Who is the richest stock trader in the world? Read on to find out.
The stock market is a profitable business for anyone interested in the world of buying and selling with benefits.
This market is responsible for the growth people have gotten in their finances over the years, from investors to stock traders.
Though not a risk-free sector, it attracts a good number of willing individuals.
When it comes to building wealth, the stock market is a path to follow.
In this market, a stock trader aims at making a profit from buying and selling securities such as shares.
They can either be individuals trading for themselves or professionals representing a financial company.
To be a stock trader, you need lots of research, time, and capital.
Stock traders have one collective objective—making a profit.
Many traders are achieving this objective on a very large scale. Every year, through successful trading, they amass billions of dollars.
It could be a good incentive for the newbie and further motivation for the veteran trader.
Thus, this has inspired us to look into the lives and success stories of the top ten richest stock market traders in the world, based on their current net worths.
Related: Richest Forex Traders in the World
The Richest Stock Traders in the World
10. John Paulson
Net Worth: $3.5 Billion
John Paulson is a hedge fund manager and leader of Paulson and Co., an investment firm he founded in 1994.
He made his fortune in 2007 when he earned almost $4 billion.
Paulson was born on the 14th of December, 1955, in New York City.
In 1978, he graduated summa cum laude in finance from New York University’s College of Business and Public Administration. He was a valedictorian of his class.
In 1980, he got a Sidney J. Weinberg/Goldman Sachs scholarship to Harvard Business School and earned an MBA.
As of 2021, John Paulson’s net worth is approximately $3.5 billion, ranking him among the 10 wealthiest stock traders.
9. Bruce Kovner
Net Worth: $6.6 Billion
Bruce Stanley Kovner is an investor, hedge fund manager, philanthropist, chairman of CAM Capital, and ex CEO of Caxton Associates.
He retired from Caxton in September 2011 and established CAM Capital in January 2012. CAM Capital manages his business portfolios and personal investments.
Kovner was born on the 25th of February, 1945, in Brooklyn. In 1962, he went to Harvard University, where he obtained his B.A. degree in Government.
Kovner worked several jobs, including being a cab driver. It was during this period he discovered stock trading.
His first trade was in 1977 for $3,000.
As of 2021, Bruce Kovner’s net worth is estimated to be $6.6 billion.
8. George Soros
Net Worth: $8.6 Billion
A Hungarian-American, George Soros is the founder of the Soros Fund Management in 1970.
Before then, he established his hedge fund, Double Eagle, in 1969.
It was later renamed Quantum Fund and is regarded as one of the most profitable in history.
Through his company, Soros has invested in fields like:
- Energy
- Retail
- Transportation
- Financial Industries
Soros was born in Budapest on the 12th of August 1930 and survived the Nazi rule on Hungary.
He received a bachelor’s degree in philosophy in 1951 and went on to get a Master’s degree in 1954, also in philosophy.
In 1992, George Soros gained a fortune from shorting the British Pound.
George Soros’ net worth is estimated to be $8.6 billion, making him the 8th richest stock trader in 2021.
He also ranks 288 on the 2021 Forbes world’s wealthiest billionaires list.
7. Chase Coleman III
Net Worth: $10.3 Billion
Charles Payson “Chase” Coleman III is a hedge fund manager, investor, and Tiger Global Management founder.
Coleman III was born on the 1st of June, 1975, in Long Island.
He studied at the Deerfield Academy and graduated from Williams College in 1997.
His investment path started in 1997 under Julian Robertson, who later entrusted Coleman with more than $25 million.
Coleman’s firm invested in both LinkedIn and Facebook.
Chase Coleman III net worth is estimated at $10.3 billion, making him one of the richest stock market traders in the world right now.
6. David Tepper
Net Worth: $14.5 Billion
David Tepper is the founder and president of the global hedge fund Appaloosa Management.
He established the company in 1993 with Jack Walton and has recorded success.
A significant achievement of his was overcoming the financial crisis of 2008.
Tepper was born on the 11th of September, 1957, as the second of three children.
He received a bachelor of arts degree in Economics with honors from the University of Pittsburgh.
During his college days, he began small-scale investing.
David Tepper is also the owner of NFL team Carolina Panthers and the MLS team Charlotte FC.
David Tepper’s net worth is valued to be $14.5 billion, making him among the world’s wealthiest billionaires in 2021.
5. Carl Icahn
Net Worth: $15.6 Billion
Carl Icahn is a trader, investor, founder, and top shareholder of Icahn Enterprises.
1961 marked his debut in the stock market when he became a stockbroker.
Seven years later, he established a security firm, Icahn and Co. He also bought a seat at the New York Stock Exchange.
He has equally served as an adviser on financial regulation to president Donald Trump in 2017.
Icahn was born in Brooklyn on the 16th of February, 1936. In 1957, he graduated from Princeton University with an A.B. in philosophy.
He began studies in the New York University School of Medicine but dropped out two years after to join the army reserves.
As of 2021, Carl Icahn’s net worth is approximately $15.6 billion, making him the 5th richest stock trader in the world.
