History of Jim Cramer in Timeline

Jim Cramer is a prominent American television personality, author, and former hedge fund manager best known for hosting CNBC's "Mad Money." After graduating from Harvard, he worked at Goldman Sachs before founding his own hedge fund, Cramer Berkowitz. He also co-founded TheStreet.com. Cramer gained widespread recognition for his energetic and often controversial commentary on the stock market and investment strategies. He has authored several books on investing, aiming to provide accessible advice to retail investors. His career blends finance, media, and entertainment, making him a significant figure in financial journalism and popular culture.

Sections (5)

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

1922: Birth of Cramer's Father

In 1922, N. Ken Cramer, Jim Cramer's father, was born. He owned International Packaging Products.

1928: Birth of Cramer's Mother

In 1928, Louise A. Cramer, Jim Cramer's mother, was born. She was an artist.

February 10, 1955: Jim Cramer's Birth

On February 10, 1955, James Joseph Cramer was born. He is an American television personality, author, entertainer and former hedge fund manager.

1955: Cramer's Birth

In 1955, Jim Cramer was born in Wyndmoor, Pennsylvania, a suburb of Philadelphia.

1971: First Jobs

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

1973: High School Graduation

In 1973, Jim Cramer graduated from Springfield Township High School in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, where he also competed for the track team.

1977: Graduation from Harvard College

In 1977, Jim Cramer graduated magna cum laude from Harvard College with a Bachelor of Arts in government. He was also the president and editor-in-chief of The Harvard Crimson and a National Merit Scholar.

March 1, 1978: Began working for the Tallahassee Democrat

Beginning on March 1, 1978, Jim Cramer worked for the Tallahassee Democrat in Tallahassee, Florida, where he covered the Ted Bundy murders.

1984: Graduated from Harvard Law School

In 1984, Jim Cramer received a Juris Doctor degree from Harvard Law School, funding his tuition through stock market investments. During this time, he assisted Alan Dershowitz with the Claus von Bülow case.

1984: Worked at Goldman Sachs

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

1985: Admitted to the New York State Bar

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

1985: Death of Cramer's Mother

In 1985, Louise A. Cramer, Jim Cramer's mother, passed away. She was born in 1928 and was an artist.

1987: Started Cramer & Co. Hedge Fund

In 1987, Jim Cramer left Goldman Sachs and started a hedge fund, Cramer & Co., later known as Cramer, Berkowitz & Co., with initial investors including Eliot Spitzer and Martin Peretz.

1987: Sold all stocks before Black Monday

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

1988: Start of Successful Period for Hedge Fund

From 1988 to 2000, Jim Cramer stated that he had only one year of negative returns in 1998 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: Year of Negative Returns

In 1998, Jim Cramer experienced a year of negative returns with his hedge fund. The S&P 500 Index rose 29% that year.

1999: Hedge Fund Returns 47%

In 1999, Jim Cramer's hedge fund returned 47%.

1999: Recommended Investing in Technology Stocks

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

February 2000: Cramer's Stock Picks

In February 2000, Jim Cramer said he produced a 36% return and highlighted ten stocks he favored: 724 Solutions, Ariba, Digital Island, Exodus Communications, InfoSpace, Inktomi, Mercury Interactive, Sonera, VeriSign, and Veritas Software. He also dismissed the investing strategy of Benjamin Graham and David Dodd.

2000: Performance of Action Alerts PLUS

Between 2002 and May 2009, Jim Cramer stated that his "Action Alerts PLUS" charitable trust outperformed the S&P 500 Index and the Russell 2000 Index. However, the performance was disputed.

2000: Settled Lawsuit with Fox News Channel

In 2000, Jim Cramer and TheStreet settled a lawsuit with Fox News Channel over a show production deal and alleged promotion of TheStreet stock without notice.

2000: Self-Reported 36% Return

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

2000: Hedge Fund Returns 28%

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

August 2001: Study of Charitable Trust Performance

A study by Wharton researchers Jonathan Hartley and Matthew Olson found that in the timeframe of August 2001 to March 2016, Cramer's charitable trust underperformed the S&P 500 primarily as a result of underexposure to market returns in years after the 2008 financial crisis.

