HERE IS OUR 2014 HAUTE LIST OF SAN FRANCISCO’S MOST PROMINENT BILLIONAIRES, ATHLETES, POWER COUPLES, INNOVATORS, PHILANTHROPISTS, COMMANDERS AND OF COURSE, ENTREPRENEURS. THIS IS THE HOME OF SILICON VALLEY, AFTER ALL…
MARC ANDREESSEN AND BEN HOROWITZ
CATEGORY: COMMANDERS
COMPANY: ANDREESSEN HOROWITZ
INDUSTRY: VENTURE CAPITALISM
WHAT MAKES THEM HAUTE:
Marc Andreessen and Ben Horowitz are the co-founders of the $2.5 billion venture capital firm Andreessen Horowitz. A few of the firm’s notable investments include Airbnb, Julep and Instagram. Before founding Andreessen Horowitz, they were known as “Super Angels” who – together and separately — invested approximately $4 million in 45 tech startups.
JOHN ARRILLAGA
CATEGORY: BILLIONAIRES
COMPANY: PEERY-ARRILLAGA
INDUSTRY: REAL ESTATE
WHAT MAKES HIM HAUTE:
This Silicon Valley real estate mogul and partner Richard Peery first turned farmland into office spaces in the 1960s. Today, their firm oversees the spaces of high-powered tenants like Google and Apple. Arrillaga is one of alma mater Stanford University’s biggest donors, gifting $151 million just last year. His last name graces many of the buildings on the campus, and he has played a key role in the development of many other campus projects.
KATHERINE AUGUST-DEWILDE
CATEGORY: COMMANDERS
COMPANY: FIRST REPUBLIC BANK
INDUSTRY: BANKING
WHAT MAKES HER HAUTE:
This multi-tasking mother of four is President, CEO, and Director of First Republic Bank, a San Francisco-based commercial bank and wealth management firm. August-DeWilde is a member of both the Advisory Council of the Graduate School of Business and the Advisory Council for the Stanford Center on Longevity. She is also a Board member of TriNet and Equilar, and a Trustee of the Boys & Girls Clubs of San Francisco.
COLIN B. BAILEY
CATEGORY: INNOVATORS
COMPANY: THE FINE ARTS MUSEUMS OF SAN FRANCISCO
INDUSTRY: ARTS & CULTURE
WHAT MAKES HER HAUTE:
Last year, The Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco welcomed Director Colin B. Bailey with open arms. The 57-year-old brings his experience as deputy director and chief curator of the Frick Collection in New York, where he organized more than two dozen exhibitions during his career. He is a prolific author who won a prestigious Mitchell Prize for his book, “Patriotic Taste: Collecting Modern Art in Pre-Revolutionary Paris.”
STEVE JR. AND RILEY BECHTEL
CATEGORY: BILLIONAIRES
COMPANY: BECHTEL CORP
INDUSTRY: ENGINEERING
WHAT MAKES THEM HAUTE: The Bechtel family name can be linked to some of the greatest man-made projects of the century, such as Hoover Dam, the largest civil engineering project in US History. Currently, Riley is leading the company as CEO while his father, Steve Bechtel Jr., is acting Chairman Emeritus. The Bay Area Rapid Transit system is a notable project that has a Bechtel stamp.
CARL BERG
CATEGORY: BILLIONAIRES
COMPANY: MISSION WEST PROPERTIES / BERG AND BERG
INDUSTRY: REAL ESTATE
WHAT MAKES HIM HAUTE:
Carl Berg bought Mission West Properties real estate investment trust in 1977. The firm, which formerly managed eight million square feet across 100 properties, offloaded its assets to realty developer Divco West last year in a deal worth approximately $1.3 billion. Berg now still maintains a private real estate portfolio through his firm Berg
and Berg.
MARC BENIOFF
CATEGORY: BILLIONAIRES
COMPANY: SALESFORCE
INDUSTRY: TECH / PHILANTHROPY
WHAT MAKES HIM HAUTE: Marc Benioff is as well known for his tech genius as he is for his philanthropy. The former protégée of Larry Ellison became Founder and CEO of Salesforce in 1999, which is now one of the top five software companies in the world. In 2000, he launched The Salesforce.com Foundation, which introduced a philanthropic approach adopted by many tech companies. He and his wife have donated over $100 million to the University of California San Francisco to build a new children’s hospital.
