Career Timeline of George Soros: Major Achievements and Milestones
How George Soros built a successful career. Explore key moments that defined the journey.
George Soros is a prominent American investor and philanthropist. As of March 2025, his net worth was $7.2 billion, significantly reduced by his extensive charitable contributions. He has donated over $32 billion to the Open Society Foundations, with $15 billion already distributed. This represents 64% of his original fortune. Soros was recognized by Forbes in 2020 as the 'most generous giver' based on the percentage of his net worth donated to philanthropic causes.
1954: Began Financial Career at Singer & Friedlander
In 1954, George Soros began his financial career at the merchant bank Singer & Friedlander in London, working as a clerk and later moving to the arbitrage department.
1956: Moved to New York City
In 1956, George Soros moved to New York City and worked as an arbitrage trader for F. M. Mayer, specializing in European stocks.
1959: Moved to Wertheim & Co.
In 1959, after three years at F. M. Mayer, George Soros moved to Wertheim & Co. with plans to save $500,000 and return to England to study philosophy.
1963: Vice President at Arnhold and S. Bleichroeder
From 1963, George Soros worked as a vice president at Arnhold and S. Bleichroeder, however business was slack due to the introduction of the Interest Equalization Tax.
1963: Left Wertheim & Co.
In 1963, George Soros left Wertheim & Co. after working there as an analyst of European securities.
1966: Started a Fund with Firm's Money
In 1966, George Soros started a fund with $100,000 of Arnhold and S. Bleichroeder's money to experiment with his trading strategies.
1967: First Eagle fund established
In 1967, Double Eagle itself was an offshoot of Arnhold and S. Bleichroeder's First Eagle fund established by George Soros and that firm's chairman Henry H. Arnhold.
1969: Established Double Eagle Hedge Fund
In 1969, George Soros established the Double Eagle hedge fund with $4 million of investors' capital, including $250,000 of his own money. The fund was based in Curaçao, Dutch Antilles.
1970: Founded Soros Fund Management
In 1970, George Soros founded Soros Fund Management and became its chairman.
1973: End of Vice Presidency
In 1973 George Soros ended his position as vice president at Arnhold and S. Bleichroeder.
1973: Launch of Quantum Endowment Fund
In 1973, George Soros launched the Quantum Endowment Fund.
1973: Resigned from Double Eagle Fund
In 1973, George Soros resigned from the management of the Double Eagle Fund and established the Soros Fund, offering investors the option to transfer to the new fund.
1973: Double Eagle Fund Value
In 1973, the Double Eagle Fund had $12 million. George Soros and Jim Rogers received returns on their share of capital and 20 percent of the profits each year.
1973: Quantum Fund Inception
The Quantum Fund, managed by George Soros, was founded in 1973 and has generated $40 billion since its inception.
1979: Financial Support for Dissidents in Eastern Europe
From 1979, Soros began financially supporting dissidents in Eastern Europe, including Poland's Solidarity movement, Charter 77 in Czechoslovakia, and Andrei Sakharov in the Soviet Union.
1984: Soros played a role in the transition from communism to democracy in Hungary
In 1984, George Soros played a role in the peaceful transition from communism to democracy in Hungary and provided a substantial endowment to Central European University in Budapest. The Open Society Foundations has active programs in more than 60 countries around the world with total expenditures currently averaging approximately $600 million a year.
1984: Founding of First Open Society Institute in Hungary
In 1984, Soros founded his first Open Society Institute in Hungary with a budget of $3 million, advancing his advocacy for 'open societies'.
1987: Publication of The Alchemy of Finance
In 1987, George Soros released his first book predicting disaster, The Alchemy of Finance.
1988: Decision Not to Participate in Société Générale Investment Group
In 1988, French financier Georges Pébereau contacted Soros to participate in an investment group to purchase shares in Société Générale. Soros declined, opting to accumulate shares personally in Société Générale, Suez, Paribas, and Compagnie Générale d'Électricité.
1988: Soros advises "No" campaign in Chile
In 1988, George Soros advised the "No" campaign in the Chilean plebiscite, providing crucial data and studies that informed the campaign's television program, which ultimately contributed to their victory.
