History of George Soros in Timeline
George Soros is a prominent American investor and philanthropist known for his significant contributions to the Open Society Foundations. With a net worth of $6.7 billion as of October 2023, he has donated over $32 billion to the Foundations, with $15 billion already distributed. This represents a substantial portion 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. He resides in New York.
August 12, 1930: George Soros Born
On August 12, 1930, George Soros, originally named György Schwartz, was born.
August 1930: György Schwartz Born
In August 1930, György Schwartz (later George Soros) was born in Budapest.
January 3, 1934: Birth of Annaliese Witschak
On January 3, 1934, Annaliese Witschak, George Soros's first wife, was born. She was an ethnic German immigrant who had been orphaned during the war.
1936: Family Changed Name
In 1936, George Soros's family changed their name from Schwartz to Soros.
March 1944: Nazi Germany Occupied Hungary
In March 1944, when George Soros was 13 years old, Nazi Germany occupied Hungary.
1944: Survived the War
In 1944, George Soros's family survived the war by purchasing documents to say that they were Christians, and George posed as a Christian godson.
1945: Survived the Siege of Budapest
In 1945, George Soros survived the Siege of Budapest.
1947: Moved to the United Kingdom
In 1947, George Soros moved to the United Kingdom after surviving the Nazi occupation of Hungary.
1951: Obtained Bachelor of Science in philosophy
In 1951, George Soros obtained his Bachelor of Science in philosophy from the London School of Economics.
1951: Awarded BSc in philosophy
In 1951, George Soros was awarded a Bachelor of Science degree in philosophy from the London School of Economics.
1954: Began Financial Career
In 1954, George Soros began his financial career at the merchant bank Singer & Friedlander of London.
1954: Obtained Master of Science in philosophy
In 1954, George Soros obtained a Master of Science in philosophy from the London School of Economics.
1954: Awarded Master of Science degree
In 1954, George Soros was awarded a Master of Science degree, also in philosophy, from the London School of Economics.
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.
1959: Moved to Wertheim & Co
In 1959, George Soros moved to Wertheim & Co.
1960: Marriage to Annaliese Witschak
In 1960, George Soros married Annaliese Witschak. She was well-liked by Soros's parents as she had also experienced the privation and displacement brought about by World War II.
1963: Vice President at Arnhold and S. Bleichroeder
From 1963 to 1973, George Soros worked as a vice president at Arnhold and S. Bleichroeder.
1963: Worked as an Analyst
Until 1963, George Soros worked as an analyst of European securities.
1966: Started a Fund
In 1966, George Soros started a fund to experiment with his trading strategies.
1967: Established First Eagle fund
In 1967, Soros and Henry H. Arnhold established Arnhold and S. Bleichroeder's First Eagle fund.
1969: Set Up First Hedge Fund
In 1969, George Soros set up his first hedge fund, Double Eagle.
1970: Founded Soros Fund Management
In 1970, George Soros founded Soros Fund Management and became its chairman.
1973: Vice President at Arnhold and S. Bleichroeder
From 1963 to 1973, George Soros worked as a vice president at Arnhold and S. Bleichroeder.
1973: Resigned from Double Eagle Fund
In 1973, George Soros resigned from the management of the Double Eagle Fund and established the Soros Fund.
1973: Launch of Quantum Endowment Fund
In 1973, Soros launched his Quantum Endowment Fund, which by January 2014, had posted gains of almost $42 billion.
1973: Double Eagle Fund had $12 million
In 1973, the Double Eagle Fund had $12 million and formed the basis of the Soros Fund.
1973: Quantum Fund Inception
Since its inception in 1973, the Quantum Fund has generated $40 billion.
1979: Donations to Philanthropic Causes
Between 1979 and 2011, George Soros donated more than $11 billion to various philanthropic causes.
1979: Support for Dissidents in Eastern Europe
From 1979, Soros financially supported dissidents in Eastern Europe, including Poland's Solidarity movement, Charter 77 in Czechoslovakia, and Andrei Sakharov in the Soviet Union.
