Haute 100: New York City

The most influential people in the world’s most powerful city

Herbert Allen, Jr.
CATEGORY: Entrepreneurs
COMPANY: Allen & Company Inc, Coca-Cola
INDUSTRY: Media, Finance
What Makes Him HAUTE: He’s widely known for being advisor to some of the top media moguls and the man who helped Google go public back in 2004. He’s been director of Coca-Cola since 1982, and is the president and CEO of his private investment company Allen & Co. Earlier this year, Allen purchased approximately $8 million worth of Coke shares, making him the largest individual owner of the stock.

Woody Allen
CATEGORY: Thinkers
INDUSTRY: Film
What Makes Him HAUTE: New York’s greatest auteur always presents his beloved Big Apple in a sophisticated and romanticized way. He has won three Academy Awards and has been nominated 21 times, with more nominations for screenwriting than any other writer. His recent projects include the screenplays for Midnight in Paris and You Will Meet a Tall Dark Stranger, both for which he directed himself. Allen is worth an estimated $40 million.

Jennifer Lopez and Marc Anthony
CATEGORY: Power Couples
INDUSTRY: Entertainment
What Makes Them HAUTE: While she may also have homes in Miami and LA, to us, she will always be Jenny from the Block. She’s worth an estimated $110 million thanks to her box office flicks, album sales, perfumes, and endorsement deals (which include recent contracts with L’Oreal and Gucci). And if that wasn’t enough, J-Lo joined America’s most notorious panel of judges for season ten of “American Idol.” Her husband Marc is the top tropical salsa artist of all time; he’s earned a total of five Grammy Awards and has sold more than 30 million albums worldwide.

André Balazs
CATEGORY: Originators
COMPANY: André Balazs Properties
INDUSTRY: Hospitality
What Makes Him HAUTE: The famous hotelier currently owns seven trendy hotels throughout New York, LA, and Miami, which are amongst the most stylish and luxurious in the country, frequently visited by celebrities and trendsetters. His hotels include The Mercer, Chateau Marmont, Sunset Beach, and four Standard Hotels.  Balazs’ Company also owns several luxury New York City residences that include 40 Mercer, One Kenmare Square, and the William Beaver House.

Maria Bartiromo
CATEGORY: Thinkers
COMPANY: CNBC
INDUSTRY: Media
What Makes Her HAUTE: In 1995, she became the first journalist to report live from the floor of the New York Stock Exchange and has since been revered as one of the top business news broadcast journalists. She is currently anchor and co-producer of CNBC’s “Wall Street Journal Report.” Bartiromo also penned two books: The 10 Laws of Enduring Success and Use the News: How to Separate the Noise from the Investment Nuggets and Make Money in Any Economy. And if that wasn’t enough, she also landed a role in this year’s sequel to the classic Wall Street film, playing herself in Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps, opposite Michael Douglas.

Mercedes & Sid Richardson Bass
CATEGORY: Power Couples
COMPANY: Bass Brothers Enterprises
INDUSTRY: Oil
What Makes Them HAUTE: Sid Richardson Bass, an American investor and billionaire, controls one of the country’s largest privately owned oil companies. He and his philanthropist and socialite wife, Mercedes, split their time between their Texas and New York homes.

Francois-Henry Bennahmias
CATEGORY: Entrepreneurs
COMPANY: Audemars Piguet
INDUSTRY: Jewelry
What Makes Him HAUTE: He’s been president and CEO of Audemars Piguet North America since 1999, overseeing all financial, operational, sales and marketing for the brand. In his time as CEO, the brand has experienced rapid sales growth and has opened up several stores throughout the U.S., securing North America as the number one market for the 100-year-old luxury Swiss watch brand. Bennahmias has also been involved with many philanthropic causes, partnering with Arnold Schwarzenegger and the Tony Awards to sell watches on behalf of charities.

Brian Benstock
CATEGORY: Entrepreneurs
COMPANY: Paragon Motors
INDUSTRY: Automotive
What Makes Him HAUTE: He is Partner of Paragon Honda, which is the number one Honda retailer in the world. He was also recognized as 2010’s “Dealer of the Year.”

Leon Black
CATEGORY: Billionaires
COMPANY: Apollo Management, LP
INDUSTRY: Finance
What Makes Him HAUTE: He’s the founder of Apollo Management, one of the world’s largest private equity investment managing firms. Over the past twenty years, the company has grown to manage more than $50 billion, specializing in buying companies that are in debt and then selling them for a profit. His most recent gamble? A $75 million investment to gain 40 percent ownership of HFA Holdings, the parent company of Lighthouse Investment Partners.

Lloyd Blankfein
CATEGORY: Entrepreneurs
COMPANY: Goldman Sachs
INDUSTRY: Finance
What Makes Him HAUTE: As chairman and CEO of one of the most well known investment banks in the world, Blankfein has proven that Goldman Sachs will remain afloat despite Wall Street’s financial crisis. This year, Bloomberg ranked Goldman Sachs the number one advisor on mergers and acquisitions, with revenue that increased to $496 million. It is reported that Blankfein will soon be reaping some sweet rewards (an estimated $24 million) from grants that were made back in 2007.
The most influential people in the world’s most powerful city

Michael Bloomberg
CATEGORY: Billionaires
COMPANY: New York City and Bloomberg L.P.
INDUSTRY: Politics
What Makes Him HAUTE: He became Mayor of New York City in 2002, was reelected in 2005, and in 2008 convinced the City Council to extend the two-term limit so that he could run a third term. He earned his fortune by selling financial data and analytic tools to companies on Wall Street, which he eventually turned into his namesake company Bloomberg L.P. The company now has its own magazine, cable network, and radio station. In 2010, Forbes named Bloomberg the 10th richest person in the entire United States, with an estimate net worth of $18 billion. He’s also an active philanthropist; he reportedly donated $254 million to charity in 2009 alone, and this year, he joined several other billionaires in the “Giving Pledge,” vowing to donate most of his wealth to worthy causes.

Daniel Boulud
CATEGORY: Originators
COMPANY: Daniel Boulud
INDUSTRY: Restaurants
What Makes Him HAUTE: His restaurant Daniel on the Upper East Side is often regarded as one of the best restaurants in the world and was awarded three Michelin stars and five Forbes stars in 2010. With this success, the famed restaurateur continues to expand his empire. In the past year, he has opened Bar Boulud in London, db Bistro Moderne in Miami, and will soon open the new Mediterranean grill on the Upper West Side, which will be called Boulud Sud.

Edgar Bronfman, Jr.
CATEGORY: Entrepreneurs
COMPANY: Warner Music Group
INDUSTRY: Media
What Makes Him HAUTE: Bronfman has been the chairman and CEO of Warner Music Group since 2004. In his time there, he has helped the company tremendously by increasing their digital music sales, and is recognized in the industry for growing the company’s presence online with social media. His net worth has been estimated at around $2 billion.