September 1992: Building Short Position in Pounds Sterling
In September 1992, George Soros had been building a huge short position in pounds sterling for months leading up to Black Wednesday, recognizing the unfavorable position of the United Kingdom in the European Exchange Rate Mechanism.
September 16, 1992: Black Wednesday
On September 16, 1992, the day of Black Wednesday, George Soros's fund had sold short more than $10 billion in pounds, profiting from the UK government's reluctance to raise interest rates or float its currency.
October 26, 1992: Soros on Black Wednesday Position
On October 26, 1992, George Soros stated that his total position by Black Wednesday had to be worth almost $10 billion, and he planned to sell even more.
1995: Financial Backer of Washington Soccer L.P.
In 1995, George Soros was a financial backer of Washington Soccer L.P., the group that owned the operating rights to Major League Soccer club D.C. United when the league was founded.
February 5, 1996: Traded Billions of Finnish Markkas
On February 5, 1996, George Soros was believed to have traded billions of Finnish markkas in anticipation of selling them short.
1997: Soros Fund Management Shorting of Thai Baht and Malaysian Ringgit
In 1997, Soros Fund Management, recognizing discrepancies between trade and capital accounts, strategically sold short the Thai baht and Malaysian ringgit. This involved contracts to deliver these currencies at future dates, currencies that the fund did not currently possess. Subsequently, in 1997, Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir accused Soros of instigating the financial crisis, a claim Soros refuted by stating that they were buyers of the currencies during the crisis, purchasing ringgits to realize profits, although they exited too early due to fears of capital controls by Mahathir.
1997: Soros Quantum Fund Attempts to Short the Hong Kong Dollar
In 1997, the Soros Quantum Fund tried to short the Hong Kong Dollar, mirroring strategies used against the pound, baht, and peso. However, intervention from mainland China, providing Hong Kong with $140 billion (USD) in reserves and backing the HKD's fixed exchange rate with the USD, stabilized Hong Kong's economy. Consequently, in 1997, Soros lost most of the money shorted against the HKD due to this stabilization.
1998: Soros Explained His Role in the Crisis
In 1998, George Soros explained his role in the Asian financial crisis in his book, "The Crisis of Global Capitalism: Open Society Endangered".
1998: Publication of The Crisis of Global Capitalism
In 1998, George Soros released his second book predicting disaster, The Crisis of Global Capitalism.
2000: Soros advises Ricardo Lagos
In 2000, George Soros sought to improve the image of Ricardo Lagos, who was then a presidential candidate, among business circles.
2000: Washington Soccer L.P. lost rights
In 2000, Washington Soccer L.P., of which George Soros was a financial backer, lost its operating rights to Major League Soccer club D.C. United.
September 2002: Open Society Institute donates to Lynne Stewart's defense committee
In September 2002, the Open Society Institute gave $20,000 to the Defense Committee of Lynne Stewart, a lawyer who defended controversial defendants and was sentenced to prison for providing material support for a terrorist conspiracy.
2003: Soros's philanthropic funding efforts
As of 2003, George Soros's philanthropic funding included efforts to promote non-violent democratization in post-communist states, primarily through the Open Society Foundations, with an estimated total given away of $4 billion.
2003: Donations to Defeat President George W. Bush
During the 2003-2004 election cycle, George Soros donated $23,581,000 to various 527 Groups (tax-exempt groups) that aimed to defeat President George W. Bush.
2003: Publication of "The Bubble of American Supremacy"
In 2003, George Soros published "The Bubble of American Supremacy", a critique of the Bush administration's "War on Terror" and a polemic against Bush's re-election. Soros drew parallels between the political context and self-reinforcing reflexive processes that create bubbles in stock prices.
2003: Paul Volcker wrote in the foreword of Soros's book
In 2003, former Federal Reserve chairman Paul Volcker wrote in the foreword of George Soros's book The Alchemy of Finance.
2003: Project on Death Concludes
In 2003, the Project on Death in America, an Open Society Institute project active since 1994, concluded its efforts to transform the culture and experience of dying and bereavement.