JEAN-CHARLES BOISSET
CATEGORY: INNOVATORS
COMPANY: BOISSET FAMILY ESTATES
INDUSTRY: WINE / LIFESTYLE
WHAT MAKES HIM HAUTE: Famous for his flamboyant personality and his fantastical style, the Burgundy-born Boisset brought his signature French flair to the Napa Valley with the purchases of De Loach, Raymond Vineyards and Buena Vista Winery, the oldest premium winery in California. As proprietor of Boisset Family Estates, he has incorporated innovative winemaking techniques and sustainable practices across the estate’s 22 wineries in France and California. He is married to Gina Gallo of E&J Gallo, the largest wine producer in the world.
SERGEY BRIN
CATEGORY: BILLIONAIRES
COMPANY: GOOGLE
INDUSTRY: TECH
WHAT MAKES HIM HAUTE: Sergey Brin helped to create Google, the world’s most popular search engine, with Larry Page in 1988. The tech titan served as the company’s President of Technology from 2001 to 2011, where he shared responsibility for its day-to-day operations with Page and Eric Schmidt. Today, he directs special projects, and is in charge of the Google X division, which is developing Glass and driverless cars.
RON CONWAY
CATEGORY: BILLIONAIRES COMPANY: ANGEL INVESTORS LP FUND
INDUSTRY: VENTURE CAPITALISM
WHAT MAKES HIM HAUTE: Known as one of Silicon Valley’s “Super Angels”, Ron Conway began investing in the mid 1990s and founded Angel Investors LP funds in 1998. He took an early interest in Google, and has since put his faithful funds in more than 500 companies. Some of the big name businesses that have counted Conway among their guardian angels include Paypal, Digg, Facebook and Twitter.
TIM COOK
CATEGORY: COMMANDERS
COMPANY: APPLE, INC.
INDUSTRY: TECH
WHAT MAKES HIM HAUTE: While Steve Jobs may forever be the face of Apple, Tim Cook is carrying the torch brilliantly. He succeeded Apple’s visionary co-founder in 2011, but before taking over the role of CEO, Cook held the position of Apple’s Chief Operating Officer. Since taking the company’s reins, he’s presided over the rollout of updated iPads, iPhones and Mac computers.
FRANCIS FORD COPPOLA
CATEGORY: COMMANDERS
COMPANY: FRANCIS FORD COPPOLA PRESENTS
INDUSTRY: ENTERTAINMENT / LIFESTYLE
WHAT MAKES HIM HAUTE: Francis Ford Coppola is best known as a five-time Academy Award-winning director, writer and producer of such epic films as the Godfather trilogy and Apocalypse Now. But while Coppola has been making films for more than 40 years, he’s also been producing wine for more than 30. His resume has expanded to include accomplished vintner, hotelier, restaurateur, magazine publisher and cigar maker.
DICK COSTOLO
CATEGORY: COMMANDERS
COMPANY: TWITTER
INDUSTRY: TECH
WHAT MAKES HIM HAUTE: Dick Costolo joined Twitter as Chief Operations Officer in 2010, and quickly took hold of the company’s reins that same year. Since becoming CEO, Twitter’s global active user base has quadrupled to more than 200 million monthly users, while the company itself has tripled in size. He is also the co-founder of FeedBurner, which was purchased by Google in 2007.
JAMES COULTER
CATEGORY: BILLIONAIRES
COMPANY: TPG CAPITAL
INDUSTRY: PRIVATE EQUITY
WHAT MAKES HIM HAUTE: James Coulter continues to rule as a leader in private equity. He co-founded one of the world’s largest private equity firms, TPG Capital, which is based in San Francisco, Calif. and Forth Worth, Texas. The firm has invested in more than 100 companies such as Neiman Marcus, US Airways Group and J.Crew. Coulter is also Co-Chair of the Leading Education by Advancing Digital (LEAD) Commission.
DOMINIQUE CRENN
CATEGORY: COMMANDERS
COMPANY: ATELIER CRENN
INDUSTRY: FOOD & WINE
WHAT MAKES HER HAUTE: The Executive Chef and owner of Atelier Crenn is considered to be culinary royalty. She is the first female chef to earn two Michelin Stars – which she’s done two years in a row – at her eatery, Atelier Crenn. The native of France has been on the leading edge of San Francisco’s culinary scene for almost two decades, earning her first Michelin star at Luce in San Francisco’s Intercontinental Hotel.
