Forbes 250 Veterans
PHIL KNIGHT BY ETHAN PINES FOR FORBES, YVON CHOUINARD BY LOS ANGELES TIMES/GETTY IMAGES, BRANDON TSENG BY AARON KOTOWSKI FOR FORBES, ICE T BY CHRISTIAN WITKIN/AUGUST, BOB PARSONS BY ETHAN PINES FOR FORBES, GEORGE W BUSH BY NEWSMAKERS/GETTY IMAGES, TAMMY DUCKWORTH BY ANNA MONEYMAKER/GETTY IMAGES
The ranking recognizes 250 veterans whose post-military achievements transformed business, government, philanthropy and culture
NEW YORK (August 13, 2026) – Forbes coming unveiled its Forbes Veteran 250 list, honoring 250 of America’s astir accomplished subject veterans. Created successful nickname of America's 250th anniversary, arsenic portion of the Forbes 250 initiative, the database honors individuals whose achievements aft subject work person made a lasting effect connected business, entrepreneurship, government, philanthropy and culture.
“As the United States marks its 250th anniversary, we wanted to admit the American perfect of reinvention pinch a typical attraction connected the citizen-soldier, honoring the impactful ways veterans person continued to service their state aft they took disconnected their uniforms,” said Alex Knapp, Senior Editor astatine Forbes. “The Forbes Veteran 250 honors influential leaders whose effect has helped style American business, authorities and culture.”
The ranking spotlights influential taste icons, high-ranking politicians, entrepreneurs and business leaders including:
- Phil Knight - who served successful the Army Reserve, which is wherever he co-founded what became Nike, helping build 1 of the world's astir iconic sportswear brands
- Bob Parsons - a dressed up Marine who founded web hosting patient GoDaddy successful 1997 and grew it into 1 of the astir recognizable names successful tech. Parsons later built a business portfolio spanning technology, play and philanthropy.
- George W. Bush - served arsenic an F-102 combatant aviator during his six-year word roseate and roseate from subject work to go Governor of Texas and the 43rd President of the U.S.
- Mel Brooks - became 1 of entertainment's astir celebrated figures, earning EGOT position pinch Oscar, Emmy, Grammy and Tony awards
- Warren Buffett - a salary master successful the Army National Guard who turned Berkshire Hathaway into 1 of the world's astir valuable companies, becoming 1 of history's astir renowned investors
- Al Gore - a subject journalist successful Vietnam who later served arsenic the 45th Vice President of the United States and received the Nobel Peace Prize for his ambiance advocacy
- Ralph Lauren - aft serving successful the Army, he later created a world luxury manner marque that redefined American style
- Morgan Freeman - spent 4 years successful the Air Force specializing successful radar repair, and built an Oscar-winning acting career, pinch films grossing billions of dollars worldwide
- JD Vance - enlisted successful the Marines retired of precocious schoolhouse and spent 4 years arsenic a subject journalist earlier rising to nationalist governmental leadership, serving arsenic the 50th Vice President of the United States
- Jennifer Pritzker - a retired Army lieutenant colonel who founded the Pritzker Military Museum & Library, amassing a billionaire luck connected Forbes lists
Forbes will besides people its 250 Greatest Historic Veterans list, recognizing deceased subject veterans whose lasting contributions helped style the people of American history.
Methodology
To create the ranking, Forbes editors consulted pinch veterans groups and retired subject officers who advised against evaluating the value of a veteran’s subject work aliases distinguishing betwixt progressive duty, reserves and National Guard service. Instead, the ranking emphasizes accomplishments pursuing progressive subject service, giving peculiar weight to entrepreneurship, wealthiness creation, activity and philanthropy.
The Forbes Veteran 250 database was selected by an accomplished sheet of business leaders, subject advocates and philanthropists including:
- Leanne G. Caret, Board Member, John Deere and RTX, and Former President & CEO, Boeing Defense, Space & Security
- Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, and Founder, Invictus Games Foundation
- Rich Karlgaard, Former Publisher, Forbes
- Shelley Lyford, CEO, West Health
- Phebe Novakovic, Chairman & CEO, General Dynamics
- Kathy Warden, Chair, CEO & President, Northrop Grumman
- Todd Duso, Chief Operating Officer/Chief Financial Officer, Bob Woodruff Foundation
- Kenneth Fisher, Partner, Fisher Brothers, and Chairman & CEO, Fisher House Foundation.
Forbes received methodology guidance from retired U.S. Army Brigadier General Harrison "HB" Gilliam and retired U.S. Navy Commander Michael C. Perkinson.
This Veterans Day, November 11, Forbes will convene the Forbes Veteran 250 database makers successful San Diego during the Forbes Veteran 250 Celebration successful business pinch The Gary and Mary West Foundation. Navy Federal Credit Union is the Supporting Sponsor.
To position the afloat Forbes Veteran 250 ranking and methodology, visit:
ForbesForbes 250: America’s Most Successful Living VeteransBy Alex Knapp and Sydney Goitia-Doran
About Forbes
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