2004: Large Donations to U.S. Political Campaigns
Leading up to the 2004 presidential election, Soros significantly increased his donations to U.S. political campaigns. During the 2003-2004 election cycle, Soros donated $23,581,000 to 527 Groups aimed at defeating President George W. Bush. After Bush's reelection in 2004, Soros backed the Democracy Alliance, supporting progressive causes.
2005: Attempt to buy the Washington Nationals
In 2005, George Soros was a minority partner in a group that tried to buy the Washington Nationals, a Major League baseball team.
September 2006: Soros pledges $50 million to the Millennium Promise
In September 2006, George Soros pledged $50 million to the Millennium Promise, led by economist Jeffrey Sachs, to provide aid to villages in Africa enduring poverty.
2006: Discussion at Los Angeles World Affairs Council
In 2006, at the Los Angeles World Affairs Council, George Soros discussed how he transitioned from an immigrant with various jobs, including selling fancy goods at souvenir shops, to working in a merchant bank.
2006: Soros comments on the US as an obstacle to world order
In 2006, when asked about his statement in "The Age of Fallibility" that the United States is the main obstacle to a stable and just world order, George Soros responded that this view coincided with the prevailing opinion worldwide and criticized the 'war on terror' agenda set by the US after September 11.
May 2008: Publication of 'The New Paradigm for Financial Markets'
In May 2008, George Soros published his book, "The New Paradigm for Financial Markets", in which he described a "superbubble" that had been building for 25 years and was on the verge of collapse.
2008: Increased Attention to Reflexivity Theories After 2008 Crash
After the 2008 financial crisis, Soros's theories of reflexivity, which explain market overshooting, gained increased attention, including becoming the focus of an issue of the Journal of Economic Methodology. These theories were originally dismissed by economists.
2008: Housing Market Reflexivity
Around 2008, a prime example of reflexivity in financial markets was observed in the housing sector. Increased lending led to more home purchases, raising prices. Lenders, seeing improved balance sheets due to rising collateral values, extended further loans, causing prices to escalate even more.
2008: Funding for Drug Policy Reform
In 2008, George Soros donated $400,000 to support the Massachusetts Sensible Marijuana Policy Initiative, which decriminalized marijuana possession. He also funded similar measures in other states and contributed $1.4 million to support California's Proposition 5, which aimed to expand drug rehabilitation programs but ultimately failed.
2008: Induction into Hedge Fund Manager Hall of Fame
In 2008, George Soros was inducted into Institutional Investors Alpha's Hedge Fund Manager Hall of Fame.
2008: Association with AS Roma
In 2008, George Soros's name was associated with AS Roma, an Italian association football team, but the club was not sold.
June 2009: $100 Million Donation to Central and Eastern Europe
In June 2009, Soros donated $100 million to Central and Eastern Europe to mitigate the impact of the Great Recession on the poor, voluntary groups, and non-government organizations.
August 2009: $35 Million Donation to New York State for Underprivileged Children
In August 2009, Soros donated $35 million to the state of New York, earmarked for underprivileged children, providing $200 per child aged 3-17 to parents with benefit cards. Additional funds were added by the state from the 2009 federal recovery act. Soros also supported the Center for American Progress through the Open Society Foundations.
October 2009: Soros on Marijuana Use and Funding Drug Policy Alliance
In October 2009, George Soros stated in an interview that he believes marijuana is less addictive but not suitable for children and students, noting he hasn't used it in years. Soros has significantly funded the Drug Policy Alliance, an organization promoting cannabis legalization, with approximately $5 million in annual contributions from one of his foundations.
October 2009: Founding of the Institute for New Economic Thinking
In October 2009, in response to the Great Recession, George Soros founded the Institute for New Economic Thinking. This think tank comprises international economic, business, and financial experts tasked with exploring radical new approaches to organizing the international economic and financial system.
October 2010: Donation to California's Proposition 19
In October 2010, George Soros donated $1 million to support California's Proposition 19.
2010: Soros expresses concern about China's power
In 2010, George Soros expressed concern about the growth of Chinese economic and political power and suggested China needed to accept responsibility for world order.
