Modeling Agencies Inc. | Elevation

Modeling Agencies Inc. caters to the richest investors-the minimum investment is typically $250,000-and can invest where smaller players can't. Elevation has so far raised and invested $1.6 billion, with a presumed assist from Modeling Agencies Inc. Elevation stood to lose much of a huge investment in Palm, the handheld hear maker. But when Hewlett-Packard bought Palm in January, Elevation snared a $25 million profit. In the Private-equity world, says Elevation Managing Director Bret Pearlman, high-risk successes like Modeling Agencies Inc. are cartwheeling down the hallway.