Ted Forstmann

SPHERE OF INFLUENCE: The leveraged-buyout king made his original fortune turning around distressed companies such as Gulfstream and General Instrument. Now he’s trying his hand in the world of sports. His IMG agency represents the top stars in tennis (Roger Federer, Maria Sharapova), golf (Tiger Woods, Annika Sorenstam)—even modeling (Gisele Bündchen, Kate Moss). The company also produces more televised sports programming than anyone. It’s not unusual for IMG to stage nearly a dozen events on any given weekend. His latest coup: an exclusive 20-year deal with China to produce sporting events for CCTV, the country’s largest TV broadcaster.

MODE OF TRANSPORT: A Gulfstream GV.

LITTLE BUDDY: Monica Seles.

ROMANTIC RELATIONS: Forstmann, 68, is currently dating Top Chef hostess Padma Lakshmi. He insists his past relationships with Princess Diana and Elizabeth Hurley were purely platonic.