1980: Honorary Doctorate from University of Oxford
In 1980, George Soros received an honorary doctoral degree from the University of Oxford.
1981: Fund Reduced to $200m
By 1981, a 22% loss and substantial redemptions reduced the fund to $200m.
1983: Divorce from Annaliese Witschak
In 1983, George Soros divorced Annaliese Witschak. They had three children.
1983: Marriage to Susan Weber
In 1983, George Soros married Susan Weber. They have two children.
1984: Founding of the First Open Society Institute in Hungary
In 1984, George Soros founded his first Open Society Institute in Hungary with a budget of $3 million.
1984: Role in Transition from Communism in Hungary
In 1984, George Soros played a role in the peaceful transition from communism to democracy in Hungary (1984–89) and provided a substantial endowment to Central European University in Budapest.
1987: Prediction of Disaster in 'The Alchemy of Finance'
In 1987, George Soros predicted disaster in his book 'The Alchemy of Finance'.
1988: Advice to "No" Campaign in Chile
In 1988, George Soros provided advice to the "No" campaign in the Chilean plebiscite, which helped to create the famous television program of the 'No' campaign and contributed to the victory in the plebiscite.
1988: Consideration of Société Générale Investment
In 1988, Soros was asked to join an investment group to purchase shares in Société Générale but decided to pursue his own strategy of acquiring shares in multiple French companies.
1989: Insider Trading Investigation
In 1989, the Commission des Opérations de Bourse (COB) investigated Soros's transaction in Société Générale for insider trading.
1991: Doctor of Humane Letters from Yale University
In 1991, George Soros received a Doctor of Humane Letters from Yale University.
September 1992: Black Wednesday
In September 1992, George Soros had been building a huge short position in pounds sterling for months leading up to Black Wednesday.
September 16, 1992: Sold Short More Than $10 Billion in Pounds
On September 16, 1992, the day of Black Wednesday, George Soros's fund had sold short more than $10 billion in pounds.
October 26, 1992: Soros Quoted in The New York Times
On October 26, 1992, The New York Times quoted George Soros as discussing his position on Black Wednesday.
1994: Speech on Assisted Suicide
In 1994, George Soros gave a speech in which he mentioned offering to help his mother, a member of the Hemlock Society, commit suicide. He also endorsed the Oregon Death with Dignity Act and helped fund its advertising campaign.
1995: Honorary Laurea Degree in Economics from University of Bologna
In 1995, George Soros received an honorary laurea degree in economics from the University of Bologna.
1995: Financial Backer of D.C. United
In 1995, Soros financially backed Washington Soccer L.P., the group holding 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: Accused of Causing Asian Financial Crisis
During the 1997 Asian financial crisis, the prime minister of Malaysia, Mahathir Mohamad, accused George Soros of using his wealth to punish ASEAN.
1997: Shorting of Thai Baht and Malaysian Ringgit
In 1997, Soros Fund Management sold short the Thai baht and the Malaysian ringgit due to discrepancies between trade and capital accounts.
1997: Closure of Soros Foundation in Belarus
In 1997, Soros closed his foundation in Belarus after it was fined by the government for "tax and currency violations".
1997: Accusation by Prime Minister of Malaysia
In 1997, the Prime Minister of Malaysia accused Soros of causing the financial crisis, which Soros denied, stating they were buyers of the currency during the crisis.
1998: Advice to Son on Jewish Identity
After his son's bar mitzvah in 1998, George Soros told him that if he was serious about being Jewish, he might want to consider immigrating to Israel.
1998: Published Book
In 1998, George Soros explained his role in the crisis in "The Crisis of Global Capitalism: Open Society Endangered".
1998: Prediction of Disaster in 'The Crisis of Global Capitalism'
In 1998, George Soros predicted disaster in his book 'The Crisis of Global Capitalism'.
