Foster Stephen Friess (April 2, 1940 – May 27, 2021) was an American investment manager, philanthropist, and prominent evangelical conservative political donor. Born in Rice Lake, Wisconsin, he came from humble beginnings as the first in his family to attend college, graduating from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. After serving in the U.S. Army as an infantry platoon leader and intelligence officer, he launched his investment career in 1965. In 1974, he founded Friess Associates, which gained recognition for growth-stock strategies like the Brandywine Fund, earning him recognition as one of the 'century's great investors' by CNBC in 1999. A wealthy investor and major Republican donor, Friess was particularly known for funding Republican presidential bids, including significant support for Rick Santorum's 2012 campaign, and supporting various Christian right, social conservative, and conservative causes. He unsuccessfully ran for the Republican nomination for governor of Wyoming in 2018, losing to Mark Gordon. His legacy spans finance, philanthropy, and conservative politics.