VERNON DAVIS
CATEGORY: ATHLETES
COMPANY: SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS INDUSTRY: SPORTS
WHAT MAKES HIM HAUTE: Vernon Davis is considered to be one the NFL’s best tight end players. He was drafted by the 49ers in 2006, upon which he signed a 5-year, $23 million deal, making him the highest paid tight end of all time. He has since re-signed with the 49ers and made it to the finals of the 2013 Super Bowl. His philanthropic ventures include the Vernon Davis Foundation, Gallery 85, which promotes art education and appreciation for youth, and the Vernon Davis Visual Arts scholarship, which he established in 2010.
DAVID DE ROTHSCHILD
CATEGORY: ENTREPRENUERS
COMPANY: ADVENTURE ECOLOGY
INDUSTRY: ENVIRONMENTAL
WHAT MAKES HIM HAUTE: This member of the famous Rothschild banking family founded Adventure Ecology, which promotes respect and responsibility for the planet. The company travels through the world’s most dangerous and fragile regions presenting facts and promoting solutions. In 2012, de Rothschild developed Eco Trip: The Real Cost of Living, an eight part series on the production methods behind household items and the impact they have on the environment.
OLIVIA HSU DECKER
CATEGORY: COMMANDERS
COMPANY: DECKER BULLOCK SOTHEBY’S INTERNATIONAL REALTY
INDUSTRY: REAL ESTATE
WHAT MAKES HER HAUTE: This power realtor is a household name in luxury real estate. Born in Shanghai, Decker specializes in the sales of finest homes in San Francisco Bay Area and had over $200 million in sales during 2013 alone. She is active in supporting various charities, and starts 2014 with a new program, which donates 20 percent of her sales commission to clients’ choice of charity.
JOHN DOERR
CATEGORY: BILLIONAIRES
COMPANY: KLEINER PERKINS CAUFIELD & BYERS (KPCB)
INDUSTRY: VENTURE CAPITALISM
WHAT MAKES HIM HAUTE: John Doerr joined Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers in 1980, and has since backed some of the world’s most successful entrepreneurs, including the founders of Google and Amazon as well as leading KPCB’s investment in Twitter. John serves on boards in the areas of Internet technologies and greentech, including Amyris, Bloom Energy and Zynga, among others.
JACK DORSEY
CATEGORY: BILLIONAIRES
COMPANY: SQUARE AND TWITTER
INDUSTRY: TECH
WHAT MAKES HIM HAUTE: At just 37, Dorsey is already an established billionaire. He is co-founder of Twitter and the founder/CEO of mobile payments processor, Square. In November 2013, he saw his personal fortune grow when Twitter went public. He already began discussing the possibility of an IPO for his second company, Square, in 2014. He recently became a board member at Disney.
TIMOTHY DRAPER
CATEGORY: COMMANDERS
COMPANY: DRAPER FISHER JURVETSON
INDUSTRY: VENTURE CAPITALISM
WHAT MAKES HIM HAUTE: Timothy C. Draper is a third generation venture capitalist and the founder and Managing Director of Draper Fisher Jurvetson, which has invested in successful tech companies like Skype, Yammer and Box. Draper is also arguably the creator of “viral marketing” in web-based e-mail, a tool used to spread an Internet product to its market.
CLINT EASTWOOD
CATEGORY: COMMANDERS
COMPANY: MALPASO PRODUCTIONS / TEHAMA GOLF CLUB
INDUSTRY: ENTERTAINMENT / PRIVATE GOLF CLUBS
WHAT MAKES HIM HAUTE: This San Francisco native is firmly established as a film icon. While he is best known for his presence on the silver screen, Eastwood has also been running his own production company, Malpaso Productions, since 1967. The former mayor of Carmel-by-the-Sea, Calif. also owns the invitation-only Tehama Golf Club in Carmel and is an investor in the Pebble Beach Golf Links.
DANIEL EK
CATEGORY: ENTREPRENEURS
COMPANY: SPOTIFY
INDUSTRY: TECH
WHAT MAKES HIM HAUTE: The serial entrepreneur and technologist started his first company in 1997 at the age of 14, and then co-founded Spotify in 2006 with Martin Lorentzon. His alliances with power-players like Sean Parker helped facilitate the U.S. launch of the music service and it’s vital integration with Facebook. Prior to Spotify, Daniel founded the online advertising company Advertigo, and held senior roles at Nordic auction company Tradera. Daniel was also CTO at Stardoll, a fashion and entertainment community for tweens.
