Eddie Jordan (1948–2025), Formula One team owner

Eddie Jordan was a businessman who founded Jordan Grand Prix, which helped launch seven-time Formula One champion Michael Schumacher’s career, and a television commentator for the BBC.

Howard Twilley (1943–2025), Miami Dolphins wide receiver

Howard Twilley was a wide receiver for the Miami Dolphins for 11 seasons, including the team’s 1972 perfect season.

Virginia Halas McCaskey (1923–2025), Chicago Bears owner 

Virginia Halas McCaskey was the longtime owner of the NFL’s Chicago Bears, heading the team since inheriting it from her father in 1983.

Aga Khan IV (1936–2025), spiritual leader, magnate, and philanthropist

The Aga Khan IV was the spiritual leader of the Isma'ili branch of Shia Islam, a billionaire philanthropist who helped build homes, hospitals and schools throughout the world.

Fay Vincent (1938–2025), former MLB commissioner

Fay Vincent was a former Major League Baseball commissioner who helped guide it through the 1989 earthquake, a 1993 expansion of the National League, and other key milestones in the sport.

Osamu Suzuki (1930–2024), chairman of Suzuki Motor Corporation

Osamu Suzuki was the longtime head of Suzuki Motor Corp., serving at various times as its CEO, chairman, and president until his retirement in 2021, and helping turn the company from a small Japanese manufacturer into a global giant. 

Richard Parsons (1948–2024), head of Citigroup, Time Warner

Richard Parsons was a business executive who rose to lead some of the largest organizations in the world, including having tenures at the top of Time Warner and Citigroup.

Clifton R. Wharton Jr. (1926–2024), former president of MSU

Clifton R. Wharton Jr. was a former Michigan State University president and deputy secretary of state who broke racial barriers when he took the MSU post in 1970.

Ben Baldanza (1961–2024), former Spirit Airlines CEO

Ben Baldanza was the former president and CEO of Spirit Airlines, best known for helping pioneer the budget airline model.

Bernard Marcus (1929–2024), co-founder of The Home Depot

Bernard Marcus was a billionaire and philanthropist who was co-founder of The Home Depot hardware stores.

Donnell Thompson (1958–2024), longtime Colts defensive end 

Donnell Thompson was a longtime defensive end for the NFL’s Indianapolis Colts, who later became a community-minded business owner.

Leonard Riggio (1941–2024), turned Barnes & Noble into a giant

Leonard Riggio was a businessman who, starting in 1971, expanded Barnes & Noble from a single Manhattan store into a nationwide book giant. 

Mike Lynch (1965–2024), tech giant dubbed “Britain’s Bill Gates”

Mike Lynch was a businessman and entrepreneur who founded the tech company Autonomy, which he later sold for nearly $12 billion.

Nick Mileti (1931–2024), founder of the Cleveland Cavaliers

Nick Mileti was an attorney, author, and businessman who was founder of the NBA’s Cleveland Cavaliers and former owner of the MLB’s Cleveland Indians. 

Susan Wojcicki (1968–2024), former YouTube CEO

Susan Wojcicki was a Silicon Valley executive and the former CEO of YouTube, responsible for urging Google to purchase the then-new streaming giant in 2006.

Bruce Bastian (1948–2024), cofounder of WordPerfect

Bruce Bastian was a tech entrepreneur who co-founded the WordPerfect software company in the early days of home computing. He went on to become a prominent Utah philanthropist and a supporter of the LGBT community.

Linda Bean (1941–2024), conservative activist and philanthropist  

Linda Bean was a conservative activist and philanthropist, as well as the granddaughter of Leon Leonwood Bean, founder of the outdoor wear company L.L. Bean. 

Sydell Miller (1937–2024), founder of beauty brands Matrix, Ardell 

Sydell Miller was the entrepreneur behind the successful and influential beauty brands Matrix and Ardell, co-founding them with her husband, the late Arnold Miller.

Gerald M. Levin (1939–2024), exec who made Time Warner a powerhouse

Gerald M. Levin was a corporate executive who helped create the Time Warner powerhouse by guiding the merger between Time Inc., and Warner Media before leading the disastrous merger between Time Warner and AOL. 

Jacob Rothschild (1936–2024), financier and philanthropist

Jacob Rothschild was a financier and philanthropist from the Rothschild banking dynasty who walked away from his family’s empire to forge his own path.

Bill Post (1927–2024), inventor of Pop-Tarts

Bill Post was the inventor of Pop-Tarts.

Bob Moore (1929–2024), Bob’s Red Mill founder

Bob Moore founded the whole-grain food company Bob’s Red Mill alongside his wife, Charlee Moore.0

Joe Dudley Sr. (1937–2024), Black haircare pioneer 

Joe Dudley Sr. was an entrepreneur who founded Dudley Products, Inc., a prominent Black haircare brand.

Si Spiegel (1924–2024), WWII hero and artificial Xmas tree pioneer 

Si Spiegel was a World War II bomber pilot who flew missions over Berlin and became a pioneer in modernizing artificial Christmas trees after the war.