Tory Burch
CATEGORY: Designers
COMPANY: Tory Burch
INDUSTRY: Fashion
What Makes Her HAUTE: She exploded on the fashion scene back in 2004, and has since then evolved from a small fashion label operating out of her NYC apartment into a fashion powerhouse with 26 stores, with an ambitious plan to open an additional 100 in the next five years. The Tory Burch name has become synonymous with chic luxury, her clothes frequently donned by A-list celebrities and Manhattan socialites.

Beyoncé Knowles and Shawn “Jay-Z” Carter
CATEGORY: Power Couples
INDUSTRY: Music
What Makes Them HAUTE: Together, this music duo makes up one of the wealthiest couples in the entertainment industry. Beyoncé alone was ranked number two on Forbes’ most powerful and influential celebrities in the word, and the number one most powerful musician in the world. At the 2010 Grammys, she made history as the first female artist to earn a whopping six Grammys in the same evening. Likewise, hubby Jay-Z also has broken several industry records. He’s also part owner of the New Jersey Nets and creator of the clothing line Rocawear, which boasts an annual sales of $700 million. The two celebs can’t seem to stay out of the press; earlier this month, it was reported that Beyoncé treated Jay-Z to the world’s most expensive car, a Bugatti Veyron Grand Sport for his 41st birthday.

Joe Cayre
CATEGORY: Originators
COMPANY: Midtown Equities, Core Group Marketing
INDUSTRY: Real Estate, Sales
What Makes Him HAUTE: Cayre made his fortune by selling videos to discount retailers such as Wal-Mart. In 2009, his real estate investment and developing firm, Midtown Equities joined IDB Group in acquiring HSBC Bank USA’s headquarters for $330 million. In August, the company paid $33 million for a five-story, 77,000-square-foot office building in downtown Brooklyn, which is famous for being the location where baseball legend Jackie Robinson signed his first MLB contract with the Brooklyn Dodgers. The building was added to Midtown Equities’ portfolio of more than 100 properties across the country.

Kenneth Chenault
CATEGORY: Entrepreneurs
COMPANY: American Express
INDUSTRY: Finance
What Makes Him HAUTE: The Long Island born, Harvard Law School graduate has been CEO and chairman of American Express since 2001. As the head of such a powerful financial institution, it’s no wonder that his estimated annual earnings in 2009 were more than $16 million. This November, Chenault was honored with the Third Lantern Award by the Old North Foundation for his commitment and dedication to public service, an honor that he shares with some prestigious people including President Bill Clinton, Boston’s Mayor Thomas Merino, and Senator Ted Kennedy.

Eva & Michael Chow
CATEGORY: Power Couples
COMPANY: Mr Chow
INDUSTRY: Restaurants
What Makes Them HAUTE: He’s the brains behind the trendy Mr Chow restaurants; she’s by his side lending her creativity to conceive the design of each location. The authentic Chinese cuisine was first introduced in London in 1968, and since then, the famed restaurateur has opened four U.S. locations (Beverly Hills, two in New York City, and Miami), with plans to open his fifth in Las Vegas.

Maggio and Ignazio Cipriani
CATEGORY: Entrepreneurs
COMPANY: Cipriani
INDUSTRY: Hospitality
What Makes Him HAUTE: The young heirs to the Cipriani empire have already shown determination to take on the family business. This year alone they have helped open the new Cipriani Yas Island Abu Dhabi, the recently opened Cipriani Istanbul, along with focusing on the opening in the Spring of their first Mr. C Hotel in Los Angeles.

Hillary & Bill Clinton
CATEGORY: Power Couples
COMPANY: United States Government
INDUSTRY: Politics
What Makes Them HAUTE: The political husband-and-wife team continues to be active participants in the bettering of the United States and the world. As Secretary of State, Hillary has firmly advocated for peace in the Middle East, introduced the Global Hunger and Food Security Initiative, and pushed for the Senate to sign the New START treaty, an arms reduction agreement with Russia. Husband Bill is also giving back; the widespread charitable donations and calls to action by the William J. Clinton Foundation have led to improving more than 220 million lives worldwide.
The most influential people in the world’s most powerful city

Steven Cohen
CATEGORY: Billionaires
COMPANY: SAC Capital Advisors
INDUSTRY: Finance
What Makes Him HAUTE: Cohen’s hedge fund, SAC Capital, has 700 employees and manages $14 billion in equity. He’s come under tight scrutiny in the past few weeks due to the government’s recent insider-trading crackdown. Regardless, Forbes still ranks Cohen #32 in their list of richest Americans, with his estimated net worth at 7.3 billion.

Andrew Cuomo
CATEGORY: Thinkers
COMPANY: State of New York
INDUSTRY: Politics
What Makes Him HAUTE: On Jan. 1, Andrew Cuomo will be sworn in as the 56th Governor of New York. The Queens native is no stranger to NY politics. His father, Mario Cuomo was also Governor of New York and Andrew previously served as New York Attorney General. He currently has a five-point plan to build a “new” New York that will include stabilizing the financial problems, increasing jobs, and “restoring honor and integrity to the state government.”

Clive Davis
CATEGORY: Entrepreneurs
COMPANY: Sony Music Entertainment Worldwide
INDUSTRY: Music
What Makes Him HAUTE: With such titles as former president of Columbia Records, founder and president of Arista Records, chairman and CEO of the RCA Music Group, and chairman and CEO of BMG North America, Clive Davis certainly knows music. Currently CEO of Sony Music Entertainment Worldwide, Davis is credited with signing such classic greats as Janis Joplin, Bruce Springsteen, and the Grateful Dead. After four decades, he still knows what it takes to make a hit. Sony has signed some of today’s hottest artists including Ke$ha, Adam Lambert, and the cast of “Glee.”

Alicia Keys and Kasseem “Swizz Beatz” Dean
CATEGORY: Power Couples
INDUSTRY: Music
What Makes Them HAUTE: This musical power couple were married back in July, and welcomed their first child together, son Egypt, in mid October. She became famous for her gorgeous looks and standout voice, but her recent recognition has come with her charitable work, particularly her Keep a Child Alive foundation that provides help to families with HIV/AIDS in Africa. Swizz was nominated for three Grammy Awards in 2010 for producing, and just last month, was named NYU’s first Producer-in-Residence at the Clive Davis Department of Recorded Music at the Tisch School of the Arts. As NYU’s newest professor, he will help students in one-on-one sessions, group lectures, and songwriting critique. Swizz has plans to release his next album in 2011, which is fittingly entitled “Haute Living.”

