Jorge Paulo Lemann

Co-founder, 3G Capital

Lemann’s canny dealmaking attracted Warren Buffett as a partner in the Heinz buyout in 2013 and the merger of Heinz with Kraft in 2015. But where the Swiss-Brazilian investor really excels is in running the companies he buys. He imposes strict discipline, he cuts costs, and he fires people. The upshot: Shares of Kraft Heinz have outperformed similar consumer stocks and the S&P 500 as a whole since the merger was completed in July 2015.

PRINCE MOHAMMED BIN SALMAN

Deputy Crown Prince, Saudi Arabia

Several of his titles include the word “deputy,” but don’t be fooled. Prince Mohammed has a larger portfolio than the crown prince, and since his 80-year-old father ascended to the throne last year, the prince has gained control over the state oil company, become chair of the main economic council, and been named defense minister. Almost eight decades after the first Saudi oil was discovered, the 31-year-old has drawn up a plan to transform the world’s biggest crude exporter into a diversified economy fit for the next era. He’s readying the state oil company for an IPO, so he can pump the proceeds into other industries. 

Raj Chetty

Professor, Stanford

Chetty has scooped up a lot of honors early, including the prestigious John Bates Clark Medal for outstanding economists under 40 and a MacArthur Foundation genius grant. The Stanford professor has been called a pioneer for his use of large data sets to analyze social and economic questions, such as the effects of tax policy, and the impact outstanding teachers have on their students. A Bloomberg analysis found that winners of the Clark prize have a 1-in-3 chance of eventually winning the Nobel Prize in economics, so it’s highly likely Chetty will continue collecting medals. 

Ken Moelis

Founder and CEO, Moelis & Co.

Moelis likes to say that because it’s smaller and more focused than its rivals, this boutique investment bank can better play the role of “trusted adviser”—a phrase that hints at some of the conflicts of interest that bedevil bigger companies. Turmoil in banking has guaranteed that a steady stream of talent is available as the almost 10-year-old company bulks up. Its shares have outperformed the likes of Goldman Sachs and Lazard in the past year. Plus, Moelis is on the short list of boutiques that may be tapped to help manage the mega-IPO of Aramco, Saudi Arabia’s oil monopoly.

Blythe Masters

CEO, Digital Asset Holdings

The idea behind Masters’s fintech startup is that blockchain, the software that makes bitcoin possible, is ideal for executing and settling financial transactions. The Australian Securities Exchange has signed on to work with Digital Asset Holdings to replace its settlement system. Masters, a pioneer in derivatives during a long career at JPMorgan Chase, is attracting high-powered talent from large banks to build her team. 

MARY BARRA

CEO, General Motors

In her three years on the job, Barra has presided over a sales and profit rebound. In July, GM reported record second-quarter earnings. And her new products include an electric car with Tesla-like range. Investors remain skeptical, amid rising concern that global vehicle sales may be softening. GM shares are below where they were when Barra became CEO.

Jim Coulter

Co-founder and co-CEO, TPG Holdings

With co-founder David Bonderman having relinquished some of his duties in 2014, Coulter is the key player at TPG. Recent investments in Uber, Airbnb, and Spotify look more like venture capital than private equity. This year, TPG raised a $10.5 billion fund, its first since before the financial system crackup in 2008.

Larry Summers

Professor, Harvard

The phrase “secular stagnation” dates to the 1930s, but the reason we’re talking about it today has a lot to do with Summers. The Harvard economist, who was secretary of the Treasury under Bill Clinton and and economic adviser to President Obama, sees tepid growth ahead and argues that stimulative fiscal policy is more likely to help than additional monetary medicine.

JOHN OLIVER

Host, Last Week Tonight With John Oliver

His sweet spot as a comedian is the manic explanation of complex financial matters, delivered with outrage and interspersed with hilarious digressions. This year, in his third season on HBO, Oliver covered topics as arcane as subprime auto lending, special borrowing by governmental districts, and credit reporting standards. His segment on Puerto Rico’s debt debacle has racked up more than 5 million views on YouTube.