craig, Inc. Born in Berwick, Louisiana, she was raised in New Orleans. Her journey into the fitness and weight loss industry began after her own post-pregnancy weight loss experience, leading her to a management position at a local gym. She later met her husband, Sid Craig, and together they ventured into the weight management business. They initially launched Jenny Craig, Inc. in Australia in 1983 before expanding to the United States in 1985. The company quickly gained prominence, establishing over 700 weight loss centers worldwide. Jenny Craig’s program combined personalized weight management counseling with pre-packaged meals, offering a comprehensive approach to dieting. In 2006, Jenny Craig, Inc. was acquired by Nestlé for $600 million. Beyond her business success, Jenny Craig is also known for her philanthropy, with significant donations made to universities and other charitable causes.

Steve Madden Net Worth

Steve Madden is an American fashion designer and businessman. Born on March 23, 1958, he is best known as the founder of Steve Madden Ltd., a publicly-traded shoe company. He launched his business in 1990 with just $1,100. The company generates more than $1.5 billion per year in revenue and has a market cap of over $3 billion. Madden’s designs are inspired by rock and roll and urban edge, creating innovative and stylish shoes. Madden served time in prison for stock manipulation and securities fraud, but continued as a creative consultant for his company during his incarceration. Considered a fashion footwear mogul, Madden has an innate sense of trends and continues to impact the fashion industry.

Pasquale Rotella Net Worth

Pasquale Rotella, born on August 8, 1974, is the CEO and founder of Insomniac Events, a leading company in the electronic music scene. Immersed in the Los Angeles underground dance music scene from a young age, Rotella founded Insomniac Events in 1993 and has since become a global leader in creating unique and memorable music festival experiences. Insomniac’s flagship event, the Electric Daisy Carnival (EDC), began as a one-day event in Southern California and has expanded to multiple locations across the United States, as well as internationally. These events attract hundreds of thousands of attendees and feature some of the biggest names in electronic dance music. Rotella’s vision and dedication have transformed the landscape of music festivals, bringing people together through a shared love of music. He has been recognized as one of the most influential figures in the music industry. While Insomniac puts together a multitude of events year-round in addition to EDC (Electric Daisy Carnival), including Electric Forest, Beyond Wonderland (PNW and SoCal), Okeechobee Music & Arts Festival, HARD Summer, and much more.

Josh Taekman Net Worth

Josh Taekman is an American entrepreneur with a net worth of $20 million. He is best known as the co-founder and CEO of Vitalize Labs LLC, the company behind the popular energy supplement EBOOST. EBOOST is marketed as a healthy alternative to traditional energy drinks, using natural ingredients to promote energy, immunity, and focus. Before founding Vitalize Labs in 2007, Taekman had a successful career in the music industry. He served as Vice President of Marketing at Bad Boy Entertainment under Sean “P. Diddy” Combs, where he played a key role in building the Bad Boy brand. Following his time in the music industry, Taekman was the President of BUZZTONE, a marketing firm. His experiences in these fast-paced environments inspired him to create EBOOST. He was also on the reality TV show “The Real Housewives of New York City,” where he appeared alongside his wife, Kristen Taekman.

Steve Ells Net Worth

Steve Ells is an American businessman and chef, best known as the founder of Chipotle Mexican Grill. Born on September 12, 1965, in Indianapolis, Indiana, Ells pursued his culinary passions by graduating from the Culinary Institute of America in 1990. Before founding Chipotle, he worked as a sous chef at Stars restaurant in San Francisco. In 1993, he opened the first Chipotle restaurant in Denver, Colorado, with the vision of serving high-quality, delicious food quickly. Under Ells’ leadership, Chipotle expanded from a single restaurant to a multinational chain with over 1,500 locations within two decades. He is known for his commitment to using naturally raised meat and promoting sustainable agriculture, which has significantly contributed to Chipotle’s success and reputation. Ells served as CEO of Chipotle until 2017 and resigned as chairman in 2020, thereby concluding his association with the company. His entrepreneurial journey and focus on ‘Food with Integrity’ have made him a notable figure in the culinary and business worlds.

