16 Richest Hedge Fund Managers in the World

In this article, we will take a look at the 16 Richest Hedge Fund Managers in the World and their top stock picks.

Fiscal year 2025, aided by an AI-powered stock market surge, proved to be a phenomenal year for hedge fund managers. Following a record-breaking year in 2024, Goldman Sachs’ February outlook report acknowledged “buoyant sentiment” among investors amid “unequivocally one of the best years for the hedge fund industry in recent memory.” Over 90% of allocators informed the bank that their investment portfolios matched or exceeded estimates.

Notably, billionaire-led large multi-manager funds such as D.E. Shaw, Bridgewater Associates, and Point72 Asset Management produced primarily double-digit returns in 2025. Overall, the top names in the $5 trillion industry performed well last year.

That said, Business Insider reported that some industry heavyweights trailed behind smaller contenders throughout the year. Izzy Englander’s $83.5 billion Millennium, for example, rose 10.5% in 2025, while Ken Griffin’s $72 billion Citadel rose 1.8% in December and finished the year up 10.2%.

Encouragingly, hedge funds are expected to continue the momentum in 2026. Speaking on the 2025 performance, Vanessa Bogaardt, global head of capital introduction, prime financing at Bank of America, said the following:

“Hedge fund assets are at all-time highs, supported by net inflows into the industry. Allocator sentiment toward hedge funds remains positive, and we see plenty of opportunities to explore in 2026.”

Our Methodology

For our list of the 16 richest hedge fund managers in the world, we made use of Hedge Fund Alpha’s list as the basis for our rankings. These money managers, ranked by net worth, lead some of the premier hedge funds worldwide. We also highlighted their top stock picks based on 13F portfolios as of the end of the fourth quarter of 2025.

Why are we interested in the stocks that hedge funds pile into? The reason is simple: our research has shown that we can outperform the market by imitating the top stock picks of the best hedge funds. Our quarterly newsletter’s strategy selects 14 small-cap and large-cap stocks every quarter and has returned 498.7% since May 2014, beating its benchmark by 303 percentage points (see more details here).

16. John Armitage

Top Pick: Visa Inc. (NYSE:V)

John Armitage ranks among the richest hedge fund managers in the world. Visa Inc. (NYSE:V) is one of John Armitage’s largest holdings, accounting for 12.47% of the billionaire’s total portfolio.

On May 5, Visa Inc. and Wealthsimple launched a trial agreement to enable stablecoin settlements in the Canadian market. The agreement enables Wealthsimple to satisfy specific responsibilities with Visa Canada using USD Coin (USDC), making it Canada’s first stablecoin settlement program.

The trial adds to Visa’s global stablecoin settlement capabilities, which the company says were on track to reach a $7 billion annualized run rate in settlement traffic by March 2026.

On the same day, Visa Inc. revealed an expansion of its Visa Agentic Ready program to include providers in Canada. The program’s goal is to make the Canadian payments environment ready for commerce, in which AI agents start and finish payments on behalf of customers. Visa Agentic Ready has already been made available in Europe, Latin America, and Asia-Pacific, and will be expanded to additional regions this year.

Visa Inc. is a digital payments technology company that operates a global payment network, connecting consumers, merchants, and financial institutions to facilitate electronic transactions.

15. Paul Marshall, Ian Wace

Top Pick: Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMZN)

Paul Marshall and Ian Wace rank among the richest hedge fund managers in the world. Accounting for a 2.52% share ($2.76 billion) in the portfolio, Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMZN) ranks as Marshall Wace’s top stock pick.

On May 13, Wolfe Research published its internet sector study, which included Amazon.com, Inc. among its top picks. Wolfe forecasts that AWS acceleration will boost sales and EBITDA expectations, with the firm expecting AWS revenue growth in Q2 in the low-to-mid 30% range, vs the average expectation of 31%, citing gains from Anthropic, OpenAI, capacity expansion, and organic mid-teens percentage increases.

The firm additionally projects that Amazon.com, Inc. should keep its share of the retail market, with potential operational income gains from marketing revenue growth, localization benefits, a move to third-party vendors, and incremental automation.