1998: Statement on Religious Beliefs
In a 1998 interview with CBS News, George Soros said he was not religious and does not believe in God.
1999: Criticism from Paul Krugman
In 1999, economist Paul Krugman criticized Soros's effect on financial markets.
2000: Improving Ricardo Lagos' Image
In 2000, George Soros worked to improve the image of Ricardo Lagos, who was a presidential candidate at the time, among business circles.
2000: Loss of Operating Rights to D.C. United
In 2000, Washington Soccer L.P., the group financially backed by Soros, lost its operating rights to Major League Soccer club D.C. United.
September 2002: Open Society Institute Gave $20,000 to Lynne Stewart's Defense Committee
In September 2002, the Open Society Institute gave $20,000 to the Defense Committee of Lynne Stewart. Stewart was the lawyer who defended controversial, poor, and often unpopular defendants in court and was sentenced to 2 1/3 years in prison for "providing material support for a terrorist conspiracy" via a press conference for a client.
November 11, 2003: Statement on Removing President Bush
On November 11, 2003, George Soros stated that removing President George W. Bush from office was the "central focus of my life" and a matter of life and death. He offered to sacrifice his fortune to defeat Bush.
2003: Increased political donations
During the 2003-2004 election cycle, Soros donated over $23 million to various groups.
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.
2003: Remarks on Antisemitism and Israeli Policies
In 2003, George Soros stated that the policies of the Bush and Sharon administrations were contributing to European antisemitism. His comments were criticized by Abraham Foxman as simplistic and victim-blaming.
2003: Foreword by Paul Volcker in 'The Alchemy of Finance'
In 2003, former Federal Reserve chairman Paul Volcker wrote in the foreword of George Soros's book 'The Alchemy of Finance'.
2003: Philanthropic Efforts in Post-Communist States
In 2003, it was reported that George Soros's philanthropic funding includes efforts to promote non-violent democratization in the post-communist states. These efforts, mostly in Central and Eastern Europe, occur primarily through the Open Society Foundations and national Soros Foundations. As of 2003, PBS estimated that he had given away a total of $4 billion.
2003: Project on Death Concludes
In 2003, the Project on Death in America, an Open Society Institute project active since 1994 that aimed to change the culture and experience of dying and bereavement, concluded.
September 28, 2004: Speech Against President Bush's Re-election
On September 28, 2004, George Soros kicked off a multistate tour with a speech titled "Why We Must Not Re-elect President Bush" at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C.
2004: Political Donations to Defeat George W. Bush
In 2004, Soros donated significantly to 527 Groups aimed at defeating President George W. Bush.
November 2005: Kosovo Independence Statement
In November 2005, George Soros stated his opinion that there was no alternative but to grant Kosovo independence.
2005: Divorce from Susan Weber
In 2005, George Soros divorced Susan Weber.
2005: Attempt to Buy Washington Nationals
In 2005, Soros was a minority partner in a group that attempted to purchase the Washington Nationals, a Major League baseball team. However, this endeavor faced potential challenges from Republican lawmakers who suggested revoking Major League Baseball's antitrust exemption if Soros acquired the team.
June 14, 2006: French Supreme Court Conviction
On June 14, 2006, the French Supreme Court confirmed Soros's conviction for insider trading related to a 1988 transaction, reducing the penalty.
September 2006: Pledging $50 Million to the Millennium Promise
In September 2006, George Soros pledged $50 million to the Millennium Promise to provide educational, agricultural, and medical aid to help villages in Africa enduring poverty.
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.
2006: Discussion at Los Angeles World Affairs Council
In 2006, George Soros discussed his transition from immigrant to financier at the Los Angeles World Affairs Council.
2006: Statement on U.S. Role in the World
In 2006, George Soros stated that the United States setting the agenda for the world and declaring a 'war on terror' after September 11 set the wrong agenda.