LARRY ELLISON
CATEGORY: BILLIONNAIRES
COMPANY: ORACLE
INDUSTRY: TECH
WHAT MAKES HIM HAUTE: Larry Ellison is founder and CEO of the billion-dollar Silicon Valley giant, Oracle. He is one of the richest people in the world and is well known for his flamboyant personality, entertaining a wide range of interests outside of the boardroom; he flies planes, plays tennis and guitar and races sailboats. Last year, his sailing team Oracle Team USA won the 34th America’s Cup for the second consecutive year in an exciting winner takes all race.
ARCHIE ALDIS “RED” EMMERSON
CATEGORY: SIERRA PACIFIC
COMPANY: ORACLE CORPORATION
INDUSTRY: LUMBER
WHAT MAKES THEM HAUTE: He might be one of the most dressed-down billionaires on our list, possibly because he is in the business of growing and cutting down trees. Emmerson began his lumber products company with his father in 1949. Sierra Pacific Industries is now one of California’s largest private landowners, with over two million acres of forestland in California and Washington.
DIANNE FEINSTEIN AND RICHARD BLUM
CATEGORY: POWER COUPLES
COMPANY: U.S. SENATE / BLUM CAPITAL
INDUSTRY: GOVERNMENT / BANKING
WHAT MAKES THEM HAUTE: She’s the Senator from California; he’s the investment banker worth millions. Feinstein has been in the Senate since 1992 and served as Mayor of San Francisco for 10 years. Blum founded Blum Capital in 1975, a highly successful equity investment management firm of which he is still the president and chairman. The couple lives in a $16.4 million mansion in Pacific Heights.
DAVID FILO
CATEGORY: BILLIONAIRES
INDUSTRY: YAHOO
WHAT MAKES HIM HAUTE: David Filo cofounded Yahoo with Jerry Yang in 1994 after dropping out of Stanford’s computer science Ph.D. program. Known for his low-key nature, he continues to work at Yahoo, where he reports directly to CEO Marissa Mayer. He is currently the largest shareholder in the company, with an approximate 7% stake. His net worth is $2.2 billion.
CARLY FIORINA
CATEGORY: COMMANDERS
COMPANY: CARLY FIORINA ENTERPRISES (CFE)
INDUSTRY: TECH
WHAT MAKES HER HAUTE: She was the first woman to run a Fortune 20 company when she stepped into the role of CEO at Hewlett-Packard in 1999, where she served until 2005. She’s since penned the memoir, “Tough Choices”, ran for the Senate, and launched the self-named company Carly Fiorina Enterprises, which focuses on unlocking the potential of entrepreneurs and small business owners. She also serves as Chairman of Good360, the world’s largest product philanthropy organization.
GORDON AND ANN GETTY
CATEGORY: POWER COUPLES
COMPANY: ANN & GORDON GETTY FOUNDATION
INDUSTRY: VENTURE CAPITALISM / ARTS & CULTURE
WHAT MAKES THEM HAUTE:
Gordon Getty is the son of oil tycoon J. Paul Getty. The classical music composer is one of the nation’s leading venture capitalists and philanthropists. He is known to have an eye for sound investments, of which include the wineries, resorts, spas and boutiques of the Plumpjack Group. He and his wife Ann run The Ann and Gordon Getty Foundation, which make generous donations to music programs such as the League of American Orchestras.
DAVID GOCKLEY
CATEGORY: INNOVATORS
COMPANY: SAN FRANCISCO OPERA
INDUSTRY: ARTS & CULTURE
WHAT MAKES HIM HAUTE: David Gockley is considered to be one of the major innovators in American opera. He has been committed to broadening and diversifying opera audiences since becoming General Director of the San Francisco Opera in 2006. In his first months as general director, he took opera to the center of the community with a free outdoor simulcast, the first in the company’s history.
JOHN GUNN
CATEGORY: COMMANDERS
COMPANY: DODGE AND COX INVESTMENT MANAGERS / SAN FRANCISCO OPERA
INDUSTRY: INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT / ARTS & CULTURE
WHAT MAKES HIM HAUTE: John Gunn commands the best of both worlds. The Stanford graduate is Chairman and CEO of Doge and Cox Investment Managers, one of the country’s most successful professional management firms. He has also been a subscriber of the San Francisco Opera subscriber since 1988, and is now Chairman of its Board of Directors.