Annette & Oscar De la Renta
CATEGORY: Power Couples
COMPANY: Oscar de la Renta
INDUSTRY: Fashion
What Makes Them HAUTE: He’s inarguably one of the world’s leading fashion designers. He received the CFDA lifetime achievement award in 1990, and twenty years later, he’s still going strong. His wife Annette is actively involved in various philanthropies and organizations within the community; she serves on the board of the Met, the New York Public Library, the Morgan Library, the Animal Medical Center, and the Engelhard Foundation.

Robert De Niro
CATEGORY: Entertainers
COMPANY: Tribeca Productions
INDUSTRY: Film
What Makes Him HAUTE: Arguably the finest actor of his generation, De Niro continues to release blockbuster hits, now acting as producer in many of the films he stars in. He has teamed up with fellow Haute 100 member director Martin Scorsese for the upcoming flick “The Irishman.” De Niro is also a force in Tribeca real estate and dining, owning such fixtures as the Greenwich Hotel, and the restaurant inside it, Locanda Verde.

Nick Denton
CATEGORY: Originators
COMPANY: Gawker Media
INDUSTRY: Media
What Makes Him HAUTE: He’s the founder of Gawker Media, which currently is the parent company to nine prominent blogs including the ever-popular NY-based Gawker.com. Other websites in this vast network include Gizmodo, Jezebel, Lifehacker, and Cityfile. The blogs in total reel in approximately to 17.5 million U.S. Visitors each month, which is more than even nytimes.com. In 2009, the company was estimated to be worth approximately $300 million, though that number is likely to increase in the coming decade.

Diane Von Furstenberg and Barry Diller
CATEGORY: Power Couples
COMPANY: Diane Von Furstenberg / InterActiveCorp.
INDUSTRY: Fashion / Media
What Makes Them HAUTE: She’s the president of the Council of Fashion Designers of America and arguably one of the top fashion designers in the world. Von Furstenberg even has one of her famous wrap dresses displayed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Diller is a media mogul who currently holds the position of chairman of Expedia and InterActiveCorp, which is the parent of internet powerhouses like Match.com, Citysearch, and Ask.com. As of April 2010, their net worth was an estimated $1.2 billion.

Jamie Dimon
CATEGORY: Entrepreneurs
COMPANY: JPMorgan Chase & Co.
INDUSTRY: Finance
What Makes Him HAUTE: He is the CEO and chairman of JPMorgan Chase, whom the New York Times recently named “America’s Least Hated Banker.” Since the financial crisis, Dimon has been fervently trying to rebuild and revolutionize the banking system, using the opportunity to acquire Bear Stearns and Washington Mutual. His hard work has paid off; JPMorgan Chase has just clinched the top spot in revenue earned from investment banking, beating out both Bank of America and Goldman Sachs for its second year in a row.

Charles and James Dolan
CATEGORY: Entrepreneurs
COMPANY: Cablevision, Madison Square Garden Inc.
INDUSTRY: Entertainment
What Makes Them HAUTE: Charles is the founder of Cablevision Systems Corporation, the 8th largest cable provider in the United States. Cablevision purchased Madison Square Garden back in 1994, and eventually spun off into a new company in Feb. 2010, under the name Madison Square Garden, Inc. The company currently has control over the Madison Square Garden arena and the three teams that play there (Knicks, Rangers, and New York Liberty.) Although the companies are separate, Charles’ son, James, remains the chairman of both companies.
The most influential people in the world’s most powerful city

Philip Falcone
CATEGORY: Billionaires
COMPANY: Harbinger Capital Partners
INDUSTRY: Finance
What Makes Him HAUTE: This Harvard graduate founded Harbinger back in 2001, the hedge fund investment firm known for betting against sub-prime mortgages, which have riskily earned the company more than $18 billion. His latest investment has been into wireless communications, as he tries to build a multibillion-dollar satellite network through his new company, LightSquared.

Andrew Farkas
CATEGORY: Entrepreneurs
COMPANY: Island Capital Group
INDUSTRY: Real Estate
What Makes Him HAUTE: He originally entered the real estate scene when he founded Insignia Financial Group in 1990, which became one of the world’s leading commercial real estate companies. He then went on to found the real estate investment firm, Island Capital Group, of which he is now chairman and CEO. In 2005, Farkas also founded Island Global Yachting, a company that owns and manages luxury-yacht marinas in top boating destinations all over the world.

Tom Ford
CATEGORY: Designers
COMPANY: Tom Ford
INDUSTRY: Fashion
What Makes Him HAUTE: Formerly the creative director of Gucci, for which he is credited with turning the almost-bankrupt fashion house into an empire valued at $4.3 billion upon his departure. He now heads the eponymous Tom Ford fashion label, which boasts 21 freestanding stores throughout the world. Ford is famous for dressing some of Hollywood’s Hautest leading men including Brad Pitt, Tom Hanks, and Johnny Depp.

Larry Gagosian
CATEGORY: Thinkers
COMPANY: Gagosian Galleries
INDUSTRY: Art
What Makes Him HAUTE: He’s the owner of the Gagosian Gallery chain, which has locations in NYC, London, Los Angeles, Rome, and Athens, and has become a predominant figure in the contemporary arts scene, repping the likes of Andy Warhol, Jeff Koons, and Damien Hirst. In the past year, Gagosian was ranked number one in ArtReview Magazine’s annual Power 100 List and was awarded with France’s highest civil distinction, the “Legion of Honour.”

Rudy Giuliani
CATEGORY: Politicians
COMPANY: Giuliani Partners LLC
INDUSTRY: Politics
What Makes Him HAUTE: The former mayor is still the national face of New York’s post-9/11 comeback. While he didn’t make it all the way to the White House, he still acts as a political commentator for several television news shows. He’s also chairman and CEO of Giuliani Partners, a management consulting firm dedicated to helping business and political leaders with strategic issues and brand reputation.

Tony Goldman
CATEGORY: Originators
COMPANY: Goldman Properties
INDUSTRY: Real Estate
What Makes Him HAUTE: Goldman Properties was established in 1968 with one employee in a 200-square-foot office in New York City. It has since grown to more than 250 employees with offices in New York, Miami, Philadelphia, and Boston. Goldman can be credited with the creation of modern day Soho, taking empty buildings and converting them into state-of-the-art offices and residences.

Carolina Herrera
CATEGORY: Designers
COMPANY: Carolina Herrera New York
INDUSTRY: Fashion
What Makes Her HAUTE: 2010 marks the ten-year anniversary of her flagship store on Madison Avenue and this luxury fashion designer is showing that she’s still going strong. In September, she was named the Mercedes-Benz Presents designer for New York’s Spring/Summer 2011 fashion week. Her most recent venture includes a newly launched fragrance: 212 VIP.

