Childhood and Education Journey of George Soros in Timeline

How education and upbringing influenced the life of George Soros. A timeline of key moments.

George Soros is a highly successful American investor and philanthropist with a net worth of $6.7 billion as of October 2023. He is renowned for his significant philanthropic contributions, having 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.

Sections (7)

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

August 12, 1930: George Soros Born

On August 12, 1930, George Soros, originally named György Schwartz, was born in Budapest, Hungary.

August 1930: György Schwartz Born in Budapest

In August 1930, György Schwartz, who later became George Soros, was born in Budapest, Kingdom of Hungary, to a non-observant Jewish family.

January 3, 1934: Annaliese Witschak's birth

On January 3, 1934, Annaliese Witschak, later George Soros's first wife, was born. She was an ethnic German immigrant who had been orphaned during the war.

1936: Family Name Changed to Soros

In 1936, the Schwartz family changed their name to Soros for protective camouflage in increasingly antisemitic Hungary.

March 1944: Nazi Germany Occupied Hungary

In March 1944, when George Soros was 13 years old, Nazi Germany occupied Hungary, resulting in Jewish children being barred from attending school.

1944: Soros Posed as a Christian Godson

In 1944, George Soros posed as the Christian godson of an official to survive the war, while his father saved many other Hungarian Jews.

1945: Soros Survived the Siege of Budapest

In 1945, George Soros survived the Siege of Budapest, where Soviet and German forces engaged in house-to-house fighting.

1951: Soros Obtained Bachelor of Science in Philosophy

In 1951, George Soros obtained his Bachelor of Science degree in philosophy from the London School of Economics.

1954: Soros Earned Master of Science Degree

In 1954, George Soros earned a Master of Science degree in philosophy from the London School of Economics.

1960: Marriage to Annaliese Witschak

In 1960, George Soros married Annaliese Witschak, a German immigrant who had been orphaned during World War II.

1980: Honorary Degree from University of Oxford

In 1980, George Soros received an honorary doctoral degree from the University of Oxford.

1983: Divorce from Annaliese Witschak

In 1983, George Soros and Annaliese Witschak divorced. They had three children together.

1983: Marriage to Susan Weber

In 1983, George Soros married Susan Weber. They later had two children together.

1991: Honorary Degree from Yale University

In 1991, George Soros received a Doctor of Humane Letters, an honorary degree, from Yale University.

1994: Speech on assisted suicide and endorsement of Oregon Death with Dignity Act

In 1994, George Soros delivered a speech where he mentioned offering to help his mother commit suicide, as she was a member of the Hemlock Society. In the same speech, he also endorsed the Oregon Death with Dignity Act and contributed to its advertising campaign.

1995: Honorary Degree from the University of Bologna

In 1995, George Soros received an honorary laurea degree in economics from the University of Bologna.

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.

1998: Soros encourages his son to consider immigrating to Israel

In 1998, after his son's bar mitzvah, George Soros suggested to his son Alexander that he might want to consider immigrating to Israel if he was serious about being Jewish.

1998: Statement on religious beliefs

In 1998, during an interview with CBS News, George Soros stated that he was not religious and does not believe in God.

2000: Loss of operating rights to D.C. United

In 2000, Washington Soccer L.P., the group financially backed by George Soros that owned the operating rights to Major League Soccer club D.C. United, lost these rights.

2003: Soros Donated to 527 Groups

During the 2003-2004 election cycle, Soros donated $23,581,000 to various 527 Groups, which are tax-exempt groups under the United States tax code.

2004: Soros Becomes a Major Donor to U.S. Political Campaigns

Until the 2004 presidential election, Soros had not been a large donor to U.S. political campaigns. Following George W. Bush's reelection in 2004, Soros and other donors backed Democracy Alliance, a political fundraising group supporting progressive causes.

2005: Divorce from Susan Weber

In 2005, George Soros and Susan Weber divorced. They had two children together.

2005: Attempted Purchase of Washington Nationals

In 2005, George Soros was a minority partner in a group that attempted to buy the Washington Nationals, a Major League Baseball team.

2008: Meeting Tamiko Bolton

In 2008, George Soros met Tamiko Bolton, who he would later marry.

2008: Associated 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.

August 21, 2012: Stake in Manchester United

On August 21, 2012, it was reported that George Soros acquired roughly a 2% stake in English football club Manchester United through the purchase of 3 million of the club's Class-A shares.

June 15, 2013: Death of Paul Soros

On June 15, 2013, George Soros's older brother, Paul Soros, a private investor and philanthropist, passed away.

September 21, 2013: Marriage to Tamiko Bolton

On September 21, 2013, George Soros married Tamiko Bolton.

2022: Property Ownership in 2022

As of 2022, George Soros owned homes on Fifth Avenue in Manhattan, in The Hamptons on Long Island, and in Katonah, New York, within Westchester County.