JEFF HAMMERBACHER AND HALLE TECCO
CATEGORY: POWER COUPLES
COMPANY: ROCK HEALTH / CLOUDERA
INDUSTRY: HEALTH / TECH
WHAT MAKES THEM HAUTE: This haute power couple has one primary thing in common: their love of technology. Prior to co-founding Cloudera, Jeff Hammerbacher conceived, built, and led the data team at Facebook, and has since been coined the “data scientist” of Silicon Valley. His wife Halle Tecco is founder and CEO of Rock Health, which funds and supports startups that build the next generation of technologies transforming healthcare. The couple recently purchased a one-bedroom Manhattan apartment from Chloe Sevigny for $1.7 million.
BILL HARLAN
CATEGORY: INNOVATORS
COMPANY: HARLAN ESTATE / BOND ESTATES / MEADOWOOD / NAPA VALLEY RESERVE
INDUSTRY: HOSPITALITY / FOOD & WINE
WHAT MAKES HIM HAUTE: The former real estate developer arrived in Napa Valley in search of land to create world-class wine. He succeeded, establishing Harlan Estate in 1984 and BOND Estates in 1996. He is also the managing partner of Meadowood, a Relais & Chateaux resort with a three-star Michelin restaurant, and The Napa Valley Reserve, a private winegrowing estate for members only.
REED HASTINGS
CATEGORY: COMMANDERS
COMPANY: NETFLIX
INDUSTRY: ENTERTAINMENT
WHAT MAKES HIM HAUTE: Reed Hastings is responsible for revolutionizing the way movies are viewed. The co-founder and CEO of Netflix was formerly on the board of directors at Microsoft and now serves on the board at Facebook. He is also a philanthropist and serves on the boards of several non-profits organizations, including Dreambox Learning and KIPP.
WILLIAM RANDOLPH HEARST III
CATEGORY: BILLIONAIRES
COMPANY: HEARST CORPORATION
INDUSTRY: PUBLISHING
WHAT MAKES HIM HAUTE: After graduating from Harvard, William Randolph Hearst III spent years as an employee of the Hearst Corporation, eventually becoming editor and publisher of the San Francisco Examiner. He left the company in 1976 and returned to succeed William Randolph Hearst Jr. as a trustee of the company. Today, the director of the Hearst Corporation also serves as president of the William Randolph Hearst Foundation and as a partner at Kleiner Perkis Caufield & Byers.
REID HOFFMAN
CATEGORY: ENTREPRENEURS
COMPANY: GREYLOCK PARTNERS / LINKEDIN
INDUSTRY: TECH
WHAT MAKES HIM HAUTE: In 2003, Reid Hoffman co-founded LinkedIn, the world’s largest professional networking service, and led the company through its first four years of profitability as CEO. He is now Executive Chairman at LinkedIn and a Partner at Greylock, which teams up with entrepreneurs to help them build breakout businesses. Companies in the current portfolio include Airbnb, One Kings Lane and Linkedin, among many others.
SIR JONATHAN IVE
CATEGORY: INNOVATORS
COMPANY: APPLE, INC.
INDUSTRY: TECH
WHAT MAKES HIM HAUTE: Sir Jonathan Ive, also known as the “King of Design”, joined Apple in 1992 and has certainly lived up to his name by designing the iPod, the best-selling mP3 player of all time. Since then, the Senior Vice President of Design’s polished aesthetic has made its way into the lives of hundreds of thousands of people around the world.
JOSEPH JACOB
CATEGORY: COMMANDERS
COMPANY: KLEINER PERKINS CAUFIELD & BYERS AND THE GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS
INDUSTRY: VENTURE CAPITALISM AND SPORTS
WHAT MAKES HIM HAUTE: Joe Jacob’s investment portfolio is as diversified as they come. The partner at venture capital firm Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers (KPCB) has made successful investments across multiple disciplines. He may be more popularly known as Managing Partner and CEO of the Golden State Warriors, a post he’s held since 2011.
