Rise to Success: Career Highlights of Jim Cramer

Discover the career path of Jim Cramer, from the first major opportunity to industry-changing achievements.

Jim Cramer is an American television personality, author, entertainer, and former hedge fund manager, best known as the host of CNBC's "Mad Money." After graduating from Harvard, he worked at Goldman Sachs and later founded his own hedge fund, Cramer Berkowitz. He also co-founded TheStreet.com. Cramer's career transitioned into media, where he gained prominence for his energetic and often controversial commentary on the stock market and investment strategies. He has written several books providing investment advice.

Sections (5)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements Challenges & Struggles Controversies & Scandals

1971: Sold Coca-Cola and Ice Cream at Veterans Stadium

In 1971, Jim Cramer started selling Coca-Cola and then ice cream at Veterans Stadium during Philadelphia Phillies games as one of his first jobs.

March 1, 1978: Started at Tallahassee Democrat

On March 1, 1978, Jim Cramer began working for the Tallahassee Democrat in Tallahassee, Florida, as a reporter covering the Ted Bundy murders.

1984: Received Juris Doctor Degree

In 1984, Jim Cramer received a Juris Doctor degree from Harvard Law School. During this time, he began investing in the stock market, profited from stock picks he left on his answering machine, and worked as a research assistant for Alan Dershowitz.

1984: Worked at Goldman Sachs

In 1984, Jim Cramer worked in sales and trading at New York investment bank Goldman Sachs.

1985: Admitted to New York State Bar

In 1985, Jim Cramer was admitted to the New York State Bar, although he did not practice law.

1987: Started Cramer & Co. Hedge Fund

In 1987, Jim Cramer left Goldman Sachs and started a hedge fund called Cramer & Co. (later Cramer, Berkowitz & Co.).

1987: Sold Stocks Before Black Monday

In 1987, Jim Cramer stated he sold all of his stocks on the Friday before Black Monday.

1988: Start of Cramer's successful period

From 1988, Cramer stated he only had one year of negative returns – 1998, a year when the S&P 500 Index rose 29%.

1996: Launched TheStreet

In 1996, Jim Cramer and Martin Peretz launched TheStreet, a financial news and investment website.

1998: Negative Returns

In 1998, Cramer stated he had one year of negative returns while the S&P 500 Index rose 29%.

1999: Fund Returned 47%

In 1999, Cramer's fund returned 47%.

1999: Recommended Investing in Technology Stocks

In January 2000, Jim Cramer recommended investing in technology stocks and suggested a repeat of the stock performance of 1999.

January 2000: Recommended Investing in Technology Stocks

In January 2000, Jim Cramer recommended investing in technology stocks and suggested a repeat of the stock performance of 1999.

February 2000: Recommended Specific Stocks

In February 2000, Jim Cramer recommended specific stocks like 724 Solutions, Ariba, and others, dismissing traditional investing strategies.

2000: Fund Returned 28%

In 2000, Cramer's fund returned 28%, beating the S&P 500 by 38 percentage points.

2000: Self-Reported High Return

In 2000, Jim Cramer self-reported a 36% return at the peak of the dot-com bubble.

2001: Began Hosting Real Money Radio Show

In 2001, Jim Cramer began hosting a syndicated one-hour radio show called Real Money, which eventually led to the creation of Mad Money.

2001: Retired From Hedge Fund

In 2001, Jim Cramer retired from his hedge fund, reporting a 24% rate of return after all fees for 15 years.

2002: Co-hosted Kudlow & Cramer

From 2002, Jim Cramer co-hosted Kudlow & Cramer (first called America Now) with Larry Kudlow.

2005: End of Kudlow & Cramer

In 2005, Jim Cramer finished co-hosting Kudlow & Cramer (first called America Now) with Larry Kudlow.

2005: Mad Money Aired on CNBC

In 2005, Mad Money with Jim Cramer first aired on CNBC, aiming to provide viewers with tools for do-it-yourself investing.

December 2006: Hedge fund manipulation of stock prices

In December 2006, Jim Cramer described activities used by hedge fund managers to manipulate stock prices, including pushing stocks higher or lower with as little as $5 million and encouraging others to do the same as a quick way to make money.

December 2006: End of Real Money Radio Show

In December 2006, Jim Cramer's radio show, Real Money, came to an end.

December 2006: Stewart confronts Cramer on short-selling

In December 2006, Jon Stewart confronted Jim Cramer on The Daily Show about Cramer's contradictory statements regarding short-selling, highlighting Cramer's earlier encouragement of hedge funds to engage in it, and suggested changes to Cramer's CNBC role.

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December 22, 2006: Cramer discusses spreading rumors to drive down stock prices

In a video clip from December 22, 2006, Jim Cramer discussed the spreading of false rumors to drive down stock prices and encouraged short-selling by hedge funds as a means to generate returns, stating he would encourage anyone in a hedge fund to do it.

August 3, 2007: Cramer's "rant" about the Federal Reserve

On August 3, 2007, Jim Cramer made a plea for the Federal Reserve to cut interest rates, criticizing the Fed Committee for being out of touch with the market.

March 11, 2008: Cramer's "Mad Money" Bear Stearns statement

On March 11, 2008, on "Mad Money", Jim Cramer told a viewer not to worry about Bear Stearns' liquidity and not to move money from there, suggesting it was more likely to be taken over.

March 17, 2008: Cramer clarifies Bear Stearns comments

On March 17, 2008, Cramer clarified that his statements about Bear Stearns were regarding account liquidity, not the stock itself, and that he was not recommending the stock, addressing concerns about account holder's liquidity in a Bear Stearns brokerage account.

September 19, 2008: Cramer blames Federal Reserve for housing bubble

On September 19, 2008, on Hardball with Chris Matthews, Jim Cramer blamed the Federal Reserve for the United States housing bubble.

March 12, 2009: Cramer admits mistakes on Bear Stearns calls

On March 12, 2009, during a conflict with Jon Stewart on The Daily Show, Jim Cramer admitted he had made mistakes regarding his calls on Bear Stearns.

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April 2, 2009: Law License Suspended

On April 2, 2009, Jim Cramer's license to practice law was suspended after he did not renew his registration.

2009: Cramer invests in DeBary Inn and Bar San Miguel

In 2009, Jim Cramer and four other investors purchased the DeBary Inn in Summit, New Jersey. He and his wife also own Bar San Miguel, a restaurant and bar serving Mexican cuisine in Carroll Gardens, Brooklyn.

August 2019: TheMaven Acquired TheStreet

In August 2019, TheMaven acquired TheStreet for $16.5 million.

2021: End of Writing for TheStreet

In 2021, Jim Cramer stopped writing for TheStreet after having written for it since 1996.

2022: Tuttle Capital to launch 'Long Cramer' and 'Inverse Cramer' ETFs

In 2022, The Financial Times reported that Tuttle Capital Management filed to launch two ETFs: "LJIM" (Long Cramer) and "SJIM" (Inverse Cramer), betting with and against Jim Cramer's stock recommendations, respectively. The Inverse Cramer ETF would generally bet against Cramer's recommendations from Mad Money and Twitter, expecting a high turnover rate. The fund gained additional coverage upon Meta Platforms' Q3 2022 earnings miss and Cramer's subsequent apology.