Richest Forex Traders
The 10 richest forex traders in the world have amassed huge fortunes. But what can the everyday trader learn from these top performers? To answer that question, we’ll look at the richest forex traders in 2024 from across the world, including the USA, UK, and South Africa.
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Who Are The Richest Forex Traders?
George Soros
Born in Hungary in 1952, George Soros began trading while at school. He developed a strategy of taking highly-leveraged positions based on movements in currency rates, and in 1992 that strategy paid off, becoming the ‘man who broke the Bank of England’.
His huge short position against the British Pound during the Black Wednesday crisis correctly predicted several factors that would leave the Bank of England vulnerable, should it have to intervene if the pound weakened beyond a certain level against the Deutsche Mark.
The trade earned him over $1 billion. He’s since accumulated a net worth in the region of $6,7 billion, making him one of the richest forex traders of all time.
Joe Lewis
Born in the UK, Joe Lewis began work at 15, helping to run the family catering business. Several years later, he sold the business to start currency trading.
A sensible decision, given that he collaborated with George Soros to bet against the British Pound in 1992, and for his part in the trade, took home an impressive $1.8 billion. Today he’s worth close to $6 billion.
Paul Tudor Jones
After graduating with a degree in Economics from the University of Virginia in 1976, Paul Jones turned down Harvard Business School, choosing instead to work as a commodities trader.
A decision that proved fruitful when he shorted the 1987 market crash, making north of $100 million.
He’s since founded the Tudor Investment Corporation, focussing on interest rate fluctuations in the currency market. He was also Chairman of the NYSE from 1992 to 1995. Today he’s one of the richest forex traders in the world with an estimated net worth of $8 billion.
Stanley Druckenmiller
Stanley Druckenmiller is another name on our richest forex trader list linked to George Soros. He spent over a decade managing money for Soros and was the lead portfolio manager of the Quantum Fund.
Stanley was born in Pennsylvania, received a BA in English and Economics, and went on to work as an oil analyst for Pittsburg National Bank. Just a year after starting, he set up his own firm – Duquesne Capital Management.
He is now worth upwards of $6 billion despite donating over $700 million to medical research and efforts to combat poverty. He’s also imparted useful advice for FX traders – keep an eye on central banks as it’s liquidity that moves markets.
Bill Lipschutz
Bill Lipschutz is one of the richest forex traders in America, making hundreds of millions of dollars in the 1980s trading at Salomon Brothers. But his passion for trading began years before at university, where he invested $12,000 in inheritance from his grandmother. Now his total earnings sit close to $2 billion.
For aspiring investors, his advice is simple – focus on your losses, as they will determine overall success. Moreover, Bill Lipschutz famously said that the top traders are those that work out how to make money when only being right 20 to 30 percent of the time.
Who Are The Richest Forex Traders In Africa?
Some of the richest forex traders are from South Africa. Not satisfied with average returns, these often young but top investors have earned their spot on our top 10 trader list.
Ref Wayne
South African FX trader Ref Wayne began investing as a teenager after dropping out of school. By 19, he’d already become one of South Africa’s richest forex trading millionaires. Ref has proven he can navigate the online investing world and identify opportunities in the $5 trillion a day currency market.
Ref Wayne now sits comfortably on any list of the top 5 richest forex traders in South Africa, with an estimated net worth of around $500 million.
Neliswe Masango
Despite dreams of becoming a neurosurgeon, Neliswe instead forged her path in the foreign exchange market. Her impressive work ethic and market aptitude have led to her becoming Director of Bear Run Investments. Neliswe is now one of the coveted South African currency trading millionaires.
Sandile Shezi
Also on the list of the richest retail forex trading millionaires in South Africa is Sandile Shezi. He began investing at just 12 and was one of the country’s youngest FX millionaires. Today he’s worth upwards of $2.4 million.
Since finding fortune, Sandile has set up the Global Forex Institute, which offers free financial training to young people from low-income families.
Uche ParaGon
South Africa has produced many of the richest currency millionaires. However, some of the top FX traders come from other parts of Africa, including Nigeria, Zambia, Ghana, Uganda, and Kenya. Among those is Nigerian trader Uche Paragon, who has made a successful living from trading currencies and commodities.
In 2019, ParaGon had a net worth of close to $16 million. He believes his success comes in part, from his commitment to learning the markets and mastering strategies before applying them to real-money investing. For guidance on how to get the most out of a demo account, see here.
Bade Ajidahun Afioluwa
Another Nigerian currency trader that’s made it big, Bade spent years honing his strategy, minimising losses and reducing his risk exposure. By 28 he was bringing in consistent six-figure profits and chose to retire from active currency investing.
Bade now focuses his time on mentoring aspiring traders through seminars and online training programmes, giving back to the Nigerian community he grew up in.
Final Word
The richest forex traders in the world have earned millions, if not billions from the global currency market. However, most of those featuring in top 10 lists aren’t motivated purely by being among the top 5, 10, or 20 richest forex traders of all time. Short-term profits and huge risks don’t feature in their strategies. Instead, they take a pragmatic approach, utilising risk management tools, technical analysis and setting long-term objectives.