LAURENE POWELL JOBS
CATEGORY: INNOVATORS
COMPANY: EDUCATION
INDUSTRY: ENTERTAINMENT
WHAT MAKES HIM HAUTE: The widow of Steve Jobs – who also happens to be the richest woman in Silicon Valley – has kept a relatively low profile since her husband passed in 2011. Today, she is President of the Board of the College Track after-school program, which she co-founded in 1997. As the founder of Emerson Collective, she turns her attention to social entrepreneurs and organizations working in the areas of education and immigration reform, social justice, and conservation.
GREGORY JOHNSON
CATEGORY: COMMANDERS
COMPANY: FRANKLIN RESOURCES, INC.
INDUSTRY: INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT
WHAT MAKES HIM HAUTE: Gregory Johnson serves as the CEO and President of Franklin Resources, Inc. He succeeded his father, Charles Johnson, who retired as Chairman of the Board in 2013. Johnson joined Franklin in 1986 after working as a senior accountant for Coopers & Lybrand. He is a current board member of Jumpstart, Menlo School and the San Francisco Symphony.
RUPERT JOHNSON JR.
CATEGORY: BILLIONAIRES
COMPANY: FRANKLIN RESOURCES
INDUSTRY: BANKING
WHAT MAKES HIM HAUTE: Rupert Johnson joined Franklin Resources in 1965, and together with his brother Charles and nephew Gregory, runs Franklin Resources, Inc. He now serves as Vice Chairman of the organization, which is best known for acquisitions like Fiduciary Trust and Templeton Funds. His Rupert H. Johnson Foundation regularly donates to educational programs, schools and academic institutes within the U.S.
TRAVIS KALANICK
CATEGORY: ENTREPRENEURS
COMPANY: UBER TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
INDUSTRY: TRANSPORTATION WHAT MAKES HIM HAUTE: The face of private transportation has undergone a well-needed facelift thanks to Travis Kalanick. The CEO & Co-Founder of Uber Technologies, Inc. has brought innovation to urban transportation challenges by making on-demand, black car service accessible to virtually anyone. Prior to Uber, he founded startups Red Swoosh and Scour. Today, he is a speaker at entrepreneurial conferences and events, including Tech Crunch, Tech Cocktail and LeWeb.
COLIN KAEPERNICK
CATEGORY: ATHLETES
COMPANY: SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS
INDUSTRY: SPORTS
WHAT MAKES HIM HAUTE: The exhilarating breakout quarterback of the San Francisco 49ers has got fans “Kaepernicking” across the country. The 26-year-old started his pro career as the 49ers’ backup quarterback, but in the middle of the 2012 season, filled in for the injured Alex Smith and became the full-time starter just as the team advanced to the NFL Playoffs. He led the 49ers to their first Super Bowl since 1994 in 2013, where they lost to the Baltimore Ravens by three points.
ARTURO KELLER
CATEGORY: INNOVATORS
COMPANY: KELLER ESTATE WINERY
INDUSTRY: FOOD & WINE
WHAT MAKES HIM HAUTE: Arturo Keller was an automotive engineer from Mexico City, but in 1989, his passion for wine led him to purchase 650 acres nestled in the windy hills of Sonoma. Originally founded by Arturo and Deborah Keller, Keller Estate Winery and Vineyards specializes in creating artisanal, handcrafted Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Pinot Gris and Syrah. It is the first winery to establish itself in the Petaluma Valley.
THOMAS KELLER
CATEGORY: COMMANDERS
COMPANY: THOMAS KELLER RESTAURANT GROUP
INDUSTRY: FOOD & WINE
WHAT MAKES HIM HAUTE: Thomas Keller is the undisputed king of the culinary world, renowned for elevating the standards of refinement in the food industry. His restaurants Per Se and The French Laundry have earned three Michelin stars; he is the only American chef to hold two Michelin three-star ratings simultaneously. The Thomas Keller Restaurant Group includes restaurants in California, New York and Las Vegas. Last year, he opened Finesse, a Napa-based lifestyle store.
VINOD KHOSLA
CATEGORY: BILLIONAIRES COMPANY: KHOSLA VENTURES
INDUSTRY: VENTURE CAPITALISM
WHAT MAKES HIM HAUTE: Silicon Valley’s preeminent eco investor has a passion for mentoring entrepreneurs and helping them to build green tech businesses. He is one of the co-founders of Sun Microsystems, where he served as CEO and Chairman in the 1980s. He moved on to form his own firm in 2004, Khosla Ventures, where his primary investments are clean technology companies. The firm manages approximately $1 billion of investor capital as well as investments funded by Khosla himself.
