He left Facebook in 2011 to establish The Social+Capital Partnership (renamed as Social Capital in 2015), a venture capital fund focusing on technology companies. George Soros (b. 1930) is the chair of Soros Fund Management LLC and is know as a master at translating broad-brush economic trends into highly leveraged plays in bonds and currencies. As an investor, Soros was a short-term speculator, making huge bets on the directions of financial markets. Neff ran the Windsor Fund for 31 years (ending in 1995), earning an average annual return of 13.7%, compared with 10.73% for the S&P 500 over the same period. Unlike value investors who look for bargains, growth investors are willing to pay premium prices for companies showing rapid increases in earnings, sales, and market share. However, as you seek inspiration and guidance, you must remember that blindly following anyone isn’t exactly a recipe for success.

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Then, he became one of the most famous investors when he famously appeared as a recurring guest on Shark Tank. And, if TV stardom wasn’t enough to testify to his expertise, consider that some of his most famous investments include Photobucket, Twitter, Instagram, Uber, Twillio, and Kickstarter. He combined his investments into the SMB investing platform CapitalPad, which offers search fund and independent sponsor deals to other accredited investors. As the co-founder and former CEO of AngelList, Naval Ravikant’s name has become synonymous with entrepreneurial wisdom and success. Having invested in organizations like Twitter, Uber, Foursquare, and Wish.com during the seed stage, it’s evident that his knack for recognizing growth potential is unparalleled.

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• Kacholia is focusing on technology sector opportunities, particularly in AI and machine learning companies.
• Having invested in organizations like Twitter, Uber, Foursquare, and Wish.com during the seed stage, it’s evident that his knack for recognizing growth potential is unparalleled.
• Graham, widely considered the “father of value investing,” laid the foundation for generations of successful investors.
• Michael Burry is most famous for his prediction of the 2008 housing bubble collapse and is featured in the hit movie, “The Big Short.” This was not the first time Burry had bet against the market, however.

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The investor began his career in real estate, targeting properties around Los Angeles. He later used this fortune to purchase the Los Angeles Lakers basketball team for $67 million in 1979. Active investing involves frequent buying and selling, while passive investing focuses on long-term holdings in index funds.

That is, he takes positions (often hundreds of them) and looks to profit when a stock moves. Instead, Soros will trade in and out of a position, and he’s not afraid to buy right back into a position that he’s just sold if new information makes him think it will move higher. Bill Ackman runs Pershing Square Capital Management, and he’s one of the most high-profile investors of the last decade. He’s made a number of big bets, and he’s not shy about going into the media to publicize them. One of Ackman’s first wins was his bet against mortgage insurer MBIA, which paid off during the financial crisis. He cleaned up on mall operator General Growth Properties and real estate play Howard Hughes Corporation, where he’s chairman of the board.

• Also known as India’s “Retail King,” he built this fortune by making smart investments in sectors related to retailing consumer goods.
• Under his leadership, the fund’s assets grew from $18 million to $14 billion, achieving an average annual return of 29%.
• Known for his principles-based approach to investing and management, Dalio emphasizes understanding economic cycles and diversification to mitigate risk.
• However, his confrontational style and focus on short-term profits have also drawn criticism from those who argue activist investing can damage companies’ long-term prospects.
• Neff ran the Windsor Fund for 31 years (ending in 1995), earning an average annual return of 13.7%, compared with 10.73% for the S&P 500 over the same period.
• To avoid any hint of bias, this article will not include any of our in-house investment gurus.

Fisher Investments, a company that helps people invest their money, was founded by Ken Fisher. He made his money by studying the stock market and finding stocks that will perform well in the future. Ken prefers to buy stocks in companies he believes will keep growing over many years. Some of the companies he invested in include Microsoft, Johnson & Johnson, and Visa.

Warren Buffett

The strategy is now mainstream for large Wall Street hedge funds due to the early influence of  Icahn. He also has been described as a “corporate raider” due to his hostile takeover and asset stripping of Trans World Airlines. John Neff is widely considered a contrarian, although he would likely question the title. Neff describes himself as a value investor and saw the most undervalued companies in areas overlooked by the market.

At this time Buffett, who had amassed personal savings over $174,000 (about $2.01 million today),24 decided to return to Omaha, where he would quickly start a series of investment partnerships. John Neff, who managed the Windsor Fund for over three decades, distinguished himself with an unyielding commitment to low price-to-earnings ratios and high dividend yields. His approach, focused on unpopular industries and companies with solid fundamentals, allowed him to achieve sustained outperformance against broader market indices. Neff’s investment style exemplifies the patient, disciplined approach that can lead to significant gains, illustrating that long-term value often lies hidden in areas overlooked by others. Graham created a wealth of investing knowledge and spread it among his many loyal disciples.

Cathie Wood is the founder and CEO of ARK Invest, an investment management firm specializing in disruptive innovation. Carl Icahn is a prominent activist investor known for taking substantial positions in companies and pushing for strategic changes to enhance shareholder value. Benjamin Graham, often referred to as the “father of value investing,” revolutionized the world of investing with his groundbreaking approach to identifying undervalued stocks. Since taking control of Berkshire Hathaway in 1965, he has delivered an average annual return of 20%, nearly double that of the S&P 500 during the same period. As technology continues to evolve, it will shape the future of investing by providing innovative tools for investors worldwide. These financial masterminds have not only navigated market fluctuations but have reshaped the very landscape of investing.

Considered the “king of bonds,” Bill Gross (b. 1944) is among the world’s leading bond fund managers. As the founder and managing director of the PIMCO family of bond funds, he and his team amassed more than $1.9 trillion in fixed-income assets under management (as of 2024). As you can see, this list consists of a diverse set of voices, and you’ll likely find one whose investment philosophy aligns with yours. Whether you choose to do some copycat investing, learn from the works they’ve published, or study their portfolios to avoid their mistakes is entirely up to you. It’s a high-risk, high-reward strategy that requires a lot of confidence and market knowledge. When we look at the world of successful investing, it’s clear that there’s no magic formula.

Together, Buffett and Munger have formed a formidable partnership, their divergent yet complementary styles shaping Berkshire Hathaway’s investment philosophy and propelling its enduring success. These investors may have adopted diverse strategies and philosophies in their trading endeavors, but their shared prowess lies in their consistent ability to outperform the market. Buffett is celebrated for his unwavering commitment to a long-term investment approach, consistently displaying patience and discipline, even in the face of market turbulence.

Cathie Mayer (born : The Investigative Journalist for Financial Fairness

Eduardo Elsztain is an Argentinian investor who has worked closely with George Soros. The man first connected with Soros when walking into his office and asking him for a $10 million investment. By Elsztain’s charm and charisma, Soros accepted, and the Argentinian grew the $10 million into a $500 million portfolio within a matter of years. For a time, the investor’s risky predictions made him one of the richest men in America.

As one of the Famous investors world’s wealthiest investors, Warren Buffett almost needs no introduction. He’s CEO and chairman of Berkshire Hathaway, a massive conglomerate that acts as the holding company for Buffett’s investments, both its wholly-owned companies and its stocks. You might recognize some of the companies – GEICO, Dairy Queen, See’s Candies – as well as some of the stocks – Coca-Cola, Bank of America and Apple, among many others. Ackman, founder of Pershing Square Capital Management, is an activist investor known for his bold bets and willingness to take on large corporations. He invests in undervalued companies, pushing for changes that he believes will unlock hidden value.