Note, that while not quite making this list, individuals from Canada, Singapore, and Tanzania, among others, have also produced some of the world’s richest forex traders.
FAQ
Who is the richest forex trader?
The trader credited with the world’s ‘richest forex trader’ title is George Soros. Famous for ‘breaking the Bank of England’ in 1992, his short position against the pound netted him over $1 billion and led to the Black Wednesday crisis. Today George Soros’ net worth is thought to be upwards of $8 billion.
How much do top forex traders make?
Top forex traders can make millions from the currency market with some even making billions. However, it’s worth noting these are the very top performers and do not reflect the returns of most online traders.
Can forex trading make you a millionaire?
Yes – forex trading can make you a millionaire. However, to earn top profits, you’ll need an effective strategy, excellent risk management tools, and one of the best online brokers.
What percentage of forex traders make money?
It’s thought between only 10 and 15 percent of forex traders consistently make money. Many traders may generate high profits, but holding onto those returns without sustaining significant losses is another ball game.
What do you need to get rich forex trading?
To get rich forex trading, you need several ingredients. Firstly, you need a tried and tested strategy. You also need capital to trade with, risk management tools, and a broker you can trust.
All contents on this site is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. Consult relevant financial professionals in your country of residence to get personalised advice before you make any trading or investing decisions. Daytrading.com may receive compensation from the brands or services mentioned on this website.
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Who exactly are the richest people trading Forex today?
It is estimated, that the total number for Forex trading globally goes over $5.1 trillion a day. To even grasp the sheer size of this amount of trading value would be an insurmountable task itself. With such a high volume each day, it should be a surprise to anyone, that Forex trading has birthed countless millionaires and many billionaires, who are now believed to be exemplary when it comes to reaching success in this market. These people have shown us what is possible to achieve with hard work and in the right circumstances, and as such, are now very popular among traders of all kinds who have the same aspirations
However, for each and every millionaire, billionaire, and the richest people in finance who blow our minds with their immeasurable wealth and riches, there is a story, or rather, many stories. These stories tell us what kind of a path these people had to walk before getting where they are now, how they got there, and where they got. Of course, telling one’s life story is definitely not enough to get an idea of why the person has become so rich and prosperous, but knowing what kind of trials and tribulations they passed will be of huge help for any aspiring trader who wants to reach success themselves.
George Soros (Net Worth – $8.3 billion)
When we’re talking about the richest man trading Forex, it would be a blasphemy to start the list off without George Soros. Soros is a Hungarian-American investor and financial magnate of Jewish descent. For many years now, Soros is known by everyone who is involved in the financial market in any way, shape, or form. In fact, Soros is such a prominent figure in the world of financial trading, that his very name is synonymous with it.
Besides being the leading financial trader and investor, Soros is also known to have a very large degree of control and involvement in the international political and economic scene. The latter is not because he has some kind of a governmental position, but rather, due to how much respect he garners when it comes to the financial markets, and how much involvement he has in political affairs due to being a major lobbyist and conducting various political activities with the usage of NGOs that he finances.
Before reaching this state, however, there were a lot of trials and tribulations that Soros had to go through. Indeed, it wasn’t always sunshine and rainbows for Soros before he reached this level of prosperity and positions of power. Being of Jewish descent, he had to flee from his country due to Nazi aggression and had to build a new life in the United Kingdom. This hardship turned out to be a blessing in disguise, as not only did Soros manage to break through, but he became the world’s richest Forex trader too, known by pretty much all Forex traders in the world, big or small.
In the United Kingdom, Soros started studying at the London School of Economics, where he got a Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Philosophy. After he graduated, he quickly started getting involved with the world of financial trading. He started working at various medium-level merchant banks, and as time went on, his skills and knowledge increased quite a bit fast, and so did his capital. Soon thereafter, in 1969, Soros created his own hedge fund, called “Double Eagle. Double Eagle was quite successful and attracted a lot of solid clients, whose money Soros handled excellently.
Double Eagle was later renamed to Quantum Capital, which is, to this day, considered to be one of the best hedge funds to ever operate. At the time of its creation, it was handling $12 million in assets, while at its peak, it was handling over $25 billion, which is unimaginably big progress. All of this was possible due to the vast wealth of knowledge that Soros possesses on the financial markets and how they work. Due to these achievements, he is still, to this day, considered to be one o the biggest authorities when it comes to the global financial markets.
However, with all the admiration and respect that the man deservedly gets for hi vast knowledge and capabilities, his reputation is equally as tainted in many others’ eyes. The reason for this, as mentioned, are some of the questionable activities and involvements in international politics that Soros is known for.