Les Gold Net Worth

Leslie “Les” Gold, born on June 20, 1950, is an American pawnbroker, reality TV star, author, and media personality. He is best known as the owner of American Jewelry and Loan, a large pawn shop in Detroit, and for his role in the truTV reality series “Hardcore Pawn,” which aired for nine seasons and 162 episodes. Les is a third-generation pawnbroker; he learned the trade from his father and grandfather, starting his sales career at the age of seven at his grandfather’s pawnshop, Sam’s Loans. He started his first business at the age of 12 buying pizzas and reselling them. In 1978, he officially opened American Jewelry and Loan. The business has grown to multiple locations, with the flagship Detroit store spanning over 50,000 square feet. Les is known for his sharp negotiating skills and street-smart business acumen, becoming a recognized figure in the pawn industry. Besides his television presence and pawn business, Les is also an author. His book, “For What It’s Worth: Business Wisdom from a Pawnbroker,” became a New York Times Best Seller.

John David McAfee Net Worth

John David McAfee (1945-2021) was a British-American computer programmer, businessman, and two-time presidential candidate. He is best known for founding McAfee Associates in 1987, the company that created the first commercial anti-virus software, VirusScan. McAfee resigned from the company in 1994 and sold his remaining stake. He later became a vocal critic of the company. After leaving McAfee Associates, he founded Tribal Voice (makers of the PowWow chat program), QuorumEx, and Future Tense Central, among others, and was involved in leadership positions in the companies Everykey, MGT Capital Investments, and Luxcore. His interests included smartphone apps, cryptocurrency, yoga, light-sport aircraft, and recreational drug use. McAfee’s fortunes plummeted in the financial crisis of 2007–2008. He faced legal troubles, including tax evasion charges in the United States and was wanted for questioning in Belize in connection with a murder investigation. McAfee was a vocal advocate for privacy and personal freedom, central to his libertarian campaigns in 2016 and 2020. He opposed government surveillance and supported cryptocurrency as a way to reduce state control over financial systems. John McAfee died in a Spanish prison cell in June 2021 while awaiting extradition to the U.S. on tax evasion charges.

Dan Pena Net Worth

Daniel S. Peña Sr., born on August 10, 1945, is an American businessman, entrepreneur, and motivational speaker. He is known for his high-performance business coaching and his tough-love approach. Peña’s journey began in Jacksonville, Florida, and later moved to East Los Angeles. He served in the U.S. Army before starting his career as a financial analyst on Wall Street. One of Peña’s most successful ventures was Great Western Resources, a Houston-based oil company, which he founded and led as CEO. He also owns Guthrie Castle in Angus, Scotland, where he resides and operates his business, The Guthrie Group, an investment consortium founded in 1997, that specializes in facilitating transactions. Peña is the founder of Quantum Leap Advantage (QLA), a business methodology that he uses to coach mentees. He is often called “The Trillion Dollar Man,” a nickname reflecting the value he claims to have helped create for his mentees. Dan Peña has a significant social media presence and is known for his direct and often controversial advice on business and success. He is married to Sally Peña.

Martin Shkreli Net Worth

Martin Shkreli (born March 17, 1983) is an American businessman and former hedge fund manager. He is the co-founder of the hedge funds Elea Capital, MSMB Capital Management, and MSMB Healthcare, the co-founder and former CEO of pharmaceutical firms Retrophin and Turing Pharmaceuticals, and the former CEO of start-up software company Gödel Systems. Shkreli gained widespread notoriety in September 2015 when Turing Pharmaceuticals obtained the manufacturing license for the antiparasitic drug Daraprim and raised its price to insurance companies from $13.50 to $750.00 (USD) per pill. This action sparked public outrage and led to investigations into his business practices. Shkreli was later convicted of securities fraud and conspiracy in 2017.

Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs Net Worth

Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs, also known as Puff Daddy, is an American rapper, singer, record producer, entrepreneur, and designer. He launched his career as an intern at Uptown Records before founding Bad Boy Entertainment in 1993. Bad Boy Entertainment quickly rose to prominence, shaping the careers of artists like The Notorious B.I.G. and Mary J. Blige. Diddy transitioned into a successful solo music career, with his debut album ‘No Way Out’ achieving commercial success and earning him a Grammy Award. Beyond music, he established the Sean John clothing line and ventured into the liquor business with Ciroc vodka and DeLeon tequila. He also invested in Revolt TV and AQUAhydrate. Diddy has been recognized as one of the wealthiest figures in the entertainment industry but has faced several lawsuits and accusations more recently.