Career Timeline of David Einhorn (hedge fund manager): Major Achievements and Milestones

By Popular Timelines Editorial Team · Updated: May 14, 2025

Discover the career path of David Einhorn (hedge fund manager), from the first major opportunity to industry-changing achievements.

David Einhorn is an American hedge fund manager, investor, and amateur poker player. He is the founder and president of Greenlight Capital, a value-oriented hedge fund employing long-short strategies. Einhorn is known for his value investing approach and public short positions, often taking activist stances against companies he believes are overvalued or poorly managed. His investment strategies and market commentary are closely followed in the financial world.

Sections (4)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements Challenges & Struggles

May 1996: Greenlight Capital Started

In May 1996, Einhorn started Greenlight Capital with $900,000 in start up capital.

1996: Greenlight Capital Started

In 1996, David Einhorn started Greenlight Capital.

May 2002: Speech at Sohn Investment Research Conference

In May 2002, Einhorn gave a speech at the Sohn Investment Research Conference where he recommended shorting Allied Capital, alleging fraud against the Small Business Administration.

2005: Greenlight Donated to Tomorrows Children's Fund

In 2005, Greenlight donated $1 million to Tomorrows Children's Fund.

2006: Donated Poker Winnings

In 2006, Einhorn donated his poker winnings (over $650,000) to the Michael J. Fox Foundation.

June 2007: SEC Finds Allied Broke Securities Laws

In June 2007, after a lengthy investigation, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) found that Allied broke securities laws relating to accounting and valuation of illiquid securities.

July 2007: Shorted Lehman Brothers Stock

In July 2007, Einhorn shorted Lehman Brothers stock due to concerns about their exposure to illiquid real estate investments and accounting practices.

November 2007: Shared Lehman Thesis at Value Investing Congress

In November 2007, Einhorn shared his thesis on Lehman Brothers at the Value Investing Congress.

March 2008: Bear Stearns Bailout

In March 2008, after Bear Stearns had to be bailed out by the Federal Reserve, Lehman was widely considered to be in a weak financial situation.

September 2008: Lehman Declares Bankruptcy

Lehman Brothers declared bankruptcy in September 2008.

March 2009: Green Mountain Share Price Increase

Prior to October 17, 2011, Green Mountain's share price had increased more than tenfold since March 2009.

2009: Greenlight Capital Donates Allied Capital Profits

In the spring of 2009, Greenlight Capital donated all of the general partner's profits from the shorting of Allied Capital stock (an additional $6 million - Greenlight already donated $1 million in 2005 to Tomorrows Children's Fund - to make a total of $7 million) to three organizations.

May 26, 2011: Called for Steve Ballmer to Step Down

On May 26, 2011, Einhorn called for Steve Ballmer, CEO of Microsoft, to step down after Microsoft had been passed by both Google and Apple in market value.

October 17, 2011: Announced Short Position in Green Mountain Coffee Roasters

Speaking at the Value Investing Congress in New York City on October 17, 2011, Einhorn publicly announced his short position in Green Mountain Coffee Roasters stock, citing concerns about the Keurig single-cup coffee brewer and K-Cup coffee pods.

November 9, 2011: Green Mountain Stock Price Plunges

On November 9, 2011, Green Mountain's quarterly report missed analyst expectations, and its stock price plunged to $43.71.

2012: Donated Winnings from World Series of Poker

In 2012, Einhorn donated his winnings from the 2012 World Series of Poker Big One for One Drop Tournament (winning $4,352,000) to City Year.

February 2013: Lawsuit Against Apple Inc.

In February 2013, Einhorn filed a lawsuit against Apple Inc. to pressure the company to issue dividend-paying perpetual preferred stock. Later that month, the court ruled in favor of Einhorn, setting a "Legal Precedent in Corporate Governance".

Nov 2014: Green mountain Share price run up to 157

Green mountain stock had a run up to 157 in Nov 2014.

2014: Assets Under Management Decline

In 2014, Greenlight Capital's assets under management were approximately US$12 billion.

May 4, 2015: Criticized Oil and Gas Companies

On May 4, 2015, at the Sohn Investment Conference, Einhorn criticized unprofitable oil and gas companies and announced short positions on Pioneer Natural Resources and Concho Resources.

2017: Fund Performance Decline

By the end of 2017, Greenlight Capital's fund was down 11.3% from 2014.

July 2018: Greenlight Capital Assets Reported

In July 2018, Greenlight Capital's assets under management were reported to be about $5.5 billion, after a further 34% decrease in 2018.

2022: Greenlight Capital's Best Year in Macro Portfolio

In 2022, Greenlight Capital had its "best year" in its macro portfolio, coinciding with James Fishback's tenure at the company, where he claims to have generated $100 million in profits.

May 2024: Fishback Sues Greenlight for Defamation

In May 2024, former Greenlight Capital employee, James Fishback, sued Greenlight for defamation over his job title, claiming he worked as "head of macro" at the firm, a position Greenlight denies existed.