How much do hedge fund managers make in the US?
Hedge funds are widely regarded as offering significant earning potential. Junior level employees are able to achieve salaries upwards of $500k in some places, and the best fund managers can see their net worth ultimately reach nine or even ten figures.
The money is a big draw as well: if you're at the right fund and you perform well, you can earn into the mid-six-figures, up to $1 million+, even as a junior-level employee. The top individual Portfolio Managers can earn hundreds of millions or billions each year.
In 2023, the highest-paid hedge fund manager was Ken Griffin of Citadel, who earned $4.1 billion. He was followed by Izzy Englander of Millennium Management, who earned $3.2. billion.
Pay at this level depends almost 100% on performance, which means that PMs could make a few hundred thousand USD… up to $1 million or even $10 million+. On average, though, a PM at a mid-sized fund that performs decently might earn between $500K and $3 million.
Job Title | Annual Salary | Monthly Pay |
---|---|---|
Hedge Fund Attorney | $175,207 | $14,600 |
Cfo Hedge Fund | $157,532 | $13,127 |
Private Equity Fund Controller | $154,999 | $12,916 |
Hedge Fund General Counsel | $151,643 | $12,636 |
- #1. Ken Griffin. Net worth: $35 billion. ...
- #2. Jim Simons. Net worth: $28.1 billion. ...
- #3. Ray Dalio. Net worth: $19.1 billion. ...
- #4. David Tepper. Net worth: $18.5 billion. ...
- #5. Steve Cohen. ...
- #6. Carl Icahn. ...
- #7. Michael Platt. ...
- #8. Israel Englander.
Hedge fund managers typically earn above-average compensation, often from a two-and-twenty fee structure. Hedge fund managers typically specialize in a particular investment strategy that they then use to power their fund portfolio's mandate for profits.
It is not uncommon for someone with 5 to 10 years of experience (if they last that long) to secure hedge fund salaries that are close to US$ 1 million per year. If you start your own hedge fund, though, hedge fund salaries get a little more complicated.
- Chris Hohn. TCI Fund Management. ...
- Israel (Izzy) Englander. Millennium Management. ...
- Kenneth Griffin. Citadel. ...
- David Tepper. Appaloosa Management. ...
- Steven Cohen. $1.6 Billion. ...
- Philippe Laffont. ...
- James Simons. ...
- (Tied)
- Pascal Soriot of AstraZeneca was the highest paid CEO, making £16.85m, ahead of Charles Woodburn of BAE Systems who made £10.69 million.
- The ten FTSE 100 companies with the highest CEO pay were as follows:
Do hedge funds pay well?
Hedge funds are widely regarded as offering significant earning potential. Junior level employees are able to achieve salaries upwards of $500k in some places, and the best fund managers can see their net worth ultimately reach nine or even ten figures.
As of Apr 14, 2024, the average annual pay for a Vice President Of Hedge Funds in the United States is $157,532 a year. Just in case you need a simple salary calculator, that works out to be approximately $75.74 an hour. This is the equivalent of $3,029/week or $13,127/month.
The work hours for hedge fund traders can vary, and the industry is known for its demanding schedule. On average, hedge fund traders often work long hours, ranging from 50 to 80 hours per week. The specific workload can depend on the fund's strategy, market conditions, and individual firm policies.
Compared to all the other types of finance careers, work life balance at hedge funds is usually better than investment banking or private equity in the sense that your hours won't be as volatile. It is very unlikely that you will stay up late working past midnight at a hedge fund.
Hedge fund analysts typically work between 60 and 70 hours a week. Working on the weekend is not common but it certainly does happen from time to time.
William Albert Ackman (born May 11, 1966) is an American billionaire hedge fund manager who is the founder and chief executive officer of Pershing Square Capital Management, a hedge fund management company. His investment approach has made him an activist investor.
However, because hedge funds are typically much higher-risk portfolios that are more actively traded, they require close monitoring and a greater amount of day-to-day hands-on management and decision-making regarding investments.
Real Time Net Worth
Ken Griffin founded and runs Citadel, a Miami-based hedge fund firm that manages $59 billion in assets. Griffin founded Citadel in 1990 but first began trading from his Harvard dorm in 1987. He put a satellite dish on the roof to get real-time stock quotes.
Yes, a hedge fund can have a CEO and this individual can also perform the duties of a fund manager. Hedge funds are distinct from traditional venture capital and private equity funds, because the investors in a hedge fund usually have direct input into the fund's management and operations.
The recent Forbes 400 (richest American billionaires) list has about 112 people, by my count, who made their fortunes in some form of Finance, Investments, Hedge Funds, insurance or banking.
Is Warren Buffett a hedge fund manager?
In fact, he owned and managed his own hedge fund before he took charge of Berkshire Hathaway. He introduced Buffett Partnership, an early version of hedge funds, in 1957, and it was wildly successful. In the 12 years he managed the fund, Buffett delivered compounded annual returns of 31.6 percent before fees.
In terms of everyday responsibilities, the main duties of a fund manager include building financial models, meeting with clients, and analysing investments. At a higher level, they oversee the hedge fund's daily operations. This might include risk management, marketing, sales, and cash flow forecasting.
Hedge fund managers often have a master's degree or even a Ph. D. in finance, mathematics, economics, financial engineering, quantitative finance, programming, marketing, or business administration. Others have advanced degrees in a specialty such as engineering or accounting.
Long and stressful days
The day for hedge fund managers is very long and full of stressful hours. The end of the market day doesn't necessarily mean that they are done for the day. Many hedge fund managers run positions in overnight markets so they will need to monitor those trades, often late into the night.
- Daniel Loeb.
- Carl Icahn.
- Ken Griffin.
- David Tepper.
- John Paulson.
- Israel Englander.
- Bill Ackman.
- The Bottom Line.
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