MICHAEL KIM
CATEGORY: ENTREPRENUERS
COMPANY: CENEDA CAPITAL
INDUSTRY: TECH
WHAT MAKES HIM HAUTE: Kim is founder and managing partner of Cendana Capital, a “fund of funds” focused on backing seed-stage venture capital funds that place their money into young startups. Before starting Cendana, Kim, formerly an original partner at Rustic Canyon Partners, currently serves as a member of advisory boards for many well-known firms, including Accerlator Ventures, Forerunner Ventures and Founder Collective.
OMID KORDESTANI
CATEGORY: BILLIONAIRES
COMPANY: GOOGLE/VODAFONE
INDUSTRY: TECH
WHAT MAKES HIM HAUTE: Kordestani has Google to thank for the bottom line of his bank account. He was the 11th employee at Google, and led business operations from its inception to where it became a business that generated over $20 billion in revenues and an employee Rolodex of 12,000. Today, he works as a senior director to Google’s CEO and founders, and also joined Vodafone as a non-executive director in March 2013.
CHRISTOPHER KOSTOW
CATEGORY: COMMANDERS
COMPANY: THE RESTAURANT AT MEADOWOOD
INDUSTRY: FOOD & WINE
WHAT MAKES HIM HAUTE: Few chefs have earned a Michelin star before their 30th birthday, but Christopher Kostow is special. He is the Executive Chef of the Restaurant at Meadowood in Napa, and has earned not one but three stars for his exquisite, transcendent cuisine from 2011-2014. Kostow is the second American and the youngest chef to ever receive three Michelin stars.
RICHARD KOVACEVICH
CATEGORY: COMMANDERS
COMPANY: WELLS FARGO BANK
INDUSTRY: BANKING
WHAT MAKES HIM HAUTE: The Stanford Graduate is a retired chairman of the board of directors and previous CEO of Wells Fargo & Company. Kovacevich is responsible for many trends currently found in the financial services industry, including calling branches “stores” instead of “branches”, and the expansion into non-traditional banking businesses such as investments and insurance.
CATHERINE LACAVERA
CATEGORY: COMMANDERS
COMPANY: GOOGLE
INDUSTRY: TECH
WHAT MAKES HIM HAUTE: Catherine Lacavera has been called “Google’s Secret Weapon” for good reason: She has been instrumental in building an ironclad intellectual-property litigation team. The Director of Litigation joined the company in 2005 and has since grown its intellectual property litigation team into a force to be reckoned with. She was instrumental in Google’s victory against Oracle’s Intellectual property lawsuit on Android in 2012.
MAYOR EDWIN LEE
CATEGORY: COMMANDERS
COMPANY: CITY OF SAN FRANCISCO
INDUSTRY: CIVIL SERVICE
WHAT MAKES HIM HAUTE: After filling in as Interim Mayor for former Mayor Gavin Newsom in 2011, Edwin Lee became the first Asian-American mayor of San Francisco. He has championed balancing the budget to keep San Francisco safe, solvent and successful, reforming City pensions, economic development, job creation and making public safety his top priorities.
STEVEN AND STEPHANIE LEE
CATEGORY: POWER COUPLE
COMPANY: CH GROUP
INDUSTRY: LUXURY JEWELRY
WHAT MAKES THEM HAUTE: CH Group is one of the most respected names in the jewelry business, and Stephen and Stephanie the power players who runs CH Premier Jeweler’s Bay Area store. CH Group is the umbrella company for both Chong Hing Jewelers and CH Premier Jewelers, and now features six locations throughout California, making them the largest Asian American owned jewelry chain in the state.
ARTHUR LEVINSON
CATEGORY: COMMANDERS
COMPANY: GENENTECH / CALICO
INDUSTRY: BIOTECH
WHAT MAKES HIM HAUTE: Arthur Levinson is a rock star of the Biotech world. He served as CEO of Genentech from 1995 to 2009, and is now Chairman of Genentech, Inc. In addition to sitting on Roche’s Board of Directors, he’s also been Chairman of Apple’s board since 2011. In 2013, Levinson was named CEO of Calico, a Google Inc. spin-off focused on health and well-being.