Meanwhile, on May 14, analyst Justin Post of BofA Securities reaffirmed a Buy rating for AMZN shares, with a price objective of $310. The analyst emphasized Amazon’s new Alexa for Shopping, which combines Rufus’ extensive product knowledge with Alexa+’s customized intelligence to create an integrated AI shopping assistant. Early data indicates that Alexa+ users engage twice as frequently and make three times as many on-device transactions, while Rufus users are 60% more likely to make the switch.

According to the analyst, Amazon.com, Inc. reported $12 billion in additional GMV from Rufus in 2025, which is only around 1% of global GMV based on BofA projections, indicating a substantial runway for AI-fueled sales.

Amazon.com, Inc. is an American technology company that focuses on e-commerce, cloud computing, and other services, including digital streaming and artificial intelligence solutions.

14. Daniel Och

Top Pick: Liberty Media Corporation (NASDAQ:FWONK)

Daniel Och ranks among the richest hedge fund managers in the world. Liberty Media Corporation (NASDAQ:FWONK) is Daniel Och’s largest holding, accounting for 4.79% ($465.3 million) of the billionaire’s total portfolio.

On May 8, Bernstein SocGen Group raised its price target for Liberty Media Corporation to $115 from $110 while keeping a Market Perform rating on the company’s shares. The firm also raised its Formula 1 sponsorship growth projections for 2026 to the high teens from the mid-teens.

The firm increased the cost of goods sold for Formula 1 and MotoGP and passed on additional income due to increased fuel costs, which had little effect on EBITDA. In its discounted cash flow methodology, Bernstein SocGen raised its long-term revenue growth projections by 50 basis points.

Meanwhile, according to Liberty Media Corporation, Formula 1 brought in $617 million in income during the first quarter of 2026, a 53% increase over the same period the previous year, despite the postponement of the Bahrain and Saudi Arabian Grands Prix. Similarly, operating income increased substantially to $107 million from a $28 million loss in the first quarter of 2025, while Adjusted OIBDA doubled to $172 million.

Liberty Media Corporation is an American mass media company. It has two divisions, each represented by a separate tracking stock, reflecting its ownership stakes in the Formula One Group and Live Nation Entertainment.

13. David Tepper

Top Pick: Alibaba Group Holding Limited (NYSE:BABA)

David Tepper ranks among the richest hedge fund managers in the world. Alibaba Group Holding Limited (NYSE:BABA) is David Tepper’s largest holding, accounting for 10.88% of the billionaire’s total portfolio.

On May 14, Benchmark reaffirmed its Buy rating on Alibaba Group Holding Limited and set a $220 price target on the company’s shares. The firm noted that Alibaba’s fourth-quarter fiscal 2026 earnings were roughly in line with estimates, though short of consensus. The company achieved favorable results in three critical areas: AI and cloud growth, rapid commerce loss, and group-wide profitability.

Given robust enterprise demand, AI-related revenue grew at triple digits, and external AI cloud revenue surged to roughly 40% year-over-year. As the company expands its machine learning-as-a-service and agentic AI solutions, management looks forward to significant margin expansion in the upcoming quarters.

Alibaba Group Holding Limited also noted a clear path to breakeven for rapid commerce, with unit economics turning green by the end of the fiscal year and losses expected to be cut in half over the next two years. At the same time, Benchmark predicts a 35%-plus EBITA compound annual growth rate for Chinese e-commerce.

Alibaba Group Holding Limited is a Chinese technology company that provides e-commerce platforms, logistics, payments, and technology infrastructure. Founded in 1999, the company operates several businesses, including Taobao and Tmall, 1688.com, AliExpress, and Daraz.

12. Seth Klarman

Top Pick: Restaurant Brands International Inc. (NYSE:QSR)

Seth Klarman ranks among the richest hedge fund managers in the world. Accounting for a 10.44% share of the billionaire’s portfolio, Restaurant Brands International Inc. (NYSE:QSR) ranks as Seth Klarman’s top stock pick.

