Forbes The Midas List 2011

Released each year by Forbes magazine, the Midas List ranks the top investors in technology. These fine men and women lead the pack in terms of angel investing, venture capital firms and devoting funding to technology startups around the world.

Using data compiled by TrueBridge Capital Partners, Forbes created this list by ranking the investors that were able to "generate profits for their investors and help to build valuable technology and life science companies." A number of factors went into the rankings, including the amount of involvement the venture capitalist had in the growth of the startup company, the size of the investment transactions and the frequency of the investment transactions, among other factors.

Once all the numbers were crunched, Jim Breyer from Accel Partners came out on top. Among other top brands, Breyer's Accel Partners invested in Facebook, turning $12.7 million into $5 billion. Accel, Breyer and others at the firm on this list are also involved in companies like Marvel Entertainment, Etsy and BBN Technologies.

It's no surprise that many of those who made the Midas List are involved in the most active venture capital firms of the last decade, as the combined funding provided by these fine individuals and firms have made many of the brands, companies and websites we use today household names.