James Simons
James Simons runs one of the world's largest and best performing hedge funds, Renaissance Technologies, which he stared in 1982. The firm has approximately $35 billion in investment capital. The firm's flagship hedge fund, the Medallion Fund, has returned 38.5% annually after fees from the end of 1989 through 2006.
Simons' fund uses computer and mathematical models to predict price movements.
Simons recenly ranked #57 on the Forbes' 400 list of richest Americans, with an estimated net worth of $5.5 billion.
Simons started his carrear as a theoretical mathematician. He graduated from MIT and earned a PhD from UC, Berkeley.
Simons supports autism research.