Scotiabank increased its price target for Restaurant Brands International Inc. to $83 from $81 on May 7, retaining a Sector Perform rating on the company’s shares. The firm stated that Restaurant Brands’ first-quarter performance lacked a significant positive driver to support the company’s year-to-date performance.

The company’s adjusted earnings per share of $0.86 came in above the expected $0.83. In addition, the company reported revenue of $2.26 billion, which surpassed the expected $2.24 billion.

Burger King’s same-store sales performance in the US was a highlight of the quarter. The segment has stabilized after attracting significant investment attention, as the international business continues to do well.

Looking towards 2026 as a whole, the company committed $600 million to $620 million for general and administrative costs, $500 million to $520 million for adjusted interest charges, and approximately $400 million for total capital spending and cash incentives.

Restaurant Brands International Inc., incorporated in 1954, is a Florida-based quick service restaurant company operating through six segments: Tim Hortons, Burger King, Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen, Firehouse Subs, International, and Restaurant Holdings.

11. Steve Cohen

Top Pick: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited (NYSE:TSM)

Steve Cohen ranks among the richest hedge fund managers in the world. Accounting for a 1.59% share of the billionaire’s portfolio, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited (NYSE:TSM) ranks among Steve Cohen’s top stock picks.

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited demonstrated advancements in its next-gen chipmaking and packaging technology at the 2026 Taiwan Technology Symposium in Hsinchu on May 14.

Executives from the company announced large-scale manufacturing of what they called the largest chip-on-wafer-on-substrate (CoWoS) packaging solution this year, along with the new A13, A12, and N2U processing technologies.

Vice-President Yuan Li-Pen stated that TSMC anticipates starting production in 2028 of a 14-reticle-size CoWoS platform that can include 20 high-bandwidth memory (HBM) chips in response to future demands for high-performance computing.

Following the symposium, Bank of America reaffirmed its Buy rating on Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited. The bank contends that concerns about its foundry dominance are unfounded.

The firm believes “recent concerns are overdone” and TSMC’s scale and technology edge in advanced nodes will continue to increase the gap with its competitors, said analyst Haas Liu. Liu maintained a price objective of TWD 2,560 (Taiwan dollars) on the company stock.

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited is a leading Taiwanese semiconductor manufacturer. The company’s core offerings include wafer fabrication, mask manufacturing, and engineering support services.

10. George Soros

Top Pick: Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ:GOOGL)

George Soros ranks among the richest hedge fund managers in the world. While Amazon.com, Inc. remains the billionaire’s largest position, Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ:GOOGL) ranks 2^nd on the list of George Soros’ top holdings with a 2.32% portfolio share ($200 million).

BofA Securities restated a Buy rating and $430 price target for Alphabet Inc. on May 15, ahead of the company’s annual developer event. According to analyst Justin Post, the event will focus on developers and is unlikely to feature financial data.

The firm anticipates a wide range of AI developments, including next-gen Gemini LLM features, Gemini-powered OS upgrades, broader Gemini integration among products, search function enhancements, and smart glasses capabilities.

Meanwhile, on May 13, TD Cowen maintained its Buy rating and $450 price target for Alphabet Inc., noting robust growth in its Waymo autonomous vehicle services. Compared with 1.26 million in December 2025, Waymo vehicles conducted 1.36 million passenger journeys in California in March 2026, a 92% year-over-year increase.

Waymo usage increased year-over-year, with vehicles driving 88% of total miles to a passenger pickup or with a passenger in the vehicle, a rise from 85% in the fourth quarter.

Alphabet Inc. is a leading tech giant with a diverse portfolio, including Google Ads, Google Chrome, Google Cloud, Search, and YouTube, and holds a dominant position in each of these markets.

9. Steve Mandel

Top Pick: Carvana Co. (NYSE:CVNA)

Steve Mandel ranks among the list of the richest hedge fund managers in the world. While Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited remains the billionaire’s largest position, Carvana Co. (NYSE:CVNA) ranks 3^rd on the list of Steve Mandel’s top holdings with a 5.52% portfolio share.