Sebastián Piñera (1949–2024), former Chilean president 

Sebastián Piñera was a prominent Chilean businessman and billionaire who served two terms as President, including a period of rapid economic growth for the country.

Herbert Kohl (1935–2023), former Senator and co-founder of Kohl’s 

Herbert Kohl was a businessman, politician, and philanthropist who was a former U.S. Senator, previous owner of the Milwaukee Bucks basketball team, and co-founder of Kohl’s department stores with his brother and father.0

Dick Nunis (1932–2023), Disney exec who expanded theme park empire

Dick Nunis was a longtime Disney executive who oversaw the company’s efforts to expand its theme parks outside of California.

Charles T. Munger (1924–2023), Warren Buffett’s right-hand man

Charles T. Munger was a businessman and investor who served as vice chairman of Berkshire Hathaway and business magnate Warren Buffett’s right hand.

George Cohon (1937–2023), founder of McDonald’s Canada

George Cohon was the founder of McDonald’s Canada who later brought the iconic hamburger chain to Russia.

Don Laughlin (1931–2023), Nevada resort town namesake

Don Laughlin was a developer, casino operator, and hotelier who built the Nevada resort town of Laughlin, named after himself and now the third largest casino destination in the state.

Florine Mark (1933–2023), former Weight Watchers president and CEO

Florine Mark was a businesswoman, entrepreneur, philanthropist, and a former president and CEO of Weight Watchers. 

Lauch Faircloth (1928–2023), U.S. senator from North Carolina 

Lauch Faircloth was a politician who served one term representing North Carolina in the U.S. Senate as a Republican.

John Warnock (1940–2023), tech giant and co-creator of the PDF 

John Warnock was a computer scientist and tech businessman who co-founded Adobe Systems, makers of software mainstays like Illustrator, Photoshop, and the ubiquitous PDF file format.

Patricia Bragg (1929–2023), Bragg Live Food Products CEO

Patricia Bragg was the longtime CEO of Bragg Live Food Products, known for their apple cider vinegar and other health food staples.

Jerry Moss (1935–2023), co-founder of A&M Records 

Jerry Moss was a record executive who co-founded A&M Records, for a time the world’s largest independent record company, and was later inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.

Richard O. Simpson (1930–2023), U.S.'s first consumer safety chief

Richard O. Simpson was an American businessman and entrepreneur who became the first chairman of the Consumer Product Safety Commission.

Rocky Wirtz (1952–2023), Chicago Blackhawks owner 

Rocky Wirtz was the owner of the NHL’s Chicago Blackhawks since 2007.

Johnny Lujack (1925–2023), oldest living Heisman Trophy winner 

Johnny Lujack was a quarterback who was honored with the Heisman Trophy while playing for Notre Dame in 1947 and went on to play for the Chicago Bears. 

David Gilmour (1931–2023), founder of Fiji water 

David Gilmour was a serial entrepreneur who started or was involved in a series of business ventures, most notably the Fiji water brand, which for a time was the number one brand of imported water. 

Sam Zell (1941–2023), billionaire real estate tycoon 

Sam Zell was a billionaire real estate investor who was nicknamed “the Grave Dancer” for his tactic of acquiring distressed companies.0

Stew Leonard Sr. (1929–2023), grocery store founder 

Stew Leonard Sr. was the founder of the Stew Leonard’s chain of grocery stores. 

Walter “Darcelle XV” Cole (1930–2023), world’s oldest drag performer

Walter Cole was a drag queen better known by his stage name, Darcelle XV , certified the world’s oldest working drag performer by Guinness World Records in 2016.

Tom Love (1937–2023), founder of Love's Travel Stops

Tom Love was the founder of Love's Travel Stops & Country Stores, a sprawling roadside empire with over 600 locations in 42 states. Though founded in 1964, it would take decades for Love to grow his brand into the billion-dollar behemoth it is today. Love’s is the 10th-largest privately owned company in the United States. Love was also involved in charitable work throughout his life and has been praised as a pioneer in roadside services.

Jerry Richardson (1936–2023), Carolina Panthers founder

Jerry Richardson was the founder and longtime owner of the Carolina Panthers, the second former NFL player to own a team.

Shoichiro Toyoda (1925–2023), transformative Toyota leader

Shoichiro Toyoda was a Japanese automotive executive and son of Toyota Motors founder Kiichiro Toyoda. He is credited with the success of Toyota’s modern global expansion.

Ira “Bob” Born (1924–2023), candymaker who was called the Father of Peeps

Ira “Bob” Born was the former president of the candy company Just Born, where he invented Hot Tamales and created the process to mass-produce Peeps.

James “Buster” Corley (1951–2023), co-founder of Dave & Buster’s 

James “Buster” Corley  was the co-founder of the Dave & Buster’s chain of restaurants with arcades.

John Y. Brown Jr. (1933–2022), former KFC owner and Kentucky governor

John Y. Brown Jr. was a businessman and politician who built KFC into a fast-food empire and went on to be elected governor of Kentucky.

Dietrich Mateschitz (1944–2022), Red Bull co-founder

Dietrich Mateschitz was an Austrian billionaire who co-founded the energy drink company Red Bull and was the owner of the Red Bull Formula One Racing Team.