Jack Cockwell

A South African native and trained accountant, Jack Cockwell is a famed dealmaker in Canada.

From the 1970s through the early 1990s he built the Bronfmans' Edper conglomerate, acquiring massive holdings in real estate, forestry and mining.

Now known as Brookfield Asset Management, one of the world's biggest money managers, he handed the reins to fellow billionaire Bruce Flatt in 2002.

His wealth comes from a large holding in Brookfield shares, much of it in a partnership shared with other board directors and management.

Cockwell is a member of Ryerson University's board of governors and governor of the Royal Ontario Museum.