On May 6, Needham reiterated Carvana Co. as its top pick and Conviction List stock, noting increased operational efficiency at the company’s testing and restoration centers. The firm states that worries concerning IRC efficiency have essentially been addressed.

According to the firm, Carvana Co. returned to the transformation of Adesa sites. Needham’s hiring data also shows an increase in activity, indicating confidence in a return to previous efficiency standards.

Meanwhile, UBS boosted Carvana Co.’s price target to $520 from $485, reiterating a Buy rating on the stock. The company reported a strong quarterly performance of $672 million in EBITDA, which was 4% higher than consensus estimates. It also achieved higher-than-expected retail gross profit per unit.

UBS believes second-quarter forecasts will need to be raised due to stronger sequential unit growth and improved profitability. The firm stated that the findings should alleviate short-term investor worries.

Carvana Co. is an online retailer of used cars based in Tempe, Arizona. Renowned for its multi-story automobile vending machines, the firm is the fastest-growing online used car dealer in the United States.

8. Tom Steyer

Top Pick: Revolution Medicines, Inc. (NASDAQ:RVMD)

Tom Steyer ranks among the list of the richest hedge fund managers in the world. Revolution Medicines, Inc. (NASDAQ:RVMD) is Tom Steyer’s largest holding, accounting for 5.26% of the billionaire’s total portfolio.

In response to the company’s first-quarter 2026 results, Needham reduced its price target for Revolution Medicines, Inc. to $183 from $186 on May 7, keeping a Buy rating on the stock.

The company’s loss per share came in at $2.29, falling short of the consensus forecast of a loss of $1.64. The shortfall was caused by higher-than-expected marketing, general, and administrative costs of $46.3 million, as well as R&D costs of $67.4 million.

Meanwhile, the company hiked its full-year 2026 stock-based expense projection to around $260 million and $280 million, representing an increase of about $80 million.

Revolution Medicines, Inc. also stated that enrollment in its RASolute 301 study, which is investigating Dara in second-line non-small cell lung cancer, has increased from 420 to 590 patients, thereby increasing the statistical impact on overall survival, a dual primary objective. According to the company, the adjustment has no bearing on the study’s timeline, which is projected to be completed in large part by 2026.

Revolution Medicines, Inc. is a clinical-stage precision oncology company that develops novel targeted therapies. It discovers and develops cancer treatments through novel combination and monotherapy treatment regimens that enhance clinical benefits.

7. Andreas Halvorsen

Top Pick: Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT)

Andreas Halvorsen ranks among the richest hedge fund managers in the world. Accounting for a 4.13% share ($1.55 billion) in the billionaire’s portfolio, Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) ranks as Andreas Halvorsen’s top stock pick.

The UK’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has initiated a probe into Microsoft Corporation’s commercial software infrastructure, the regulatory agency announced on May 14. The investigation attempts to assess whether product bundling, compatibility constraints, and embedded AI tools jeopardize fair competition.

The agency has set aside nine months for the probe, which will gather information from Microsoft Corporation, its clients, and competitors. The CMA previously approved Microsoft last year in a probe for its collaboration with OpenAI, which began in 2023.

However, the tech giant wasn’t successful in another case involving competition in the cloud market. While some FAANG competitors were also investigated, Microsoft Corporation received the weight of the ultimate ruling, which called it out for monopolistic software licensing tactics.

Microsoft Corporation altered its UK rules back in March to meet CMA concerns, lowering Azure outflow fees and getting rid of limits on switching and multicloud compatibility.

Microsoft Corporation develops and sells a wide range of software, cloud services, devices, and business solutions, serving both individual users and enterprise customers worldwide.

6. Paul Singer

Top Pick: Triple Flag Precious Metals Corp. (NYSE:TFPM)

Paul Singer ranks among the richest hedge fund managers in the world. Triple Flag Precious Metals Corp. (NYSE:TFPM) is one of Paul Singer’s largest holdings, with the billionaire holding $4.45 billion worth of the company’s shares.