2006: Met with Mahathir Mohamad
In 2006, Mahathir Mohamad met with George Soros and afterward stated that he accepted that Soros had not been responsible for the crisis.
2006: Statement by Ercis Kurtulus on Soros's Activities
In a 2006 interview, Ercis Kurtulus claimed that Soros used NGOs to carry out his will in Ukraine and Georgia.
2007: Time Magazine Cites Soros's Philanthropic Projects
In 2007, Time magazine cited two specific projects, a $100 million contribution toward Internet infrastructure for regional Russian universities, and $50 million for the Millennium Promise, noting that George Soros had given $742 million to projects in the U.S., and given away a total of more than $7 billion.
2007: Reference to 2007-2008 Financial Crisis
In January 2016, George Soros mentioned the 2007-2008 financial crisis while predicting another financial crisis at an economic forum in Sri Lanka.
May 2008: Publication of 'The New Paradigm for Financial Markets'
In May 2008, George Soros published his book 'The New Paradigm for Financial Markets,' which described a "superbubble" that had developed over the previous 25 years and was on the verge of collapsing.
2008: Reflexivity in Housing Markets
Around 2008, an example of reflexivity in financial markets could be seen in debt and equity of housing markets, where increased lending led to higher house prices and further lending, creating a self-reinforcing cycle.
2008: Funding Drug Policy Reform
In 2008, George Soros donated $400,000 to support the Massachusetts Sensible Marijuana Policy Initiative, which decriminalized possession of small amounts of marijuana in the state. Soros has funded similar measures in other states and donated $1.4 million to support California's Proposition 5.
2008: Meeting Tamiko Bolton
In 2008, George Soros met Tamiko Bolton, who he later married.
2008: Induction into Hedge Fund Manager Hall of Fame
In 2008, Soros was inducted into Institutional Investors Alpha's Hedge Fund Manager Hall of Fame, alongside figures like Alfred Jones and Bruce Kovner.
2008: Association with AS Roma
In 2008, Soros's name was linked to AS Roma, an Italian association football team. However, the club was not ultimately sold.
2008: Increased Attention to Reflexivity Theories
In 2008, following the financial crash, George Soros's theories on reflexivity, previously dismissed by economists, gained more attention, including being featured in an issue of the Journal of Economic Methodology.
2008: Reference to 2007-2008 Financial Crisis
In January 2016, George Soros mentioned the 2007-2008 financial crisis while predicting another financial crisis at an economic forum in Sri Lanka.
February 2009: Statement on Disintegrated Financial System
In February 2009, George Soros stated that the world financial system had effectively disintegrated and was on life support with no near-term resolution in sight.
June 2009: Donation to Central and Eastern Europe
In June 2009, Soros donated $100 million to Central and Eastern Europe to counter the impact of the Great Recession.
August 2009: Donation to New York State for Underprivileged Children
In August 2009, Soros donated $35 million to New York State, earmarked for underprivileged children.
October 2009: Founding of the Institute for New Economic Thinking
In October 2009, George Soros founded the Institute for New Economic Thinking to explore new approaches to the international economic and financial system after the Great Recession.
October 2009: Views on Marijuana Use
In October 2009, George Soros stated in an interview that he believes marijuana is less addictive but not appropriate for children. He also mentioned that he hasn't used it in years. Soros has been a major financial backer of the Drug Policy Alliance.
2009: Awarded Bernardo O'Higgins Order of Merit
In 2009, Michelle Bachelet awarded George Soros the Bernardo O'Higgins Order of Merit, in gratitude for his commitment to democracy and open societies.
October 2010: Donation to California's Proposition 19
In October 2010, George Soros donated $1 million to support California's Proposition 19.
2010: Expressing concern about the growth of Chinese power
In 2010, George Soros expressed concern about the growth of Chinese economic and political power, urging China to accept responsibility for world order and the interests of other people. He also commented on the superior functioning of the Chinese government compared to the United States.
