With an estimated net worth of $9 billion in 2025, George Soros remains one of the most influential—and sometimes controversial—figures in global finance and philanthropy. A hedge fund titan, Holocaust survivor, and vocal advocate for human rights, Soros is perhaps equally known for making a $1 billion profit in a single day as he is for donating $32 billion of his wealth to causes worldwide.
So, how did this Hungarian-born refugee become one of the wealthiest investors in history—and why has he given so much of it away?
What Is George Soros’ Net Worth in 2025?
As of this year, George Soros’ net worth is estimated to be $9 billion. But that figure tells only part of the story. Over the course of his life, Soros has donated more than $32 billion to his philanthropic foundation, Open Society Foundations (OSF), dramatically reducing his personal wealth in the process.
At the peak of his financial career, Soros’ net worth was far higher—but he chose to give most of it away, funding initiatives in over 100 countries. Today, Open Society Foundations continues to support democracy, education, social justice, and human rights around the world.
How Did George Soros Make His Fortune?
Soros made his billions as a hedge fund manager. In 1970, he founded Soros Fund Management, which quickly became one of the most profitable hedge funds in history, averaging a 20% annual return for more than four decades.
But the moment that cemented his reputation—and earned him the nickname “the man who broke the Bank of England”—came in 1992. That year, Soros shorted the British pound and earned $1 billion in profit in a single day during the UK’s Black Wednesday currency crisis.
His firm’s aggressive, data-driven strategy revolutionized the hedge fund industry, and at its peak, Soros Fund Management managed tens of billions in assets.
What Is Soros Fund Management?
Soros Fund Management, founded in 1970, is a private investment firm that today manages roughly $45 billion in assets. The fund focuses on public equities, fixed income, foreign exchange, private equity, and commodity markets.
Notably, Soros Fund Management also advises the Quantum Group of Funds, another major financial vehicle that has played a key role in Soros’ investment strategy. With investments in sectors like energy, retail, transportation, and finance, the firm has long been known for its nimbleness and market foresight.
Where Did George Soros Grow Up?
Soros’ journey begins in Budapest, Hungary, where he was born on August 12, 1930, into a Jewish family. As a teenager, he witnessed the horrors of Nazi occupation, where over 500,000 Hungarian Jews were murdered during WWII.
To survive, his family obtained false identity papers and helped others do the same. This harrowing experience shaped Soros’ lifelong commitment to freedom, democracy, and human rights. It’s no surprise that decades later, he would found a philanthropic empire focused on protecting civil liberties.
How Did Soros Get His Start in Finance?
After escaping Communist Hungary in 1947, Soros moved to London, where he studied at the London School of Economics while working as a waiter and railway porter. He was deeply influenced by philosopher Karl Popper, whose writings on open societies would inspire the name of his foundation years later.
Soros eventually moved to New York, where he began working as an arbitrage trader. By the early 1970s, he had founded Soros Fund Management and was on his way to becoming one of the most successful investors of all time.
What Is the Open Society Foundations?
Founded in 1979, the Open Society Foundations (OSF) is the main vehicle for Soros’ philanthropy. The foundation works globally to promote democracy, freedom of expression, education, equality, and justice.
- It has donated $15 billion to various causes to date.
- Soros has personally contributed $32 billion to OSF.
- He funded scholarships for Black South Africans during apartheid.
- He helped create Central European University after the fall of the Berlin Wall.
- He donated $500 million to support refugees during the Syrian crisis.
OSF is active in over 100 countries, and it continues to fund civil society organizations, independent journalism, and human rights initiatives.
What Causes Has George Soros Supported?
Soros has often backed controversial but progressive causes:
- Decriminalization and medical use of marijuana
- Support for the LGBTQ+ community
- Opposition to the U.S. War on Drugs, calling it “more harmful than the drug problem itself”
- Funding free press, voter rights, and criminal justice reform
- Supporting democratic movements in post-Soviet nations
He’s also a major contributor to education, healthcare, and refugee support efforts around the globe.
What Is George Soros Like Personally?
Despite his public influence, Soros tends to live a low-key personal life. He has been married three times and has five children. He spends much of his time focusing on philanthropy and writing about global affairs, democracy, and economics.
At 94, Soros remains intellectually engaged, though he has handed off many operational responsibilities at his foundation to his son, Alex Soros, who now leads the Open Society Foundations.
