Billionaire Traders

Mentioned here are some professional traders, who are still rocking.

John D. Arnold (age 35) made his first billion $ within 5 years. Made 1.5$ billion in 2008.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_D._Arnold
NYMag Interview


Paul Tudor Jones, started as a clerk on a trading floor.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Tudor_Jones
MarketFolly Interview
"Today, I want to talk to you about the dirtiest word that any of you 9th graders know. It’s a word that is so terrible that your parents won’t talk about it; your teachers won’t talk about it; and you certainly don’t ever want to dwell on it. But this is a preparatory school, and you need to be prepared to deal with this phenomenon because you will experience it. That is a guarantee. Every single one of you will experience it not once but multiple times, and every adult in this room has had to deal with this in its many forms and manifestations. It’s the “F” word...."
Full Article


Louis Bacon is by far the biggest of the daredevil managers who are still placing big directional bets on stocks, bonds, currencies and commodities at a time when such bold trading has come under withering scrutiny.
http://www.turtletrader.com/bacon.html
http://marquezcomelab.com/blog/?p=497
http://www.iimagazinerankings.com/...


Carl Icahn
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carl_Icahn
http://money.cnn.com/magazines/...
"To 'meet with triumph and disaster' and to 'treat those two impostors just the same.'
So if you're doing great, don't think you're a genius and
If you're doing badly, don't think the world comes to an end.
If you work hard and don't let your ego get ahead of you,
(which so many people do when you're doing well),
And if you don't let yourself become
too despondent if you're not doing well for awhile.
And have faith in your ability,
And really work hard at whatever you do.
If you can do all that, I think, chances are good
You're going to hit a lucky streak.
Luck comes and goes. Realize that
When you're doing really well, it's not just you
And when you're not, it's not just you either." Full Story

 
Steven Cohen, the Trading God.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steven_A._Cohen
BW Article


David Tepper is another former Goldman Sachs employee who turned into a hedge fund manager. His hedge-fund firm has racked up about $7 billion of profit so far this year—with Mr. Tepper on track to earn more than $2.5 billion for himself.
Recent 7$ billiob bet
David Tepper - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
http://www.gurufocus.com/forum/read.php?1,77148


John Paulson began his career at Boston Consulting Group before leaving to join Odyssey Partners, working under Leon Levy. Shot into limelight in 2007 after making around $15 billion speculating on US Housing Crisis. Cited by some as the biggest trade ever made, outshining Livermore's 1929 one.
John Paulson - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Best Trade of 2007 – John Paulson Overtakes Oprah Winfrey
John Paulson: Hedge Fund Manager MVP 2007-08, Congress Testimony Video
Paulson May Have Made $45.3 Million on Detour Gold (Update1)


Back in 1965, a penniless refugee named Thomas Peterffy, was destined to revolutionize the global trading industry.
http://www.iinews.com/site/pdfs/IIMa...s_Nov_2005.pdf
http://people.forbes.com/profile/thomas-peterffy/44384
http://individuals.interactivebroker...?ib_entity=llc


Ace Greenberg, started as a clerk in the oil department at GS. Since 2001 he is head of the executive committee of the same and the company's capital base grew from $500 million to $26 billion.
http://www.forbes.com/2008/10/10/Onl...Greenberg.html
http://www.tradersmagazine.com/issue...inter_friendly


James Simons, a mathematician from MIT manages more than 25$ billion, with great success.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Harris_Simons
Interview mentioned on abacus and seedmagazine


T. Boone Pickens, "“My IQ is the gas price. At $3 I’m a genius. At $1.50 I’m a moron. Don’t talk to me too fast; it’s at $1.53 today.”
Wikipedia Page, Frontline Interview, Fox news Interview


Bruce Kovner's first trade was for $3000 borrowed against his MasterCard.
Wikipedia Page 
CNN Money Interview


Edward S. "Eddie" Lampert's current networth is estimated at 1.5$ billion.
Wikipedia Page
http://www.streetstories.com/Bruce_Kovner.htm


David E. Shaw is a computer scientist and computational biochemist who founded D.E. Shaw & Co. The capital under management in his firm has shrunk from 40$ billion to 29$ billion in recent meltdown.
Wikipedia Page
MarketFolly Interview


Louis Bacon is another self-made billionaire, considered by some among top traders of 20th century.
Wikipedia Page AR Interview
Forbes Entry