Triple Flag Precious Metals Corp. reported Q1 earnings on May 6, noting record quarterly performance driven by increased precious metals prices and operational efficiency throughout its diverse portfolio.

The company experienced its best quarter to date, producing 30,166 gold-equivalent ounces (GEOs) versus 28,761 GEOs in Q1 of the previous year.

Net earnings more than quadrupled to $116.9 million from $45.5 million, and adjusted earnings per share increased by 125% to $0.45 from $0.20. Meanwhile, the company’s adjusted EBITDA climbed by 82% to $128.6 million, indicating the high margins of its royalties and streaming business strategy.

Triple Flag Precious Metals Corp. paid $23 million in March 2026 for a 3% gross revenue royalty on the Gunnison Copper open pit operation in Arizona. The purchase increased exposure to a massive domestic copper project that is anticipated to yield 3.2 billion pounds of copper throughout the course of a 21-year mine life.

Triple Flag Precious Metals Corp. is a precious metals streaming and royalty company with 239 global assets. Its headquarters is in Canada.

5. Chris Hohn

Top Pick: Moody’s Corporation (NYSE:MCO)

Chris Hohn ranks among the list of the richest hedge fund managers in the world. While Genie Energy Ltd. (NYSE:GNE) remains the billionaire’s largest position, Moody’s Corporation (NYSE:MCO) ranks 4^th on the list of Chris Hohn’s top holdings with a 12.67% portfolio share.

On April 27, Mizuho cut its price target on Moody’s Corporation to $521 from $524 while keeping a Neutral rating on the stock. The firm revised its expectations based on the company’s first-quarter 2026 results. Moody’s Corporation announced earnings per share of $4.33 and revenue of $2.1 billion, both surpassing market estimates.

The Moody’s Investors Service branch of the corporation anticipates high-single-digit percentage growth in 2026, driven by low-single-digit percentage issuance growth. The company is anticipated to be supported by solid refinancing requirements, M&A activity, and secular issuance dynamics.

That said, BMO Capital maintained its Market Perform rating while increasing its price target on Moody’s Corporation from $463 to $489. Despite slowing issuance growth, the firm highlighted the company’s revenue-driven performance.

Although tensions in the Middle East have raised volatility, Moody’s management claims that timing, instead of demand, is being affected. According to BMO, AI adoption will help reputable, proprietary data suppliers like Moody’s.

Moody’s Corporation is an integrated risk assessment company that provides credit research, credit models, analytics, and economic data as part of its risk management services.

4. Israel Englander

Top Pick: Walmart Inc. (NASDAQ:WMT)

Israel Englander ranks among the richest hedge fund managers in the world. Walmart Inc. (NASDAQ:WMT) is Israel Englander’s largest holding, accounting for 1.91% ($4.54 billion) of the billionaire’s total portfolio.

UBS reaffirmed its Buy rating on Walmart Inc. shares on May 14, with a price target of $147. The firm projects Walmart’s earnings to meet average forecasts, citing a high level of consistency in expected results.

UBS forecasts a 4.5% rise in comparable sales for Walmart US, led by over 25% e-commerce growth, offset by a modest decline in store sales due to softening wellness and health trends.

The firm expects the pharmacy industry to have difficulties due to the Maximum Fair Pricing regulation, and the delayed uptake of oral GLP-1 medications will probably cause that market to slow down.

In a similar vein, KeyBanc Capital Markets reaffirmed its $145 price target and Overweight rating for Walmart Inc.. Despite a tumultuous economic and geopolitical climate, the firm stated that Walmart is still one of the most attractive retail holdings due to its growth plans and share gains.

Walmart Inc. operates as a technology-powered omnichannel retailer. The company operates retail and wholesale stores and clubs, as well as e-commerce websites and mobile apps.

3. Ray Dalio

Top Pick: Salesforce Inc. (NYSE:CRM)

Ray Dalio ranks among the richest hedge fund managers in the world. Although NVIDIA Corporation (NASDAQ:NVDA) remains the billionaire’s largest position, Salesforce Inc. (NYSE:CRM) ranks 5^th on the list of Ray Dalio’s top holdings with a 1.87% portfolio share.

