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Michael Burry is a name that has been making headlines in the investment world for quite some time now. The eccentric investor first rose to prominence for his bets against the subprime mortgage market that helped him and his clients make a fortune during the 2008 financial crisis. In recent years, he has made headlines again for his bearish bets against tech giants like Tesla and GameStop, which have garnered both admiration and criticism from the investment community. But who is Michael Burry, and how did he achieve his staggering net worth? Let’s take a closer look.
Early Life and Education
Michael Burry was born in San Jose, California, in 1971. He grew up in a middle-class family and attended Santa Teresa High School in San Jose. Burry went on to attend the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), where he earned a degree in economics. He went on to pursue a degree in medicine at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine but dropped out after one year to pursue a career in finance.
Career in Finance
Burry started his career in finance in the late 1990s, working as a stock picker at Scion Capital, a hedge fund he founded in 2000 with a $1 million investment from his family. He made his name in the investment world by betting against the subprime mortgage market, a move that was largely ignored by Wall Street at the time. However, when the market crashed in 2008, Burry’s bets paid off big time, earning him and his clients billions of dollars in profits.
After the success of his subprime mortgage bets, Burry took a break from investing to focus on personal interests like traveling, writing, and managing his own vineyard. He returned to the investment world in 2013, founding Scion Asset Management, a firm that manages investments for his family and other high-net-worth individuals.
Bearish Bets on Tech Giants
In recent years, Burry has made headlines again for his bearish bets against tech giants like Tesla and GameStop. He started shorting Tesla in 2019, predicting that the electric car maker’s bubble would burst soon. He has also criticized the company’s accounting practices and CEO Elon Musk’s tweets. His bets against GameStop came in early 2021 when he predicted that the video game retailer’s stock price would crash. His predictions came true when the company’s stock price plummeted in February 2021, leading to significant losses for many retail investors.
Net Worth
As of 2021, Michael Burry’s net worth is estimated to be around $300 million. The majority of his wealth comes from his successful bets against the subprime mortgage market, which earned him and his clients billions of dollars in profits. His current investments in companies like Tesla and GameStop have not been as successful, but his net worth remains impressive nonetheless.
Controversies
Despite his financial success, Michael Burry has not been without his controversies. In addition to his bearish bets against Tesla and GameStop, he has been criticized for his tweets, which some see as promoting conspiracy theories. He has also faced legal action for his alleged involvement in a pump-and-dump scheme involving a company called KaloBios Pharmaceuticals.
Conclusion
Michael Burry is a fascinating figure in the investment world, known for his eccentric personality and unconventional investment strategies. His bets against the subprime mortgage market during the 2008 financial crisis earned him and his clients billions of dollars in profits, cementing his reputation as a savvy investor. While his recent bets against Tesla and GameStop have been less successful, his net worth remains impressive, and his influence on the investment world cannot be ignored.