Tommy Hilfiger
CATEGORY: Designers
COMPANY: Tommy Hilfiger
INDUSTRY: Fashion
What Makes Him HAUTE: Over the past 25 years, the eponymous Tommy Hilfiger brand has taken a vision of classic American sportswear and made it into one of the world’s most recognized lifestyle brands. Today, there are more than 1,000 Tommy Hilfiger stores worldwide, with plans to continue to expand into new markets in the coming years.

Marc Holliday
CATEGORY: Entrepreneurs
COMPANY: SL Green Realty
INDUSTRY: Real Estate
What Makes Him HAUTE: He’s CEO and President of SL Green Realty, the largest commercial landlord company in New York City. The company currently controls 73 properties throughout the New York metro area, totaling to more than 30 million square feet. In 2009, he was ranked #35 of Forbes list of top CEO Compensations.

Carl Icahn
CATEGORY: Originators
COMPANY: Icahn Enterprises
INDUSTRY: Finance
What Makes Him HAUTE: He’s chairman of Icahn Enterprises, a holding company that manages various investments. According to Forbes, Icahn’s net worth is roughly $11 billion, making him the 24th richest American and the 59th richest man in the world. Earlier this month, Icahn joined 17 other billionaires in The Giving Pledge, promising to donate the majority of his wealth to charity.
The most influential people in the world’s most powerful city

Jeff Immelt
CATEGORY: Entrepreneurs
COMPANY: General Electric
INDUSTRY: Business
What Makes Him HAUTE: He replaced fellow Haute 100 member Jack Welch as General Electric’s CEO in 2001. According to Forbes, GE has grown into the world’s second largest company, a multibillion-dollar conglomerate with more than 300,000 employees across the globe. Since then, Immelt has been named number one in Barrons’ list of World’s Best CEOs three times.

Marc Jacobs
CATEGORY: Designers
COMPANY: Marc Jacobs
INDUSTRY: Fashion
What Makes Him HAUTE: He’s in charge of four powerhouse fashion labels: The Marc Jacobs Collection, Marc by Marc Jacobs, Little Marc, and Louis Vuitton (he’s their creative director), but this NYC born designer doesn’t seem overwhelmed. Instead, the Marc Jacobs empire continues to expand, first with the launch of its e-commerce store at marcjacobs.com, and then with Bookmarc, a chic new bookstore on the corner of Bleecker and W. 11th Street. Jacobs also launched a photography book entitled The Men and Women of Marc Jacobs, which documents employees of his eponymous fashion brand, from which a percentage of proceeds will go towards charity. In 2010 Jacobs was also listed by Time Magazine as one of the 100 most influential people in the world.

Woody Johnson
CATEGORY: Entrepreneurs
COMPANY: Johnson Company, Inc.
INDUSTRY: Finance
What Makes Him HAUTE: He’s the heir to the Johnson & Johnson fortune, and now serves as chairman and CEO of the Johnson Company.  He also owns the New York Jets, which over the past ten years he has taken significant steps to rebuild the team. Johnson is frequently cited as a devoted philanthropist, creating the Alliance for Lupus Research and is a strong supporter of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.

Paul Tudor Jones II
CATEGORY: Billionaires
COMPANY: Tudor Investment Corporation
INDUSTRY: Finance
What Makes Him HAUTE: He’s a self-made hedge fund billionaire who founded Tudor Investment Corp. thirty years ago. One of his earliest achievements was back in 1987 when he predicted “Black Monday,” an event that allowed him to triple his earnings. Since then Jones has been an active philanthropist; he founded the NYC poverty-fighting group the Robin Hood Foundation, which in 2007 raised $70 million at a single banquet. He also formed another victorious foundation called the One to One Charitable Fund, which is said to have raised more than $125 million total for disadvantaged children.

Donna Karan
CATEGORY: Designers
COMPANY: DKNY
INDUSTRY: Fashion
What Makes Her HAUTE: Donna Karan launched her infamous fashion brand back in 1985 with her line of practical clothing for women. Twenty-five years later, Donna Karan Inc. now also includes the Donna Karan lines and the younger DKNY line, along with accessories, eyewear, intimates, fragrances, home collections, and more. A native of Long Island, Karan has always maintained that the city of New York will remain an influence in all of her designs.

David Koch
CATEGORY: Billionaires
COMPANY: Koch Industries
INDUSTRY: Manufacturing, Finance
What Makes Him HAUTE: His estimated net worth is $17.5 billion, stemming from the success of Koch Industries, a privately owned energy conglomerate whose subsidiaries include Georgia Pacific, the maker of Brawny paper towels, and Invista, the maker of Stainmaster carpet and Lycra fiber. As of September, Koch had succeeded Michael Bloomberg as the richest man in New York City, making him an obvious choice for our Haute 100 list.

Jeff Koons
CATEGORY: Thinkers
INDUSTRY: Art
What Makes Him HAUTE: Koons is well known in the art industry circuit for his reproduction of everyday objects and American pop-culture icons. His work can be viewed in several famous New York art houses including MoMA, the Whitney Museum, and the Guggenheim. This year, Koons was chosen by BMW to design a car as part of the company’s Art Car series, an honor that has been given to many famed artists of the past, including Andy Warhol. His brightly colored BMW M3 GT2 was introduced in Paris this summer at the 24 Hours of Le Mans car race.

Bruce Kovner
CATEGORY: Billionaires
COMPANY: Caxton Associates
INDUSTRY: Finance
What Makes Him HAUTE: Kovner is founder and chairman of Caxton Associates, one of the world’s top ten hedge funds. The Harvard graduate underwent his first trade back in 1977 for $3,000, and is now worth an estimated $3.5 billion. He was recently appointed to the Board of Trustees of the Institute for Advanced Study, which has been home to notable thinkers like Albert Einstein.

Maria-Josée & Henry Kravis
CATEGORY: Power Couples
COMPANY: Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co.
INDUSTRY: Finance
What Makes Them HAUTE: They are one of America’s wealthiest families. He co-founded the private equity firm Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co (KKR), which currently boasts total assets of approximately $60 billion. She’s a former Canadian newscaster, but now takes an active interest in the NYC community, serving as senior fellow at the Hudson Institute, on the International Advisory Board of the NY Federal Reserve, and is the President of the Museum of Modern Art. Together, the couple is ranked the 25th highest donating individuals, supporting various local and global causes.

Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner
CATEGORY: Power Couples
COMPANY: Trump Organization / New York Observer
INDUSTRY: Real Estate / Publishing
What Makes Them HAUTE: Ivanka Trump still proves she’s an unstoppable force with her role as Executive VP of Development & Acquisitions at The Trump Organization. In addition to her own jewelry venture, Ivanka Trump Fine Jewelry, the heiress has plans to launch a footwear line, a handbag collection with Mondani, and an outerwear collection in the next few months. Last year Trump wed husband, Jared Kushner, who is heir to the New York Observer.
The most influential people in the world’s most powerful city

Edward Lampert
CATEGORY: Billionaires
COMPANY: Sears Holdings Corporation, ESL Investments
INDUSTRY: Finance
What Makes Him HAUTE: He’s the chairman of Sears Holdings Corporation, which includes Sears, Kenmore, Lands End, and Kmart (for which he helped to rebuild after bankruptcy). He’s also the founder, chairman, and CEO of ESL Investments, a private investment company that Lampert started at the ripe age of 25. In 2010 he was ranked #101 in Forbes’ list of the 400 richest Americans.

Kenneth Langone
CATEGORY: Philanthropists
COMPANY: Home Depot
INDUSTRY: Finance
What Makes Him HAUTE: He’s the co-founder of Home Depot and the former director of the New York Stock Exchange. He’s also an active philanthropist, contributing millions of dollars to various charities that include the Ronald McDonald House, the Robin Hood Foundation, and New York University. Both the NYU Langone Medical Center (of which he is chairman) and the Langone Program at NYU’s Stern School of Business are named after him.

Leonard and Ronald Lauder
CATEGORY: Entrepreneurs
COMPANY: Estée Lauder
INDUSTRY: Beauty
What Makes Them HAUTE: Born and raised on the Upper East Side, brothers Leonard and Ronald took their mother’s face cream concoction made in her kitchen and turned it into one of the nation’s largest beauty conglomerates. Estée Lauder is the parent company for some of the nation’s top cosmetics brands including Clinique, MAC, Aveda, Bobbi Brown, and La Mer. Both brothers make Forbes’ list of World Billionaires.

Ralph Lauren
CATEGORY: Designers
COMPANY: Ralph Lauren
INDUSTRY: Fashion
What Makes Him HAUTE: This ambitious fashion designer and brilliant businessman, most notable for his Polo Ralph Lauren clothing line, stated in high school that he wanted to be a millionaire. As his current estimated net worth is $4.6 billion, he has succeeded his goal in spades with no sign of stopping now. The company is continuing to expand internationally, recently opening up stores in Chile, Korea, and Malaysia.

The LeFrak Family
CATEGORY: Billionaires
COMPANY: The LeFrak Organization
INDUSTRY: Real Estate
What Makes Them HAUTE: The LeFrak Organization was founded back in 1901 by the late Harry LeFrak. His son Samuel helped to grow the company. specifically with the development of LeFrak City back in 1963, a five million-square-foot residential complex in Queens. Richard, Samuel’s son, is now the firm’s chairman and CEO, while Richard’s two sons, Harrison and James, are also top executives. Over time, the LeFrak Organization has grown into one of the world’s leading building firms, controlling some 70,000 apartments in the New York metro area alone, including Newport, N.J., a $3 billion mini-city boasting 16 million square feet of commercial, residential, and retail space. The family was ranked #62 in Forbes 400 Richest Americans, with an estimated net worth of $4.3 billion.

The London Family
CATEGORY: Entrepreneurs
COMPANY: London Jewelers
INDUSTRY: Jewelry
What Makes Them HAUTE: In 2011, the family behind the legendary London Jewelers will celebrate 85 years in business. They continue to uphold founder Charles London’s reputation for exceptional customer service and top-of-the-line merchandise. Three generations are accounted for daily at their six New York locations. Mark (London’s grandson) is CEO and his wife Candy is President. Their daughter, Randi, is responsible for aspects of the business such as designing and buying jewelry and creative business planning.  She is also brand manager for Van Cleef & Arpels. Their son Scott trained as a gemologist, which led him to take on the role of managing their diamond buying. Scott’s wife Jessica also joined the family business, acting as brand manager for prestigious brands like David Yurman. The store maintains solid partnerships with more than 60 luxury brands. London Jewelers is also committed to giving back to the community in supporting more than 100 different charities every year.

Howard Lorber
CATEGORY: Entrepreneurs
COMPANY: Vector Group Limited
INDUSTRY: Real Estate
What Makes Him HAUTE: He’s the president and CEO of the holding company Vector Group, and chairman of Prudential Douglas Elliman, a subsidiary of Vector and the largest residential real estate brokerage in New York, with the top four out of close to 2,000 offices in the entire Prudential Network. In 2010, Vector Group acquired part of Borders Group Inc. for $25 million, adding Lorber to their Board of Directors.

Susan Lyne
CATEGORY: Entrepreneurs
COMPANY: Gilt Groupe
INDUSTRY: Internet Commerce
What Makes Her HAUTE: She’s the founder and chairman of the online luxury fashion retailer, Gilt Groupe. Through its exclusive, discounted online sales events, Gilt Groupe single-handedly changed how people shop. The company has seen exponential growth in the past year, branching out from fashion to other luxury goods sectors, and has launched the city-specific deal website, Gilt City.

William Mack
CATEGORY: Entrepreneurs
COMPANY: AREA Property Partners
INDUSTRY: Real Estate
What Makes Him HAUTE: Mack is a third generation real estate tycoon best known for co-developing the Time Warner Center. He is founder and chairman of AREA Property Partners (formerly known as Apollo Real Estate Advisors), a company that has invested more than $11 billion in more than 500 transactions since its inception. Mack also serves as chair of real estate investment trust Mack-Cali Realty, as a board member of the Regional Advisory Board of JP Morgan Chase, and is chairman of the Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation.

Abby & Eli Manning
CATEGORY: Power Couples
COMPANY: New York Giants
INDUSTRY: Sports
What Makes Them HAUTE: This Manning brother was destined to be a quarterback; he’s the son of former NFL quarterback Archie Manning, and the younger brother of Peyton Manning, though Eli created his own legacy as well. Now in his seventh season as the Giants’ star quarterback, he is the sixth QB in history to start 100 straight games and just completed his 30th touchdown of the season.  His wife Abby and he were college sweethearts; the couple is expecting their first baby this spring.
The most influential people in the world’s most powerful city

Richard Meier
CATEGORY: Originators
COMPANY: Richard Meier & Partners, Architects LLP
INDUSTRY: Architecture
What Makes Him HAUTE: The “starchitect” is the brainchild behind the three glass towers amongst the brownstones in the West Village at 173 and 176 Perry Street and 165 Charles Street, which have attracted celebrity inhabitants such as Martha Stewart, Natalie Portman, and Calvin Klein.

Rupert Murdoch
CATEGORY: Billionaires
COMPANY: News Corporation
INDUSTRY: Media
What Makes Him HAUTE: The global media mogul is founder, chairman, and CEO of News Corp., the conglomerate that reigns over Fox, the New York Post, the Wall Street Journal, and HarperCollins Publishers, just to name a few. The company reported its 2010 full year revenue had increased 8-percent to $32.8 billion. According to Forbes, Murdoch is the 117th richest person in the world, with a net worth of $6.2 billion (an increase of roughly $2 billion over the course of just one year).