JOE LONSDALE
CATEGORY: ENTREPRENUERS
COMPANY: FORMATION 8
INDUSTRY: VENTURE CAPITALISM
WHAT MAKES HIM HAUTE: Joe Lonsdale is a partner at Formation 8, a fund that invests in Silicon Valley’s top entrepreneurs and connects them with Asian conglomerates. Prior to joining the firm, he co-founded Palantir Technologies, a multi-billion dollar software company that develops mission-critical analysis systems used by government and financial organizations around the world. He is also the founder of Addepar, a leader in private wealth management technology.
GEORGE LUCAS
CATEGORY: BILLIONNAIRES
COMPANY: LUCAS FILM
INDUSTRY: ENTERTAINMENT
WHAT MAKES HIM HAUTE: George Lucas formed his film company, Lucasfilm Ltd., in 1971 and the rest is history. The film producer, screenwriter, and director went on to create the epic Star Wars saga and the Indiana Jones series, among many other successful films. In 1991, he founded the George Lucas Educational Foundation, which encourages innovation in K-12 schools by documenting and sharing strategies that promote lifelong learning and prepares students to thrive in their adult lives.
NICOLA LUISOTTI
CATEGORY: COMMANDERS
COMPANY: SAN FRANCISCO OPERA
INDUSTRY: ARTS & CULTURE
WHAT MAKES HIM HAUTE: Italian conductor Nicola Luisotti has been Music Director of the San Francisco Opera since September of 2009. Since making his debut, he now conducts at nearly every major opera company in the world, from La Scala in Milan to the Metropolitan Opera in New York. He has also led the San Francisco Opera Orchestra in performances presented by Cal Performances at Zellerbach Hall at UC Berkeley.
MARISSA MAYER
CATEGORY: COMMANDERS
COMPANY: YAHOO!
INDUSTRY: TECH
WHAT MAKES HER HAUTE: Marissa Mayer made headlines when she was named Yahoo! CEO, President and Director in July 2012. Prior to Yahoo, she was Google’s first female engineer and moved into the role of Vice President of Local, Maps, and Location Services. The Stanford grad is also a mother, wife and socialite, and serves on the board of directors of Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., San Francisco’s Museum of Modern Art and the San Francisco Ballet.
MICHAEL MINA
CATEGORY: ENTREPRENEURS
COMPANY: MINA GROUP
INDUSTRY: FOOD & WINE
WHAT MAKES HIM HAUTE: It is no surprise that Michael Mina’s empire is still growing. The celebrity chef and cookbook author is the founder of the Mina Group’s 19 restaurants, including San Francisco’s RN74, Bourbon Steak, Clock Bar and Michael Mina, which was awarded one Michelin star in 2014. As if all of this isn’t impressive enough, the James Beard award-wining chef also made news last year by launching his wine program, the Michael Mina Wine Club.
MARGRIT MONDAVI
CATEGORY: INNOVATORS
COMPANY: ROBERT MONDAVI WINERY
INDUSTRY: FOOD & WINE / ARTS & CULTURE
WHAT MAKES HER HAUTE: Margrit Mondavi joined the Robert Mondavi Winery in pursuit of a life-long interest in uniting wine with fine arts, music and culinary artistry. She helped her husband, wine icon Robert Mondavi, establish the once-dormant Napa Valley into the epicenter of American wine culture. Today, she is Vice President of Cultural Affairs and has established a fine arts program and Summer Concert Series at the winery. She is considered to be a female pioneer of the industry.
MICHAEL MONDAVI
CATEGORY: INNOVATORS
COMPANY: MICHAEL MONDAVI FAMILY ESTATES
INDUSTRY: FOOD & WINE
WHAT MAKES HIM HAUTE: Michael Mondavi’s career began in 1966, when he co-founded the Robert Mondavi Winery with his father. He moved from roles in sales to President and CEO, and later served as chairman in 2004 before leaving to start Michael Mondavi Family Estates. He is also co-founder and coach of Folio Fine Wine Partners.
GORDON AND BETTY MOORE
CATEGORY: PHILANTHROPISTS
COMPANY: GORDON AND BETTY MOORE FOUNDATION
INDUSTRY: ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION / SCIENCE
WHAT MAKES HIM HAUTE: Intel co-founder Gordon Moore and his wife Betty established their namesake foundation to create positive change for future generations in the areas of environmental conservation, patient care, and science. In 2007, the foundation committed $100 million to launching a nursing school at the University of California.
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