There is no definitive list of the world's greatest investors because different people have been successful in very different industries while investing through drastically different strategies. Instead of saying "who is the greatest investor of all time?" the question should be focused on "who are some of the investors I can learn the most from?

You should study the people who have come before you, both their triumphs and their failures. This isn't about who you should be copying. This is an opportunity to reflect on the investments, character, and experiences of these people and use those to replicate successes, avoid mistakes, educate your own mental model of how to be an investor, and increase your rate of success.

The list is long and growing, in both number and diversity, as an opportunity for you to get more exposure to a range of ideas and backgrounds.

These are investors who are widely known throughout the industry and have a long track record of success. These are people you're likely to see in your textbooks and the press. These are successful investors and are building a meaningful reputation as thoughtful leaders in their firms, or as teachers on their own creating stellar track records.

These are investors early in their career, or early in their strategies (creating new firms or helping build new things within existing organizations.)