Si Newhouse, Jr.
CATEGORY: Billionaires
COMPANY: Condé Nast Publications
INDUSTRY: Media
What Makes Him HAUTE: Newhouse is the chairman and CEO of Advance Publications, which most notably owns Condé Nast, the publisher of more than two dozen magazines including Vogue, Vanity Fair, Glamour, Bon Appétit, and The New Yorker.  He is also well known for his philanthropy, and a generous $15 million donation to Syracuse University, which resulted in the school naming the SI Newhouse School of Public Communications after him.

Vikram Pandit
CATEGORY: Thinkers
COMPANY: Citigroup
INDUSTRY: Finance
What Makes Him HAUTE: He’s been the CEO of Citigroup since 2007. Since the economic crisis, Pandit has been the subject of scrutiny as he has tried to rebuild the world’s largest financial services network and the American banking system.  He has since succeeded in helping the company recover, as Citigroup is now expecting to earn more than $11 billion this year. Pandit currently serves on the boards of his alma maters Columbia University and Columbia Business School, where he received his PhD in Finance.

Richard Parsons
CATEGORY: Entrepreneurs
COMPANY: Citigroup
INDUSTRY: Finance
What Makes Him HAUTE: This former CEO of Time Warner is now the chairman of Citigroup. His financial advice is coveted by some of the most powerful individuals including President Obama, for whom he serves on the economic advisory team; and Secretary of Treasury Timothy Geithner, who met with Parsons as many as 17 times during his first year in office.

Ronald Perelman
CATEGORY: Billionaires
COMPANY: Revlon
INDUSTRY: Finance
What Makes Him HAUTE: A self-made billionaire, Perelman made his fortune by buying various companies at cheap and then later reselling them. According to Forbes, in March 2010 he ranked #52 in the world’s richest people, with a net worth of $11 billion.  He is a notable charity donor, often regarded as one of the top philanthropists in the world.

Peter Peterson
CATEGORY: Philanthropists
COMPANY: The Blackstone Group, Peter G. Peterson Foundation
INDUSTRY: Finance
What Makes Him HAUTE: This 84-year-old has certainly had his fair share of prominent positions throughout his career. Among them, U.S. Secretary of Commerce under Richard Nixon and chair of the Federal Reserve Bank of NY. He’s also authored numerous books on American political and financial issues. It was only as recently as 2008 that his private equity firm, The Blackstone Group, was listed on the NYSE, which earned Peterson himself a whopping $1.88 billion almost instantaneously. Peterson has established The Blackstone Charitable Foundation and his namesake foundation, the Peter G. Peterson Foundation, whose mission is to increase public awareness regarding fiscal issues that pose a threat to the future of the United States.

Mikhail Prokhorov
CATEGORY: Billionaires
COMPANY: ONEXIM Group
INDUSTRY: Finance
What Makes Him HAUTE: He is founder of ONEXIM Group, a private investment fund based in Russia with assets valued at approximately $17 billion. He may be the second richest man in Russia but this billionaire has also been making it big in New York as the majority owner of the New Jersey Nets; he purchased them in May for $200 million. He’s also part owner of the Barclays Center arena currently being built in Brooklyn.

Stewart Rahr
CATEGORY: Billionaires
COMPANY: Kinray
INDUSTRY: Pharmaceuticals
What Makes Him HAUTE: This Pharma Billionaire and Philanthropist Stewart “Stewie Rah Rah” Rahr has been living the American dream. His is a true rags-to-riches story, starting out making 50 cents per hour delivering for his father’s pharmacy to becoming one of the wealthiest men in the world. He just sold his company Kinray, the world’s largest privately held distribution company of generic pharmaceutical products for $1.3 billion. But Rah Rah isn’t all work and no play, the number one self-proclaimed “King of All Fun” is a fixture on Hollywood’s red carpet; and his second annual “Celebration of Life for Exceptional Friends” at his Hamptons estate is one of the toughest tickets to obtain on the planet, possibly harder than those for the annual Vanity Fair party in Los Angeles. This coming year he is rumored to have Andrea Boccelli, James Blunt, and Enrique Iglesias perform. Additionally, Rah Rah is well known for being the Make a Wish Foundation’s largest donor, dedicating to them more than $5 million total, and for his recent $500,000 donation to Alicia Keys’ “Keep a Child Alive” charity, rescuing numerous celebrities from their “digital death.” Lady Gaga sure knew what she was shouting out in her song by blasting “Rah Rah Rah Rah Rah!”

Emily Rafferty
CATEGORY: Thinkers
COMPANY: Metropolitan Museum of Art
INDUSTRY: Art
What Makes Her HAUTE: Rafferty started working at the Metropolitan Museum of Art back in 1975 as an assistant in the development office. She subsequently worked her way up to the top and is now president of the museum. She is the first woman to run the day-to-day operations in the Met’s 135-plus-year history.

Denise Rich
CATEGORY: Philanthropist
COMPANY: Angel Foundation
INDUSTRY: Charity
What Makes Her HAUTE: She’s a Grammy Award-winning songwriter who has been a staple in the New York City social circuit for years. But she’s also a philanthropist, with the creation of the Gabrielle’s Angel Foundation for Cancer Research in 2008 in honor of her daughter who passed away from leukemia. The charity’s annual Angel Ball has raised more than $13 million for cancer research.
The most influential people in the world’s most powerful city

Loren & JR Ridinger
CATEGORY: Power Couples
COMPANY: Market America
INDUSTRY: Internet Commerce
What Makes Them HAUTE: Their online shopping site, Market America has generated more than $2.5 billion in accumulated retail sales. They continue to be ahead of the curve, launching programs like their MA CashBack program. The Ridingers most recently made headlines after they acquired shop.com, the Bill Gates-backed online comparison-shopping engine, whose strengths lie in strong technological advances that will seamlessly facilitate the shopping experience for the customer.

The Rockefeller Family
CATEGORY: Entrepreneurs
COMPANY: Standard Oil Company, JPMorgan Chase
INDUSTRY: Finance
What Makes Them HAUTE: This world-renowned industrial, banking, real estate, and political dynasty made the world’s largest private fortune in the oil business, primarily through the Standard Oil Company, powering America’s lamps and, eventually, their automobiles. Most noted for their philanthropic endeavors in education, health, and conservation, John D. Rockefeller reportedly gave away $540 million over his lifetime and became the greatest lay benefactor of medicine in history. Independent researchers have valued the assets of the Rockefeller family as high as $110 billion, though an exact figure is unknown. The family business headquarters is now located in New York City’s Rockefeller Plaza.

