Challenges in the Life of George Soros in a Detailed Timeline

Life is full of challenges, and George Soros faced many. Discover key struggles and how they were overcome.

George Soros is a Hungarian-American investor and philanthropist with a net worth of $7.2 billion as of May 2025. He is known for his significant philanthropic contributions, having donated over $32 billion to the Open Society Foundations. Approximately $15 billion has already been distributed, representing 64% of his initial fortune. Forbes recognized him as the "most generous giver" in 2020 based on the percentage of his net worth donated.

Sections (7)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements Success & Recognition Challenges & Struggles Controversies & Scandals Legacy & Impact

March 1944: Nazi Occupation of Hungary

In March 1944, when George Soros was 13 years old, Nazi Germany occupied Hungary.

1981: Fund Loss and Redemptions

By 1981, the fund had grown to $400m, and then a 22% loss in that year and substantial redemptions by some of the investors reduced it to $200m.

1989: Investigation of Soros's transaction in Société Générale

In 1989, the Commission des Opérations de Bourse (COB) investigated Soros's transaction in Société Générale for insider trading. Initial investigations found him innocent, but the case was reopened later.

1997: Accusations during Asian Financial Crisis

During the 1997 Asian financial crisis, Soros was accused by the prime minister of Malaysia, Mahathir Mohamad, of manipulating currency values.

1997: Soros Closes Foundation in Belarus

In 1997, George Soros closed his foundation in Belarus after it was fined $3 million by the government for "tax and currency violations". Soros called the fines part of a campaign to "destroy independent society".

1997: Soros Fund Management Shorting Currencies and Malaysian accusations

In 1997, Soros Fund Management, noticing the discrepancy between trade and capital accounts, decided to sell short the Thai baht and the Malaysian ringgit. Later in 1997, Prime Minister Mahathir of Malaysia accused Soros of causing the financial crisis, which Soros denied, stating that they were buyers of the currency when it began to decline.

June 14, 2006: French Supreme Court Confirms Conviction

On June 14, 2006, the French Supreme Court upheld a conviction against George Soros for insider trading related to his 1988 transaction in Société Générale, but reduced the penalty to €940,000.

December 2006: Soros Appeals to European Court of Human Rights

In December 2006, George Soros appealed to the European Court of Human Rights, arguing that the 14-year delay in bringing the case to trial precluded a fair hearing regarding his conviction of insider trading.

October 2011: European Court of Human Rights Rejects Soros's Appeal

In October 2011, the European Court of Human Rights rejected George Soros's appeal regarding his insider trading conviction, stating he was aware of the risk of breaking insider trading laws.

2012: Hungarian Government Labels Soros as Enemy of the State

Since 2012, the Hungarian Fidesz government has labeled George Soros as an enemy of the state.

2015: Hungarian Government Disagrees with Soros's Involvement in Migrant Crisis

In 2015, the Hungarian government disagreed with George Soros's involvement in the 2015 European migrant crisis.

January 2017: Launch of "Stop Operation Soros" Initiative in Macedonia

In January 2017, the "Stop Operation Soros" (SOS) initiative was launched in Macedonia, aiming to present "questions and answers about the way Soros operates worldwide" and contribute to the "de-Soros-ization" of Macedonia.

March 2017: US Senators Request Investigation of Grants to Soros-Funded Groups

In March 2017, six US senators sent a letter to Secretary of State Rex Tillerson requesting an investigation into grants given by the State Department and USAID to groups funded by George Soros, while Judicial Watch filed a lawsuit regarding $5 million transferred to Soros's Open Society branch in Macedonia.

July 2017: Hungarian billboard campaign vilifying Soros

In July 2017, a Hungarian billboard campaign backed by Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, which was considered anti-semitic, vilified George Soros as an enemy of the state with the slogan "Let's not allow Soros to have the last laugh." The campaign was estimated to have cost $21 million.

2017: $10-million lawsuit filed by Beny Steinmetz

In 2017, Israeli businessman Beny Steinmetz filed a $10-million lawsuit against George Soros, alleging that Soros influenced the government of Guinea to freeze Steinmetz's company BSG Resources out of iron ore mining contracts due to animus toward Israel. Soros called the suit "frivolous and entirely false".

May 16, 2018: Open Society Foundations Announces Move from Budapest to Berlin

On May 16, 2018, George Soros's Open Society Foundations announced they would move its office from Budapest to Berlin, citing an "increasingly repressive" environment in Hungary.

October 2018: United States mail bombing attempts

In October 2018, in addition to the pipe bomb sent to George Soros's home on October 22, similar bombs were mailed to Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama, and other Democrats and liberals.

October 22, 2018: Pipe bomb found at Soros's home

On October 22, 2018, a pipe bomb was placed in the mailbox at George Soros's home in Katonah, New York, as part of the October 2018 United States mail bombing attempts. The package was discovered by a caretaker, who removed it and notified authorities. It was photographed and exploded by the FBI, which launched an investigation.

October 26, 2018: Arrest of Cesar Sayoc Jr.

On October 26, 2018, Cesar Sayoc Jr. was arrested in Aventura, Florida, on suspicion of mailing the bombs, including the one sent to George Soros' house.

2018: Hungarian Government Introduces Anti-Soros Posters and "Stop Soros package"

As the 2018 election period started, the Hungarian government introduced public posters with a photo of George Soros to create hostility towards him, and prepared the "Stop Soros package" of laws against NGOs working with refugees.

2018: Conspiracy Theories Go Mainstream

In 2018, The New York Times reported that "conspiracy theories about him have gone mainstream, to nearly every corner of the Republican Party".

August 2019: Sentencing of Cesar Sayoc Jr.

In August 2019, Cesar Sayoc was sentenced to 20 years in prison for mailing 16 pipe bombs to 13 victims, including George Soros. None of the devices exploded.

December 2023: Swatting Incident

In December 2023, George Soros was swatted during a period of similar harassment targeting American political figures.

December 2023: Accusation of supporting pro-Palestinian organizations

In December 2023, Israel's ambassador to the United Nations, Gilad Erdan, accused George Soros of supporting pro-Palestinian organizations "that seek the destruction of the State of Israel as a Jewish state".