The 5 traders who moved markets: What makes them different?

Have you ever wondered why some traders make billions while others lose everything? The answer isn’t luck.

The one who broke the bank with a bet

George Soros isn’t just a name on Wall Street. In 1992, he bet against the British pound and made over one billion dollars in a single day. His secret? Spotting when governments are wrong with their monetary policies and attacking without mercy. While others saw stability, he saw a trap.

The championship phenomenon

Mark Minervini has a record that sounds like something out of a movie: he won the U.S. Traders Championship twice— in 1997 and 2021— with returns of 155% and 334.8%, respectively. He doesn’t use crystal balls, just rigorous technical analysis and brutal patience to wait for the perfect pattern.

When mathematics dominate the market

Jim Simons proved that numbers don’t lie. A pure mathematician, he achieved annualized returns of 66% over 40 years—on Wall Street, that’s almost immortality. His weapon: algorithmic models that detect patterns invisible to the human eye.

The pioneer of machine trading

Ed Seykota was among the first to use computers in trading. 60% annualized over 30 years isn’t a coincidence; it’s an obsession with risk management and trend-following without emotions.

The world’s biggest risk manager

Ray Dalio built Bridgewater Associates, one of the largest global hedge funds, with a simple but effective approach: understanding long-term macroeconomic trends and preparing for what’s ahead. Plus, he gives back profits to society.

The lesson: It’s not about how much money you make today, but the system you build to succeed over decades.