Citing field data indicating slowed transaction activity and increasing competitive pressure, Citi lowered its price target on Salesforce Inc. from $200 to $188 on May 12. Despite this, it kept its Neutral rating on the company ahead of the first-quarter reports.

According to the bank’s checks with three Salesforce partners, resellers reported “lengthening deal cycles and greater portfolio optimization at renewals,” especially in the company’s Tableau and Marketing Cloud products.

Salesforce’s AI platform, Agentforce, continues to dominate customer engagements, though it has yet to result in significant adoption, according to Citi. The firm stated that “unpredictability of cost being a main hurdle” is preventing clients from scaling the product, and contract lengths have become shorter due to uncertainty around AI.

Citi believes that Salesforce Inc. will post first-quarter results that are either marginally below or generally in line with projections, with organic current outstanding performance obligation rising by about 9% in constant currency.

Salesforce Inc. is a global enterprise software company that provides customer relationship management (CRM) and cloud-based business applications across sales, service, marketing, commerce, and data analytics. Its Customer 360 platform, powered by data tools and trusted AI, enables organizations to unify customer data and drive personalized engagement.

2. D.E. Shaw

Top Pick: Palantir Technologies Inc. (NASDAQ:PLTR)

D. E. Shaw ranks among the list of the richest hedge fund managers in the world. Accounting for a 0.95% share of the billionaire’s portfolio, Palantir Technologies Inc. (NASDAQ:PLTR) ranks among D. E. Shaw’s top stock picks.

Palantir Technologies Inc. released its first-quarter report on May 4, with what it described as the company’s best quarter after going public. The company reported total revenue of $1.63 billion, indicating 85% year-over-year growth and 16% sequential growth. Adjusted earnings per share of $0.33 surpassed the average estimate of $0.28 by 17.86%.

Palantir’s US operations delivered the most notable result, growing 104% year-over-year to $1.28 billion. This expansion was driven by strong performance in both the commercial and government sectors. The US commercial sector performed best, with a customer count of 615, up 42% year-over-year and 8% quarter-over-quarter.

Following Palantir Technologies Inc.’s (NASDAQ:PLTR) first-quarter results, Benchmark reiterated its Hold rating on the company’s shares. The firm stated that geopolitical unrest in the Middle East will continue to boost demand for AI solutions such as Palantir’s in the near future.

Palantir Technologies Inc. is a software company that develops and deploys data integration and analytics platforms for government agencies, defense organizations, and enterprise clients. Its notable products include Palantir Gotham, Foundry, and Apollo.

1. Ken Griffin

Top Pick: NVIDIA Corporation (NASDAQ:NVDA)

Ken Griffin ranks among the list of the richest hedge fund managers in the world. NVIDIA Corporation is Ken Griffin’s largest holding, accounting for 0.6% ($4.02 billion) of the billionaire’s total portfolio.

On May 14, UBS boosted its price target for NVIDIA Corporation to $275 from $245, retaining a Buy rating on the company’s stock. The firm forecasts NVIDIA’s first-quarter revenue at about $81 billion, a $3 billion increase over the midrange $78 billion forecast.

According to UBS, Rubin chip and computing board manufacturing is on pace to begin this quarter, although some optimization on rack-level cooling concerns appears to be postponing bulk production for racks into September/October. The firm stated that this shouldn’t pose a problem, given that demand for Blackwell remains high.

The firm also identified capital return, which includes both share repurchases and a possible dividend increase, as a key factor to watch this quarter.

On the same day, Cantor Fitzgerald maintained its Overweight rating on NVIDIA Corporation and increased its price target to $350 from $300, with the firm citing forecasts for the company’s earnings potential in 2027.

NVIDIA Corporation is a fabless semiconductor and AI computing company that designs GPUs, AI accelerators, Application Programming Interfaces (APIs), and system-on-a-chip units. Through its CUDA ecosystem, the company enables industries ranging from autonomous vehicles to scientific research by advancing AI, accelerated computing, and data center infrastructure.

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