Samuel Simeon Fels (February 16, 1860 in Yanceyville, North Carolina – June 23, 1950 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) was an American businessman and philanthropist.

Samuel became the company's first president, a post he held until his death at age 90.

[1] An active philanthropist, Fels helped to establish the Committee of Seventy in 1904, for political reform in Philadelphia.

In 1937, his southside Philadelphia mansion was given to the University of Pennsylvania, for the foundation of the Fels Institute of Government.

In 1912, Henry H. Goddard dedicated his book on eugenics The Kallikak Family to Fels: "who made this study and who has followed the work from its incipiency with kindly criticism and advice".