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 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.

Sections (7)

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

March 1944: Nazi Germany Occupied Hungary

In March 1944, when George Soros was 13 years old, Nazi Germany occupied Hungary. Jewish children were barred from schools and had to report to the Judenrat.

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.

1981: Fund Value Decline

By 1981, George Soros's fund had grown to $400 million, but a 22% loss that year and investor redemptions reduced it to $200 million.

1989: COB Investigation of Soros's Société Générale Transaction

In 1989, the Commission des Opérations de Bourse (COB) initiated an investigation into whether Soros's transaction in Société Générale constituted insider trading. Despite initial findings of innocence, the case was later reopened, leading to a conviction in 2006.

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: Closure of Soros Foundation in Belarus

In 1997, Soros closed his foundation in Belarus after it was fined $3 million by the government for "tax and currency violations". Soros denounced the fines as an attempt to "destroy independent society".

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.

June 14, 2006: French Supreme Court Confirms Insider Trading Conviction

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

December 2006: Appeal to the European Court of Human Rights

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

2006: Criticism of Soros's Activities in Turkey

In 2006, Ercis Kurtulus, head of the Social Transparency Movement Association (TSHD) in Turkey, criticized Soros's activities in Ukraine and Georgia and suggested banning NGOs from taking money from foreigners.

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

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

2012: Hungarian Government Labels Soros as an Enemy of the State

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

2015: Accusations of Soros's Involvement in the European Migrant Crisis

In 2015, conspiracy theories emerged accusing George Soros of orchestrating the European migrant crisis by importing migrants to European countries. These theories, fueled by his Jewish identity, wealth, and philanthropy, linked him to antisemitism and Islamophobia.

2015: Disagreement over the European Migrant Crisis

The Hungarian government disagreed with Soros's involvement in the 2015 European migrant crisis.

January 2017: Launch of "Stop Operation Soros" initiative

In January 2017, the "Stop Operation Soros" (SOS) initiative was launched in Macedonia. SOS aims to present information about Soros's global operations and encourages citizen contributions to research, with the goal of "de-Soros-ization" of Macedonia.

March 2017: US Senators Request Investigation into Soros-Funded Groups

In March 2017, six US senators requested then Secretary of State Rex Tillerson to investigate grants given to groups funded by Soros. Judicial Watch also filed a lawsuit regarding USAID funds transferred to Soros's Open Society branch in Macedonia, alleging destabilization efforts.

July 2017: Hungarian Billboard Campaign Vilifying Soros

In July 2017, a Hungarian billboard campaign backed by Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, which was deemed anti-semitic by Jewish groups, portrayed George Soros as an enemy of the state with the slogan "Let's not allow Soros to have the last laugh". The campaign, costing approximately US$21 million, evoked memories of the Holocaust and prompted accusations of antisemitism.

2017: Beny Steinmetz's Lawsuit Against Soros

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 dismissed the suit as frivolous and a PR stunt.

May 16, 2018: Open Society Foundations Move Office

On May 16, 2018, Soros's Open Society Foundations announced their decision to relocate its office from Budapest to Berlin, citing an "increasingly repressive" environment in Hungary as the reason for the move.

October 2018: US Mail Bombing Attempts

In October 2018, 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 discovered in the mailbox at George Soros's residence in Katonah, New York. The bomb, found by a caretaker, was later photographed and detonated by the FBI as part of the October 2018 United States mail bombing attempts.

October 26, 2018: Cesar Sayoc Jr. Arrested

On October 26, 2018, Cesar Sayoc Jr. was apprehended in Aventura, Florida, on suspicion of mailing pipe bombs.

2018: Hungarian Government's Anti-Soros Campaign

As the 2018 election period began, the Hungarian government launched a public campaign against Soros, using posters with statements such as "Soros wants millions of migrants to live in Hungary" and preparing the "Stop Soros package" to hinder NGOs working on the refugee crisis.

August 2019: Sayoc Sentenced to Prison

In August 2019, Cesar Sayoc Jr. received a 20-year prison sentence for mailing 16 pipe bombs to 13 victims; none of the devices detonated.

December 2023: Soros was swatted

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

December 2023: Accusations of Supporting Anti-Israel 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". Soros' son, Alexander, dismissed these accusations as "distorted and dishonest right-wing attacks."