Many famous people resorted to trading even after their successful careers. They were interested to see what this different venture could bring them. While some were just traders, there were many who were celebrities turned into traders and they were not always happy with the results and even faced downfalls while doing it. Some of them made a well known name for themselves in the industry and we will be looking at the top ten of them in this article.
The Most Memorable Trades in History
1. Jesse Livermore
His story is very troubled since he faced many obstacles during his time. Being an American trader, he has been in the news for earning money as well as losing it. He is known to cheat the Market crash in 1929 which earned him a hefty amount of $100 million. Unfortunately, he lost all his money by the year 1934 and committed suicide in 1940 because he went bankrupt.
2. William Delbert Gann
Born in 1878, Gann was an interesting person who used trading according to geometry, astrology, and ancient mathematics. He also became an author and wrote several books which revolved around trading, teaching the citizens. At the time of his death in 1955, his estimated net worth was around $100,000.
Also read: India’s Best Stock Market Traders: Success Stories & Insights
3. George Soros
He is considered a legend in the trading industry and his net worth crossed $6.7 billion. He is one of the wealthiest traders in 2023 and has made a good reputation. It is also said that he is also a Holocaust survivor but now he is the chair of Soros Fund Management, which is one of the most successful firms.
4. Jim Rogers
He was born in 1942 and was a partner of George Soros in founding the company “the Quantum Fund”. He has published books showcasing his luxurious world travels and describing them. From 1966 to 1968, he served for the US army in the Vietnam war. He joined the bank after he returned from the war and met George during that time.
5. Richard Dennis
Known as the prince of the pit, Richard gained attention as an amazing trader in the industry. He has been known for making $200 million over the decade since he started but the irony is he started with just $1600. He partnered up with William Eckhardt and created the mythical Turtle Trading experiment. During the 1987 stock market, he suffered major losses and then again in 2000.
6. Paul Tudor Jones
He is the founder of Tudor investment corporation which is one of the leading funding companies and is still active. He got his major breakthrough after earning $100 million from shorting stocks during the 1987 market crash. It is shocking because he predicted it on a television show. He also started his investment career by trading cotton.
Also read: Gold Mutual Funds: A Modern Way to Invest in Gold Hassle-Free
7. John Paulson
His investment career skyrocketed after he used credit default swaps, through which he essentially shorted the US subprime mortgage lending market and earned billions of money in 2007. He earned around $4.4 billion by helping others invest and made them rich but he also lost a huge amount of money in 2020 because of some blunders in pharmaceutical, healthcare, and gold stocks as the investors withdrew from his company.
8. Steven Cohen
His story began while playing cards at college, he invested the money he earned from the game. In 1978, it is said that he earned $8,000 on the very first day at the investment banking firm Gruntal. He also founded a stocks trading company SAC Capital Advisors but had to pay a fine of $1.2 billion because of some issues. Later, he became the CEO and founder of the company Point72 Asset Management, which is based in Stamford, Connecticut.
9. David Tepper
He is also a founder of a successful hedge fund company and has a good reputation in the industry. His company is called Appaloosa Management and specialises in distressed debt investing. He has also made several appearances on CNBC, and traders love it because of all the information and knowledge they get from here. He began his career as a credit analyst and gained recognition for helping companies in troubles, pulling up his sleeves and making them profit.
10. Nick Leeson
Nicholas Leeson is the trader who infamously brought down the UK-based Barings Bank. Leeson spent four years in a Singapore jail before returning to become the CEO of Irish football club Galway United. His achievement is significant in that he did not continue his schooling after high school. He started off as a pencil pusher at a local bank and then moved on to Morgan Stanley, and eventually got a place at Barings Bank. Barings ultimately lost almost $1.4 billion.
Also read: Stock Market Holidays 2025: Complete List of Trading Off Days
Conclusion
Trading has always been a high-risk business in which money is made and lost. The stories of these ten people show both, the successes and the failures of this sector. While some traders, such as George Soros and Paul Tudor Jones, have left lasting legacies and vast fortunes, others, such as Jesse Livermore and Nick Leeson, serve as sad tales. The world of trading is not for the lighthearted. It needs talent, resilience, and the ability to manage risky markets. These traders have made a lasting impression by their success and infamous mistakes, making them iconic personalities in financial history.
FAQ
- Who is considered the most successful trader of all time?
George Soros is widely regarded as one of the most successful traders, with a net worth exceeding $6.7 billion in 2023. - What was the Turtle Trading experiment?
The Turtle Trading experiment was an initiative by Richard Dennis and William Eckhardt to prove that anyone could learn to trade successfully with the right training. - How did John Paulson achieve his wealth?
John Paulson gained fame by shorting the U.S. subprime mortgage market in 2007 using credit default swaps.