He got his fortune through investments in pharmaceutical companies and other investment businesses.
In 2021, Icahn made trades like:
- Adding to his holdings in Dana Inc. and Bausch Health Companies Inc.
- Reducing holdings in Occidental Petroleum and Herbalife Nutrition Ltd.
- New purchase in FirstEnergy Corp.
- Investing 10% in Netflix.
He later sold up to 50% of his shares in Netflix and gained an estimated profit of $800 million. This investment in Netflix proved to be profitable for him.
4. Steve Cohen
Net Worth: $16 Billion
Steve Cohen was born on the 11th of June, 1956, and grew up in New York.
In 1978, he received an economics degree from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania.
Through the help of a friend, he opened up a brokerage account with $1,000 while in school.
Steve Cohen started out as a junior trader in Gruntal & Co. in 1978.
He recorded successes, earning up to $10,000 per day.
He went on to start the now-defunct S.A.C. Capital Advisors. This came about after it pleaded guilty to insider trading with a fine of $1.8 billion—recorded as one of the biggest criminal cases against a hedge fund.
Undeterred, Steve Cohen founded Point72 Ventures which manages an estimate of $16 billion worth of stock.
He is also an owner of the MLB team, New York Mets.
Steve Cohen’s net worth is estimated to be $16 billion as of 2021, making him among the wealthiest billionaires in America.
3. Ken Griffin
Net Worth: $16.2 Billion
Kenneth Cordele Griffin, an American, is the founder of Citadel LLC, which came into existence in 1990.
He is a hedge fund manager, entrepreneur, trader, and investor.
Aside from owning 85% of Citadel LLC, he is also the CEO and co-chief investment officer. Ken Griffin is the 45th richest person in America.
He was born on the 15th of October 1968 and grew up in Florida.
Griffin went to Harvard College in 1986, where he began investing and graduated with a degree in economics.
He also started trading during his college days, becoming a millionaire at graduation.
Currently, he earns billions per year.
His hedge fund manages up to $34 billion in assets, a significant achievement that makes it one of the biggest firms.
Griffin is an investor in projects like:
- Melvin Capital
- E-Trade
- REDI
Griffin is an art collector with a collection valued at $800 million.
He made the largest art deal in 2015 by purchasing two paintings at $800 million from David Geffen, the founder of DreamWorks SKG.
As of 2021, Ken Griffin’s net worth is valued at $16.2 billion. According to Forbes, in 2020, Griffin is the 34th wealthiest person in America.
2. Ray Dalio
Net Worth: $20.3 Billion
Raymond Thomas Dalio is an American investor, hedge fund manager, and financial innovator.
In 1985, he established Bridgewater Associates, where he serves as the co-chief investment officer.
Bridgewater Associates is the world’s largest hedge fund and manages about $150 billion worth of shares.
Dalio was born on the 8th of August, 1949, in New York City.
At age 12, he began investing with the purchase of shares of Northeast Airlines for $300.
His investment portfolio had several thousand dollars when he got to high school.
In 1973, he received a bachelor’s degree in finance from Long Island University (C.W. Post College) and an M.B.A. from Harvard Business School.
Dalio uses quantitative methods like Jim Simons and has suggested reform to the Capitalist system.
In May 2021, Dalio revealed that he has some bitcoin investment while speaking at the annual Consensus Conference hosted by CoinDesk.
As of 2021, Ray Dalio’s net worth is an estimated $20.3 billion, making him the 2nd richest stock market trader, and 88th wealthiest billionaire in the world.
1. Jim Simons
Net Worth: $25.6 Billion
James Harris Simons is regarded as one of the best traders. He is a mathematician, hedge fund manager, and philanthropist.
With his background in mathematics, he analyses the market using the quantitative method to ascertain which trade is wise enough for him to enter.
Before becoming the billionaire he is today, Simons has worked multiple jobs.
He was once a code breaker when the Second World War waged on.
He also ventured into academics as a math professor at Stonybrook University.
Jim Simons was born on the 25th of April 1938 to a Jewish family.
In 1958, he received a bachelor’s degree in mathematics from MIT. In 1961, at the age of 23, he got his Ph.D. in mathematics from the University of California.
His pathway to fortune came about after he founded the hedge fund company Renaissance Technologies in 1982 alongside Howard L. Morgan.
Renaissance Technologies became very successful thanks to Simon’s use of the quantitative method.
According to Forbes, the company has amassed an estimate of $55 billion worth of shares.
In 2010, Jim Simons stepped down as CEO of the hedge fund.
Simons made the Forbes list of high-earning traders and hedge fund managers in 2019.
As of 2021, Jim Simons’ net worth is estimated at $25.6 billion, making him the richest stock trader in the world.
He is currently the 64th richest person in the world, according to the Bloomberg billionaires index.
To Wrap Up
Hopefully, you enjoyed this compilation of the richest stock traders in the world.
The life and success of these stock traders stand as proof that it is possible to build wealth.
Their different backgrounds and rise to wealth and fame are a testament that anyone can be rich, irrespective of their background.
With patience, time, and good investment plans, you too can be successful in the stock market.
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