Steve Ells

47, Denver, Colorado

POSITION: Founder, chairman, and co-CEO of Chipotle

NOTABLE FOR: Tapping sustainable, family-owned farms to supply the fastfood market. Ells partnered with Niman Ranch more than a decade ago to provide pasture-raised pork to his budding burrito chain. Despite a $1 per dish price spike, sales doubled, proving interest in quality and provenance. The chain’s more than 1,200 locations now serve antibiotic-free meat, local and organic produce, and even hormone-free sour cream. Ells’ Chipotle Cultivate Foundation gives grants to chefs, farmers, and educators who share his vision for sustainability.