Alex Rodriguez
CATEGORY: Athletes
COMPANY: New York Yankees
INDUSTRY: Sports
What Makes Him HAUTE: He’s widely regarded as one of the best all-around baseball players of all time and has broken many MLB records including being the youngest player out of only seven others to reach 600 home runs, and the most home runs hit by a New York-born player. A-Rod’s not only the highest paid Yankee, he is also the highest paid professional baseball player in history.

Aby Rosen
CATEGORY: Originators
COMPANY: RFR Holding
INDUSTRY: Real Estate
What Makes Him HAUTE: This real estate developer boasts a portfolio of some of New York’s most prized landmark boutique hotels. After years of co-ownership, Rosen recently became the sole owner of the properties that include the Seagram Building, Lever House, and the Gramercy Park Hotel. He currently has plans to develop the site at 610 Lexington Ave. into a glass hotel and condominium tower.

Stephen Ross
CATEGORY: Originators
COMPANY: Related Companies
INDUSTRY: Real Estate
What Makes Him HAUTE: He’s founder, chairman and CEO of The Related Companies, New York’s powerhouse real estate firm, responsible for trophy developments like Time Warner Center, the W Hotel Union Square, and One Union Square South luxury high-rise. Currently, Related is working on developing the new Moynihan Station, a major project to renovate Penn Station. Ross also owns 95 percent of the Miami Dolphins.

Wilbur Ross
CATEGORY: Billionaires
COMPANY: W.L. Ross & Co.
INDUSTRY: Finance
What Makes Him HAUTE: Ross launched the W.L. Ross & Co. investment fund with $440 million in capital and a small staff that he recruited from Rothschild. In July, Ross teamed up Edwin Crawford, the former Chairman of CVS, to create Crawford-Ross, a consulting and brokerage firm that that will buy and rebuild health care companies. His current net worth is estimated at $1.9 billion.

Billy Rudin
CATEGORY: Originators
COMPANY: Rudin Management Company
INDUSTRY: Real Estate
What Makes Him HAUTE: Rudin’s real estate holdings is one of the largest and most respected privately owned portfolios in the city, thus attracting some of New York’s most prestigious clients. As a fourth generation Rudin running the family business, Billy has singlehandedly helped lead the revitalization of downtown Manhattan and the birth of “Silicon Alley.”

Mark Sanchez
CATEGORY: Athletes
COMPANY: New York Jets
INDUSTRY: Football
What Makes Him HAUTE: The former USC Football MVP is now the Jets’ star quarterback. Sanchez was picked in the first round of the 2009 NFL draft, and the second quarterback overall to be selected, signing a five-year contract with New York. Though many were skeptical of his performance this season after his knee surgery, Sanchez has proven to be worth every penny of his $50 million contract.

Julian Schnabel
CATEGORY: Thinkers
INDUSTRY: Art
What Makes Him HAUTE: The award-winning artist’s masterpieces can be found in museums all over the city, including the Met, MoMA, and the Whitney Museum. He’s also an accredited film director and recording artist. His newest film, Miral, is scheduled to be released in the U.S. this March.

Ian Schrager
CATEGORY: Originators
COMPANY: Ian Schrager Company
INDUSTRY: Hospitality
What Makes Him HAUTE: Schrager entered the hospitality industry back in the ‘70s as the co-owner and co-founder of the infamous Studio 54. He has since then helped to redefine the boutique hotel genre. He is responsible for New York’s landmark Gramercy Park Hotel and its neighboring residential space, 50 Gramercy Park North. Schrager recently partnered up with Marriott to form the Edition hotel brand, which opened its first property in Hawaii in October. He’s also recently launched Schrager Hotels, a hospitality company with plans to both build and renovate properties in several major global cities and is projecting to open 10 to 15 hotels in the next five years.

Stephen Schwarzman
CATEGORY: Billionaires
COMPANY: The Blackstone Group
INDUSTRY: Finance
What Makes Him HAUTE: He is the chairman and co-founder of the private equity and financial advisory firm, the Blackstone Group. In March 2008, Schwarzman donated $100 million to the New York City Library, which led to the main building being renamed in his honor. He is currently listed by Forbes as #171 in the world’s billionaires, with an estimated net worth at approximately $4.1 billion. This is a significant jump in rankings from the previous year’s rank #261.
The most influential people in the world’s most powerful city

Martin Scorsese
CATEGORY: Thinkers
COMPANY: World Cinema Foundation
INDUSTRY: Film
What Makes Him HAUTE: Critics and film scholars have called him the best living American director, with several of his movies occupying spots on the AFI’s list of greatest movies of all time. His film Shutter Island was a box office success back in February, earning more than $42 million in its opening weekend.  He is also Executive Producer for HBO’s newest hit drama, “Boardwalk Empire,” which has already been green-lit for a second season. And he shows no signs of slowing down; with several films in the making including the highly anticipated, Sinatra, which will (quite obviously) be a story about the legendary entertainer, Frank Sinatra.

Jonathan Segal
CATEGORY: Entrepreneurs
COMPANY: The ONE Group
INDUSTRY: Hospitality
What Makes Him HAUTE: He’s CEO of The ONE Group, the hospitality management company that is responsible for some of NYC’s hottest restaurants, nightclubs, and hotels including STK, The Collective, and Tenjune. Segal continues to expand his empire in Manhattan with the opening of Gansevoort Park Avenue and its newly opened Ristorante Asellina.

Carlos Slim
CATEGORY: Billionaires
COMPANY: Telmex, America Movil and Grupo Carso
INDUSTRY: Telecommunications
What Makes Him HAUTE: He’s chairman and CEO of Telmex, a telecommunications enterprise based in Mexico City, which operates 90 percent of telephone lines in Mexico. Its sister company, America Movil, is the largest mobile phone company in Latin America. In addition, Slim owns Grupo Carso, one of Mexico’s major business conglomerates. As far as New York goes, Slim has invested in several properties in the past few years; he is also the biggest shareholder of Saks Inc. as well as a 7-percent stake in the New York Times. In March, Slim was ranked the single wealthiest person in the world by Forbes, the first non-American to lead the rankings since 1984; his estimated net worth is approximately $53.5 billion.

George Soros
CATEGORY: Philanthropists
COMPANY: Soros Fund Management, LLC
INDUSTRY: Finance
What Makes Him HAUTE: Soros Fund Management was one of the few hedge fund firms that saw the financial crisis as a buying opportunity. Aside from being chairman of the company Soros has also written ten best-selling books, is a strong political activist, and is one of the city’s most notable philanthropists. Earlier this year, he donated $1 million to support Prop 19, which would have legalized marijuana in California. Moreover, in September, he pledged $100 million to Human Rights Watch and $50 million to the Robin Hood Foundation.