May 2011: Soros donates to Bard College
In May 2011, George Soros donated $60 million to Bard College, establishing the Bard College Center for Civic Engagement.
July 2011: Returned Outside Investors' Money
In July 2011, George Soros announced that he had returned funds from outside investors (valued at $1 billion) and instead invested funds from his $24.5 billion family fortune.
October 2011: Soros calls for stronger economic government for Europe
In October 2011, George Soros drafted an open letter with other European leaders calling for a stronger economic government in Europe using federal means and warning against nationalistic solutions to the Great Recession.
August 21, 2012: Acquisition of stake in Manchester United
On August 21, 2012, it was reported that George Soros acquired roughly a 2% stake in the English football club Manchester United through the purchase of 3 million of the club's Class-A shares.
September 27, 2012: $1 Million Donation to Priorities USA Action
On September 27, 2012, Soros donated $1 million to Priorities USA Action, a super PAC supporting President Barack Obama's reelection.
October 2013: $25,000 Donation to Ready for Hillary
In October 2013, Soros donated $25,000 to Ready for Hillary, becoming a co-chairman of the super PAC's national finance committee.
2013: Quantum Fund's Success
In 2013, the Quantum Fund made $5.5 billion, becoming the most successful hedge fund in history again. Since its inception in 1973, the fund has generated $40 billion.
January 2014: Ranked number 1 in LCH Investments list
In January 2014, George Soros was ranked number 1 in LCH Investments list of top 20 managers, having posted gains of almost $42 billion since the launch of his Quantum Endowment Fund.
January 2015: Soros calls on EU to give bailout money to Ukraine
In January 2015, George Soros called on the European Union to provide $50 billion in bailout money to Ukraine.
June 2015: $1 Million Donation to Priorities USA Action Supporting Hillary Clinton
In June 2015, Soros donated $1 million to the Super PAC Priorities USA Action, which supported Hillary Clinton in the 2016 presidential race.
July 2015: Soros states Putin's annexation of Crimea as a challenge
In July 2015, George Soros stated that Putin's annexation of Crimea was a challenge to the prevailing world order, specifically the European Union, and hypothesized Putin wanted to destabilize Ukraine.
July 2015: Soros advocates US-China strategic partnership
In July 2015, George Soros stated that a strategic partnership between the US and China could prevent the evolution of two power blocks that may be drawn into military conflict.
October 2015: Soros criticizes Orbán's handling of migrant crisis
In October 2015, George Soros criticized Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán for prioritizing national border protection over the protection of refugees during the 2015 European migrant crisis, presenting an alternative plan.
November 2015: Russia bans Soros's Open Society Foundations
In November 2015, Russia banned the Open Society Foundations (OSF) and the Open Society Institute (OSI), two pro-democracy charities founded by George Soros, stating they posed a threat to the foundations of the constitutional system and security of the state.
December 2015: $6 Million Donation to Priorities USA Action
In December 2015, George Soros donated $6 million to the PAC Priorities USA Action, supporting Hillary Clinton in the 2016 presidential race.
December 2015: Russian intergovernmental letter released regarding Soros' charities
In December 2015, a Russian intergovernmental letter stated that George Soros's charities were forming a perverted perception of history and making ideological directives, alien to Russian ideology, popular.
2015: Investment in Fen Hotels
In 2015, George Soros's Quantum Fund announced it would inject $300 million to finance the expansion of Fen Hotels, an Argentine hotel company.
January 2016: Books related to Soros's program withdrawn in Russia
In January 2016, 53 books related to George Soros's "Renewal of Humanitarian Education" program were withdrawn at a college in the Komi Republic, with 427 additional books seized for shredding.
August 2016: $2.5 Million Donation to Priorities USA Action
In August 2016, George Soros donated $2.5 million to Priorities USA Action, a Super PAC that supported Hillary Clinton in the 2016 presidential race.
2016: Donations to Progressive Criminal Justice Reform Proponents
Since 2016, Soros has been donating sums exceeding $1 million to the campaigns of progressive criminal justice reform proponents through the Safety and Justice PAC in local district attorney elections.
October 17, 2017: Soros transfers $18 billion to Open Society Foundations
On October 17, 2017, George Soros transferred $18 billion to the Open Society Foundations, marking a significant endowment for the organization.
