Major Controversies Surrounding George Soros: A Detailed Timeline

Controversies are a part of history. Explore the biggest scandals linked to George Soros.

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

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.

1998: Explanation of Role in Asian Financial Crisis

In 1998, in his book The Crisis of Global Capitalism: Open Society Endangered, Soros explained his role in the Asian financial crisis.

The Crisis Of Global Capitalism: Open Society Endangered

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1999: Paul Krugman critical of Soros's effect on financial markets

In 1999, economist Paul Krugman criticized Soros's influence on financial markets.

November 11, 2003: Commitment to removing President George W. Bush from office

On November 11, 2003, in an interview with The Washington Post, George Soros said that removing President George W. Bush from office was the "central focus of my life". He would sacrifice his entire fortune to defeat Bush "if someone guaranteed it".

2003: Publication of The Bubble of American Supremacy

In 2003, George Soros's book, "The Bubble of American Supremacy", critiqued the Bush administration's "War on Terror" and was a polemic against the re-election of Bush.

2003: Remarks on antisemitism at Jewish Funders Network conference

In 2003, speaking before a conference of the Jewish Funders Network, George Soros suggested that the policies of George W. Bush and Ariel Sharon, along with unintended consequences of his actions, were partially contributing to a new European antisemitism. He also said that Jews can overcome antisemitism by giving up on the tribalness.

September 28, 2004: Multistate tour and speech against re-electing President Bush

On September 28, 2004, George Soros dedicated more money to the campaign against George W. Bush and kicked off his own multistate tour with a speech, "Why We Must Not Re-elect President Bush", delivered at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C.

2005: Attempt to Buy Washington Nationals

In 2005, George Soros was a minority partner in a group that attempted to purchase the Washington Nationals, a Major League baseball team. This sparked potential political backlash.

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.

2006: Interview with Ercis Kurtulus

In a 2006 interview, Ercis Kurtulus, head of the Social Transparency Movement Association (TSHD) in Turkey, said that "Soros carried out his will in Ukraine and Georgia by using these NGOs".

2010: Reuters Issues Correction on Soros's Involvement with Wall Street Protests

In 2010, Reuters published a story clarifying that Soros was not a funder of Wall Street protests, following earlier reports of indirect financial links between Soros and Adbusters, the group that catalyzed the Occupy Wall Street protests. Both a Soros spokesman and Adbusters denied any contributions from Soros.

October 2011: Reuters Issues Correction on Soros's Involvement with Wall Street Protests

In October 2011, Reuters published a story clarifying that Soros was not a funder of Wall Street protests, following earlier reports of indirect financial links between Soros and Adbusters, the group that catalyzed the Occupy Wall Street protests. Both a Soros spokesman and Adbusters denied any contributions from Soros.

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: Conspiracy theories regarding the European migrant crisis

In 2015, George Soros was the target of conspiracy theories that blamed him for being behind the European migrant crisis or importing migrants to European countries. The Hungarian government spent millions of dollars on a poster campaign demonizing Soros.

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.

2016: Views on Israel and funding of critical NGOs

In 2016, George Soros stated that he doesn't deny Jews the right to a national existence but doesn't want to be a part of it. Hacked emails released in 2016 revealed that his Open Society Foundation aims to challenge Israel's policies and he has funded NGOs critical of Israeli policies, including those campaigning for the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement against Israel.

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".

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".

April 2019: Awarded 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, an online English-language publication.

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".