2010: Reported indirect financial links with Adbusters
In 2010, Reuters initially reported "indirect financial links" between Soros and Adbusters, the catalyst for Occupy Wall Street, but later retracted this claim.
May 2011: Donation 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' money and instead invested funds from his family fortune.
October 2011: Urging Eurozone Leaders to Unite
In October 2011, George Soros drafted an open letter urging Eurozone leaders to unite and warning against nationalistic solutions to the Great Recession. The letter called for stronger economic governance in Europe using federal means.
October 2011: Reuters Story on Wall Street Protests
In October 2011, a Reuters story clarified that Soros was not a funder of the Wall Street Protests.
October 2011: European Court Rejection of Appeal
In October 2011, the European Court of Human Rights rejected Soros's appeal regarding his insider trading conviction.
2011: Quantum Fund AUM
As of 2011, Quantum Fund had $25 billion in assets under management.
2011: Donations to Philanthropic Causes
Between 1979 and 2011, George Soros donated more than $11 billion to various philanthropic causes.
August 21, 2012: Acquisition of Manchester United Stake
On August 21, 2012, 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, as reported by the BBC based on SEC filings.
September 27, 2012: Donation to Priorities USA Action
On September 27, 2012, Soros donated $1 million to the super PAC Priorities USA Action, supporting Barack Obama's reelection.
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.
June 15, 2013: Death of Paul Soros
On June 15, 2013, George Soros's older brother, Paul Soros, a private investor and philanthropist, died.
September 21, 2013: Marriage to Tamiko Bolton
On September 21, 2013, George Soros married Tamiko Bolton.
October 2013: Donation to Ready for Hillary
In October 2013, Soros donated $25,000 to Ready for Hillary and became a co-chairman of the super PAC's national finance committee.
2013: Quantum Fund Made $5.5 Billion
In 2013, the Quantum Fund made $5.5 billion, making it again the most successful hedge fund in history.
January 2014: Ranked Number 1 by LCH Investments
In January 2014, 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: Calling for EU Bailout of Ukraine
In January 2015, George Soros called on the European Union to provide $50 billion in bailout money to Ukraine.
June 2015: Donation to Priorities USA Action for Hillary Clinton
In June 2015, Soros donated $1 million to the Super PAC Priorities USA Action, supporting Hillary Clinton in the 2016 presidential race.
July 2015: Stating Putin's Annexation of Crimea as a Challenge to the World Order
In July 2015, George Soros stated that Putin's annexation of Crimea was a challenge to the "prevailing world order", specifically the European Union. He also hypothesized Putin's strategy to destabilize Ukraine.
July 2015: Advocating for a 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: Criticism of Viktor Orbán's Handling of Migrant Crisis
In October 2015, George Soros criticized Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán's handling of the 2015 European migrant crisis, contrasting their approaches to border protection and refugee welfare.
November 2015: Russia Banning Soros's Open Society Foundations
In November 2015, Russia banned the Open Society Foundations (OSF) and the Open Society Institute (OSI), pro-democracy charities founded by George Soros, stating they posed a "threat to the foundations of the constitutional system of the Russian Federation and the security of the state".
December 2015: Additional donation to Super PAC
In December 2015, Soros donated $6 million to Priorities USA Action.
December 2015: Russian Intergovernmental Letter Regarding Soros's 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: Conspiracy Theories Emerge
In 2015, George Soros became the target of conspiracy theories, particularly related to the European migrant crisis, fueled by his Jewish identity, wealth, and philanthropy. The Hungarian government launched a poster campaign demonizing him.
2015: Disagreement Over European Migrant Crisis
In 2015, the Hungarian government disagreed with Soros's involvement in the European migrant crisis.
2015: Injected $300 Million
In 2015, the fund announced that it would inject $300 million to help finance the expansion of Fen Hotels.
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 the Vorkuta Mining and Economic College in the Komi Republic, with 427 additional books seized for shredding.