2001: Started Real Money Radio Show

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

2001: Retired from Managing Hedge Fund

In 2001, Jim Cramer retired from managing his hedge fund, which was then taken over by his former partner, Jeff Berkowitz.

2001: Retired from Hedge Fund Management

Until his retirement from hedge fund management in 2001, Jim Cramer stated he realized a "rate of return of 24% after all fees for 15 years".

2002: Performance of Action Alerts PLUS

Between 2002 and May 2009, Jim Cramer stated that his "Action Alerts PLUS" charitable trust outperformed the S&P 500 Index and the Russell 2000 Index. However, the performance was disputed.

2002: Co-hosted Kudlow & Cramer

From 2002 to 2005, Jim Cramer co-hosted Kudlow & Cramer (first called America Now) with Larry Kudlow on CNBC.

November 13, 2005: Interview on 60 Minutes

On November 13, 2005, Dan Rather interviewed Jim Cramer on 60 Minutes, discussing his hedge fund past and temperament.

2005: Co-hosted Kudlow & Cramer

From 2002 to 2005, Jim Cramer co-hosted Kudlow & Cramer (first called America Now) with Larry Kudlow on CNBC.

2005: Mad Money Aired on CNBC

In 2005, Mad Money with Jim Cramer first aired on CNBC, aiming to provide DIY investors with knowledge and tools. Cramer is restricted from owning stocks discussed on the show.

December 2006: End of Real Money Radio Show

In December 2006, Jim Cramer's syndicated radio show, Real Money, concluded its run.

2006: Jim Cramer's Mad Money: Watch TV, Get Rich

In 2006, Jim Cramer published the book Jim Cramer's Mad Money: Watch TV, Get Rich.

January 2007: Guest Judge on The Apprentice

In January 2007, Jim Cramer was a guest judge on The Apprentice.

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August 20, 2007: Barron's Article on Stock Picks

On August 20, 2007, an article in Barron's stated that Jim Cramer's stock picks had underperformed the market over the past two years.

February 2008: Appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live!

In February 2008, Jim Cramer made an appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live!

August 8, 2008: Recommended Investing in Bank Stocks

On August 8, 2008, before the climax of the 2008 financial crisis, Jim Cramer recommended investing in bank stocks, a move that was later heavily criticized.

October 6, 2008: Advised Investors to Remove Money from Stock Market

On October 6, 2008, when the S&P 500 Index was at 1,056, Jim Cramer advised investors to take any money needed for the next five years out of the stock market.

2008: Study of Charitable Trust Performance

2008: Appearance in Iron Man

In 2008, Jim Cramer appeared in the movie Iron Man, spoofing Stark Industries on his show Mad Money, and consulted for the original Wall Street movie.

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February 9, 2009: Wall Street Journal Article on Trading Against Cramer

On February 9, 2009, an article in The Wall Street Journal indicated that historically, trading against Jim Cramer's Buy recommendations using short-term options had yielded 25% in a month.

March 2009: Interview on The Daily Show

In March 2009, Jim Cramer was interviewed by Jon Stewart on The Daily Show, contributing to the Jon Stewart-Jim Cramer conflict.

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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.

May 2009: Performance of Action Alerts PLUS

Between 2002 and May 2009, Jim Cramer stated that his "Action Alerts PLUS" charitable trust outperformed the S&P 500 Index and the Russell 2000 Index. However, the performance was disputed.

2013: Jim Cramer's Get Rich Carefully

In 2013, Jim Cramer published the book Jim Cramer's Get Rich Carefully.

2014: Death of Cramer's Father

In 2014, N. Ken Cramer, Jim Cramer's father, passed away. He was born in 1922 and owned International Packaging Products.

March 2016: Study of Charitable Trust Performance

March 31, 2016: Cumulative Return of Cramer's Trust

As of March 31, 2016, Jim Cramer's trust since inception had a cumulative return of 64.5%, while the S&P 500 returned 70% during the same timeframe. Wharton finance professor Robert Stambaugh stated that the findings didn't show significant underperformance when adjusting for a variety of factors.