2017: Impact of Soros's Grant Program in Former Soviet Republics
A 2017 study found that a grant program by George Soros which awarded funding to over 28,000 scientists in the former Soviet republics shortly after the end of the Soviet Union "more than doubled publications on the margin, significantly induced scientists to remain in the science sector, and had long-lasting [beneficial] impacts".
2017: Soros's Criticism of Donald Trump
In 2017, George Soros described Donald Trump as a con man and predicted his failure due to self-contradictory ideas. Soros also anticipated a trade war and poor performance in financial markets under Trump's leadership.
2017: Funding of Larry Krasner's Campaign
In 2017, Larry Krasner was elected as the District Attorney of Philadelphia with the help of a $1.5 million ad campaign funded by Soros.
October 2018: Soros donates to the Wikimedia Foundation
In October 2018, George Soros donated $2 million to the Wikimedia Foundation via the Wikimedia Endowment program.
2018: Soros comments on challenges facing Europe
In 2018, George Soros highlighted major challenges facing Europe, including immigration, austerity, and potential departures from the EU. Soros stated that Europe is facing an existential crisis and advocated for a "multi-track Europe" to allow member states more choices.
January 2019: Soros labels Xi Jinping as "most dangerous opponent of open societies"
In January 2019, George Soros, speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos, labeled Xi Jinping as the "most dangerous opponent of open societies." He also urged the US to prevent Huawei and ZTE from dominating the 5G market and criticized China's Social Credit System.
April 2019: Awarded the Ridenhour Prize for Courage
In April 2019, George Soros was awarded the Ridenhour Prize for Courage and donated the prize money to the Hungarian Spectrum.
July 2019: $5.1 Million Donation to Democracy PAC
By July 2019, Soros had donated $5.1 million to his newly launched super PAC, Democracy PAC, for the 2020 election cycle.
January 2020: Soros announces $1 billion endowment donation for Open Society University Network
In January 2020, George Soros announced a $1 billion endowment donation at the World Economic Forum, establishing the Open Society University Network in partnership with Bard College and the Central European University.
July 2020: Soros donates $100 million to Bard College
In July 2020, George Soros donated $100 million to Bard College, to strengthen and expand Bard's Center for Civic Engagement initiatives, and its leadership role as a founding partner of the Open Society University Network.
July 2020: Soros Foundations announce grants for racial justice
In July 2020, George Soros's Foundations announced plans to give $220 million in grants for racial justice groups, criminal justice reform and civic engagement.
2020: Donation to Joe Biden's Presidential Campaign
During the second quarter of 2020, Soros donated at least $500,000 to Joe Biden, becoming one of the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee's largest donors.
2020: Launch of Democracy PAC
George Soros launched a new super PAC called Democracy PAC for the 2020 election cycle.
2020: Support for George Gascón and Kim Foxx
In 2020, Soros was the largest donor supporting George Gascón for Los Angeles County District Attorney, contributing $2.25 million, and gave $2 million to a PAC supporting Kim Foxx's campaign for Cook County State's Attorney.
April 2021: Soros pledges $500 million to Bard College
In April 2021, George Soros pledged $500 million to the endowment of Bard College, marking one of the largest donations ever made to higher education in the United States.
August 2021: $25 million donation to the Center for Curatorial Studies at Bard College
In August 2021, following the $500 million donation made in April, George Soros donated $25 million to the Center for Curatorial Studies at Bard College.
May 2022: Soros warns of potential third world war
In May 2022, George Soros stated that the Russian invasion of Ukraine may be the start of a third world war and that Putin must be defeated as soon as possible to allow humanity to focus on other issues.
2022: Largest Donor in the 2022 United States Elections
For the 2022 United States elections, Soros was the country's largest donor, donating $128.5 million to support the Democratic Party.
February 2023: Soros criticizes Narendra Modi for alleged Islamophobia
In February 2023, George Soros criticized Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi for alleged Islamophobia, cronyism, and authoritarianism, leading to accusations from Modi's party that Soros was trying to undermine Indian democracy.
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