January 2016: Prediction of Another Financial Crisis
In January 2016, at an economic forum in Sri Lanka, George Soros predicted a financial crisis similar to the 2007-2008 crisis, based on the global currency, stock, and commodity markets, and the declining Chinese yuan.
August 2016: Further Donation to Priorities USA Action
In August 2016, Soros donated $2.5 million to Priorities USA Action.
2016: Statements on Israel and Funding of 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 revealed the Open Society Foundation's objective to challenge Israel's policies and fund NGOs critical of Israel.
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.
January 2017: Launch of "Stop Operation Soros" Initiative
In January 2017, the "Stop Operation Soros" (SOS) initiative was launched in Macedonia to present "questions and answers about the way Soros operates worldwide".
March 2017: Senators' Letter to Rex Tillerson
In March 2017, six US senators sent a letter to Rex Tillerson asking him to look into grants given to groups funded by Soros.
July 2017: Elected Honorary Fellow of the British Academy
In July 2017, Soros was elected an Honorary Fellow of the British Academy (HonFBA), the United Kingdom's national academy for the humanities and social sciences.
July 2017: Anti-Semitic Billboard Campaign in Hungary
In July 2017, a Hungarian billboard campaign backed by Prime Minister Viktor Orbán vilified George Soros as an enemy of the state. The campaign, considered anti-semitic, used the slogan "Let's not allow Soros to have the last laugh."
October 17, 2017: Transfer of $18 Billion to the Open Society Foundations
On October 17, 2017, it was announced that George Soros had transferred $18 billion to the Open Society Foundations.
2017: Study on Soros's Impact on Science in Former Soviet Republics
A 2017 study found that Soros's grant program significantly boosted scientific publications and encouraged scientists to remain in the science sector in former Soviet republics.
2017: Total Donations
By 2017, George Soros's donations totaled $12 billion.
2017: Description of Donald Trump as a 'Con Man'
In 2017, George Soros described Donald Trump as a con man and predicted his failure due to self-contradictory ideas, also anticipating a trade war and poor performance in financial markets.
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 out of mining contracts due to animus toward Israel. Soros dismissed the suit as frivolous.
2017: Funding of Larry Krasner's Campaign
In 2017, Soros helped Larry Krasner get elected as the District Attorney of Philadelphia with a $1.5 million ad campaign.
May 16, 2018: Open Society Foundations Move Office from Budapest to Berlin
On May 16, 2018, Soros's Open Society Foundations announced they would move its office from Budapest to Berlin due to an "increasingly repressive" environment in Hungary.
October 2018: Donation to the Wikimedia Foundation
In October 2018, George Soros donated $2 million to the Wikimedia Foundation via the Wikimedia Endowment program.
October 2018: Mail Bombing Attempts
In October 2018, George Soros was targeted in the October 2018 United States mail bombing attempts, when a pipe bomb was mailed to his home.
October 22, 2018: Pipe Bomb Incident
On October 22, 2018, a pipe bomb was discovered in the mailbox at George Soros's home in Katonah, New York, as part of a series of mail bombing attempts targeting prominent Democrats and liberals. The FBI investigated the incident.
October 26, 2018: Arrest in Mail Bombing Case
On October 26, 2018, Cesar Sayoc Jr. was arrested in Florida as a suspect in the mail bombing attempts, including the one targeting George Soros.
2018: Government Posters and "Stop Soros Package"
As the 2018 election period started, the Hungarian government introduced public posters with a photo of Soros to create hostility towards him, and prepared a "Stop Soros package" of laws.
2018: Highlighting Challenges Faced by Europe
In 2018, George Soros highlighted that Europe faces major challenges related to immigration, austerity, and nations leaving the EU. He stated that Europe is facing an existential crisis due to the rise of populism, the refugee crisis, and a growing rift between Europe and the United States.
2018: Financial Times Person of the Year
In 2018, Soros was named the Financial Times Person of the Year, recognized as a "standard bearer for liberal democracy" amidst rising populism.