Rob and Jerry Speyer
CATEGORY: Entrepreneurs
COMPANY: Tishman Speyer
INDUSTRY: Real Estate
What Makes Them HAUTE: Jerry Speyer is co-founder, chairman, and co-CEO of Tishman Speyer, the prominent real estate firm that owns such properties as the Chrysler Building and Rockefeller Center. But his list of positions in New York doesn’t end there. Among them, he serves on the Executive Committee of the Federal Reserve Bank of NY, is vice chairman of the NY Presbyterian Hospital, chairman of MoMA, and chairman of his alma mater Columbia University. His son, Rob, has been co-CEO of Tishman Speyer since 2008, and serves as President of the firm. He has since helped the company open the city’s first office building that is LEED Gold certified by the U.S. Green Building Council.

Hal Steinbrenner
CATEGORY: Entrepreneurs
COMPANY: New York Yankees
INDUSTRY: Sports
What Makes Him HAUTE: As the son of the recently deceased George Steinbrenner, who was the longest Yankees owner in history, Hal has some big shoes to fill. He and his brother Hank now jointly own the team. Hal recently helped secure Derek Jeter’s return to the Yankees after negotiating a $51 million, 3-year contract.

Leonard Stern
CATEGORY: Billionaires
COMPANY: Hartz Group
INDUSTRY: Real Estate
What Makes Him HAUTE: Hartz Mountain Industries is one of the largest privately held real estate companies in the U.S. The firm boasts more than 38 million square feet of commercial, residential, and retail property in the New York City metro area, including the Soho Grand and Tribeca Grand hotels. NYU’s Stern School of Business is named after him, thanks to his $30 million donation to his alma mater.

Amar’e Stoudemire
CATEGORY: Athletes
COMPANY: New York Knicks
INDUSTRY: Basketball
What Makes Him HAUTE: After eight seasons playing for the Phoenix Suns, the newly free agent signed with the Knicks in July 2010 with a contract that is estimated to grant him more than $100 million over the next five years. So far with the Knicks, Stoudemire averages 26 points per game. On Dec. 15, he set a franchise record with his ninth straight 30-point game.

Arthur Sulzberger, Jr.
CATEGORY: Thinkers
COMPANY: New York Times
INDUSTRY: Media
What Makes Him HAUTE: The chairman and publisher of the New York Times has been running the paper’s daily operations since 1992. Under his tenure, Sulzberger has helped the Times become a national newspaper, and has won 39 Pulitzer Prizes.

David Tepper
CATEGORY: Billionaires
COMPANY: Appaloosa Management
INDUSTRY: Finance
What Makes Him HAUTE: This hedge fund manager specializes in buying stocks from companies that are either bankrupt or distressed and then profiting off of their recoveries. His investments include Bank of America, Hewlett-Packard, Intel, and Microsoft, and thus far he has had monumental success. The philanthropist recently donated a large sum of money to his namesake, the Tepper School of Business, at his alma mater, Carnegie Mellon University.

The Tisch Family
CATEGORY: Billionaires
COMPANY: Loews Corporation, New York Giants
INDUSTRY: Various
What Makes Them HAUTE: Arguably one of the most influential families in New York, there’s almost no part of the city that the family hasn’t touched. This includes Loews Corporation (of which Loews Hotels is a part of), Tisch School of the Arts at NYU, Tisch Hospital at the NYU Medical Center, and the New York Giants. They are also strongly involved with numerous charities and philanthropy projects.
The most influential people in the world’s most powerful city

The Trump Family
CATEGORY: Originators
COMPANY: Trump Organization
INDUSTRY: Real Estate
What Makes Them HAUTE: One of the most iconic families in the city, the Trumps hardly need an introduction. Although Forbes estimates “The Donald’s” net worth alone to be around $2.4 billion, Trump himself has stated that the actual number is much higher than that.

The Vanderbilt Family
CATEGORY: Originators
COMPANY: Michigan Central Railroad
INDUSTRY: Railroad & Shipping
What Makes Them HAUTE: The Vanderbilts were leaders of high society throughout the 19th century from the success of their railroad and shipping companies under the watchful eye of the late Cornelius Vanderbilt. Today, the family is still one of the wealthiest in history, with a modern legacy that includes Vanderbilt University and Vanderbilt Avenue in Midtown Manhattan alongside Grand Central Terminal. Now into its seventh generation of descendants, Vanderbilt relatives have spread out throughout the United States and include CNN’s Anderson Cooper.

Georgina Chapman and Harvey Weinstein
CATEGORY: Power Couples
COMPANY: Marchesa / The Weinstein Company
INDUSTRY: Fashion / Film
What Makes Them HAUTE: He’s known for being the co-founder of Miramax Films, and has been credited as Executive Producer for classic films like The Lord of the Rings trilogy. He founded The Weinstein Company in 2005 with his brother Bob, which most recently produced the upcoming controversial indie flick Blue Valentine. In 2007, Weinstein wed Chapman, a former model and co-founder of the fashion label Marchesa. The two welcomed their first child together back in August.

Fred Wilpon
CATEGORY: Entrepreneurs
COMPANY: New York Mets
INDUSTRY: Sports
What Makes Him HAUTE: It was thirty years ago that Wilpon bought his meager one percent share of the Mets. Fast forward to 1986, he purchased 50 percent, and in 2002, he became the team’s principle owner and CEO. Though he’s run into some troubles recently due to the Bernie Madoff debacle, Wilpon continues to stay devoted to his team, for which he says he “anguishes” over their losses.

Anna Wintour
CATEGORY: Thinkers
COMPANY: Vogue
INDUSTRY: Media
What Makes Her HAUTE: As Vogue’s editor-in-chief for more than twenty years, Anna Wintour has established herself a true fashion icon and trendsetter. This past February, Wintour was welcomed into The American Society of Magazine Editors’ prestigious Hall of Fame.

William and Arthur Zeckendorf
CATEGORY: Originators
COMPANY: Terra Holdings
INDUSTRY: Real Estate
What Makes Them HAUTE: They are the brothers behind the most expensive address in the city: 15 Central Park West. Owners and co-chairmen of Terra Holdings and Zeckendorf Realty, LP, the brokerage firm that developed 515 Park Avenue, a 43-story condominium in Manhattan that is the most luxurious apartment house built in more than 50 years. The building has established records for the highest priced residential property per square foot in Manhattan history.

Mortimer Zuckerman
CATEGORY: Entrepreneurs
COMPANY: Boston Properties, U.S. News & World Report, NY Daily News
INDUSTRY: Real Estate, Media
What Makes Him HAUTE: This Wharton MBA Graduate is currently chairman of Boston Properties, one of the largest real estate developers in the United States. Some distinct properties include the General Motors Building and Times Square Tower. Zuckerman is also owner of the New York Daily News, and owner and editor-in-chief of U.S. News & World Report.