John Paulson
| John Paulson | |
| |
| Occupation | Founder & Chairman; Chairman |
|---|---|
| Employer | Paulson & Co. Inc. |
John Paulson is the founder and chairman of hedge fund Paulson & Co. Inc. He made billions betting against the subprime market using credit default swaps ahead of the housing crisis.[1]
Background[edit]
Paulson has operated Paulson & Co. since 1994.
As early as 2005, Paulson noticed that residential real estate prices were growing at levels that were not sustainable and would generate a crisis. He used credit derivatives to bet against the housing market and reaped billions as a result. [2]
Since his rise to fame during the financial crisis, Paulson's hedge fund business had its struggles - his flagship fund lost 18 percent in 2016 and 23 percent in 2017. The firm's assets under management were $38 billion in 2011. By 2018, Paulson & Co's assets totaled some $9 billion. The underperformance resulted in cuts to staff in March 2018.[3]
In January 2019, Paulson said he was considering closing down his fund to form a family office after years of investor outflows. [4]
In November 2009, Paulson gave $20 million to NYU Stern. The intention was that Paulson’s gift would endow two faculty chairs – the Alan Greenspan Chair in Economics and the John A. Paulson Professor of Finance and Alternative investments – as well as provide significant support for the school’s Concourse project, a major facilities renovation currently underway, and scholarship aid for undergraduate students.[5]
Education[edit]
Paulson holds Series 7, 24, 55 and 63 FINRA Licenses.
References[edit]
- ↑ Hedge Fund Manager Paulson Earns $3.7 Billion. Reuters.
- ↑ John Paulson: The Man Who Turned Contrarian Bets Into Billions. Business Insider.
- ↑ John Paulson takes an axe to his struggling hedge fund. Financial Times.
- ↑ Paulson to Decide on Switching to Family Office in Two Years. Bloomberg.
- ↑ Hedge Fund Founder John Paulson Gives $20 Million to NYU Stern. Philanthropy News.