2018: Conspiracy Theories
In 2018, The New York Times reported that "conspiracy theories about him have gone mainstream, to nearly every corner of the Republican Party".
2018: Son's Explanation of Philanthropy
In a 2018 interview with The New York Times, Alex Soros, George Soros's son, explained that his father fights for an open society because a Jew can only feel safe in a non-Jewish state when other minorities are protected.
January 2019: Labeling Xi Jinping as the 'Most Dangerous Opponent of Open Societies'
In January 2019, George Soros, during his annual speech at the World Economic Forum in Davos, labeled Xi Jinping as the "most dangerous opponent of open societies" and criticized China's Social Credit System. He also urged the United States to prevent Huawei and ZTE from dominating the 5G telecommunications market.
April 2019: Awarded the Ridenhour Prize for Courage
In April 2019, Soros was awarded the Ridenhour Prize for Courage. In his acceptance address, he discussed the Hungarian government's portrayal of him and donated the prize money to the Hungarian Spectrum.
July 2019: Democracy PAC Donation
By July 2019, Soros had donated $5.1 million to his new super PAC called Democracy PAC for the 2020 election cycle.
August 2019: Sayoc Sentenced for Mail Bombings
In August 2019, Cesar Sayoc Jr. was sentenced to 20 years in prison for mailing 16 pipe bombs to 13 victims, including George Soros, in October 2018. None of the devices exploded.
January 2020: Announcing $1 Billion Endowment 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 a global network of educational institutions in partnership with Bard College and the Central European University.
March 2020: Listed as the 162nd Richest Person in the World
As of March 2020, Forbes magazine listed George Soros as the 162nd richest person in the world, with a net worth of $8.3 billion. He has also donated 64% of his original fortune, of which more than $15 billion has been distibuted through his Open Society Foundations. Forbes has called him the most generous giver.
July 2020: Donation 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: Announcing $220 Million in 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: Forbes Called Soros "Most Generous Giver"
In 2020, Forbes called George Soros the "most generous giver" in terms of percentage of net worth.
2020: Support for George Gascón and Kim Foxx
In 2020, Soros was the largest donor for George Gascón's campaign for Los Angeles County District Attorney and donated to Kim Foxx's campaign for Cook County State's Attorney.
2020: Donation to Joe Biden
In the second quarter of 2020, Soros donated at least $500,000 to Joe Biden's presidential campaign, becoming one of the campaign's largest donors.
2020: Democracy PAC
Soros launched a new super PAC called Democracy PAC for the 2020 election cycle.
April 2021: Pledging $500 Million to Bard College's Endowment
In April 2021, George Soros pledged $500 million to the endowment of Bard College, one of the largest gifts ever made to higher education in the United States.
August 2021: Donation to the Center for Curatorial Studies at Bard College
In August 2021, following the $500 million donation, George Soros donated $25 million to the Center for Curatorial Studies at Bard College.
May 2022: Warning of a 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".
September 2022: Additional Donation to Bard College
In September 2022, George Soros made an additional $25 million donation to Bard College.
2022: Ownership of Multiple Homes
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.
2022: Largest Donor to the Democratic Party
In 2022, Soros was the largest donor in the United States elections, donating $128.5 million to support the Democratic Party.
February 2023: Criticizing Narendra Modi for Islamophobia and Authoritarianism
In February 2023, George Soros criticized Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his alleged Islamophobia, cronyism and authoritarianism. Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party accused Soros of trying to undermine Indian democracy, and Indian foreign minister S. Jaishankar claimed that Soros is a "dangerous" person.
October 2023: Soros's Net Worth
As of October 2023, George Soros had a net worth of US$6.7 billion and had donated more than $32 billion to the Open Society Foundations.
December 2023: Swatting Incident
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 Israel. Soros's son, Alexander, dismissed these accusations as distorted right-wing attacks.
January 2025: Awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom
In January 2025, United States President Joe Biden awarded Soros the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