However, if there was one single thing that we could mention as an argument for Soros’ notoriety, it would be the “Black Wednesday” of the UK financial market, the event that made Soros known to the public as “The Man Who Broke the Bank of England”. Soros got this “nickname” after he short-selled about $12 billion’s worth of GBP during the UK currency crisis, after which the country was not able to maintain the currency rate that was mandated by the European Stock Exchange Rate Mechanism (ERM), and was forced to withdraw the GBP from it.
Sure, Soros may not have been the one and only reason for this crisis, but he is for sure though to be the main one. This was just one example, and there are many more, some of which the majority of the public does not even know. This shows us the sheer influence and respect that the man commands. The truth is, for a man who is considered to be the most richest Forex trader of all time, one should expect no less.
Bruce Kovner (Net Worth – $5.4 billion)
Bruce Kovner is quite a well-known figure in the world of financial trading. For many years, he has served as one of the best examples of how one can start from zero and go to the very top with nothing but hard work and dedication. Indeed, while there are many people in this market who got to the top based on mostly luck, Kovner is not among such people.
Although he did not have to live in poverty, he was not particularly well-off either, so he didn’t have the life given to him on the golden platter. Kovner, from a very young age, had always been an exceptionally good achiever in almost all things. In school, he always had good grades, had participated in various extracurricular activities, was involved in sports, etc. Basically, the work ethic was something that he had been practicing for a very long time, and it paid off for him in a major way.
Bruce Kovner is an American investor and philanthropist born in 1945, with a very extensive and decorated experience and career in the financial market. Just like Soros, Kovner is a hedge fund manager, and quite an able and successful one at that. This is very impressive when you consider Kovner’s humble beginnings. Despite never having to necessarily live in poverty, Kovner didn’t “have it easy”. The reason for him becoming a millionaire through Forex trading is the fact that he has always been a hard worker and had always been very dedicated to learning, studying, and constantly growing as a person.
Kovner was able to actualize his talents and work ethic to their biggest potential by going for the best education possible – the Harvard university. At Harvard, Kovner studied political economy, which was obviously a good choice for him. As was the case in the past, at Harvard, he was also one of the exceptional students, deriving maximum value out of it. Kovner left Harvard before he could finish his Ph.D., and before he had any involvement with the financial market, he was doing a lot of different things, such as writing, participating in a number of political endeavors, and more. A fun fact is that he had to drive a cab to support his family before he got started with financial trading. When you consider where the man is today, this is especially impressive.
Over time, it was inevitable that the paths between Kovner and financial trading would cross. It was back in 1977 when he made his first step in the financial market when he opened his first trade on soybeans. The interesting part is that he used his credit card for this, which was obviously a rather risky thing to do. Fortune was on Kovner’s side at the time, and he made a $40,000. However, it later got devalued to $23,000. Kovner has later said on numerous occasions, that this was one of the most valuable trading experiences he had, as it taught him the importance of “cashing out” at the right time.
After getting the taste of what can be done on the financial market, Kovner started working at some serious high-level companies such as Commodities Corporation, a company that would later become a part of Goldman Sachs. At these companies, Kovner was distinguished by his ability to remain a calm, logical, and stoic trader at all times. This would pay off in major ways for Kovner and is still something that he is known for to this day. One of the many things that Kovner himself attributes his being among the top rich Forex traders in the world, is his ability and dedication to not be driven by emotions, and use actual, factual data to base his decisions on.
Of course, inevitably, at a certain point, Kovner would not continue working for a company, but rather, would create his first hedge fund. This was to happen in 1983 when Kovner founded Caxton Associates. Caxton is, to this day, known to be one of the most respected and highly-regarded hedge funds ever. At one point, Caxton managed as much as $14 billion’s worth of assets. As of today, the number is down to $3.7 billion, due to the decreased activity by the firm itself, having discontinued accepting the same number of clients.
Kovner is held in such high regard not only because of major successes he has had in the financial market but due to how many other endeavors he has been a part of. Besides Caxton, he has served as the director of Synta Pharmaceuticals from 2002-2016. Beyond that, he has participated in many different political campaigns and non-profit endeavors in the service of his community. Currently, he serves as the chairman of CAM Capital, which he established himself, with the goal of managing his and his partners’ investments and assets.
Stanley Druckenmiller (Net Worth – $5.4 billion)
Stanley Druckenmiller was born in a middle-class Pennsylvania family in 1953. Before reaching his financial success, he was not poor nor particularly rich. It was back in 1977 when he made his very first step in the financial market, starting work at the Pittsburgh National Bank. There, it quickly started becoming clear that the man was made for this job. In just a year, Druckenmiller, who started off as a low-level trainee, advanced all the way to the position of equity research department manager. Druckenmiller worked at the bank for around four years, until eventually he left, and started his own company, the Duquesne Capital Management. It is exactly here that Druckenmiller’s trading journey had begun an entirely new, better, and bigger chapter.
However, the time window/period where Druckenmiller earned most of his money would be during the 1992 financial crisis, in which George Soros, a long-time associate of Druckenmiller, was also a prominent figure. It was precisely then that these two have become two of the richest Forex traders in the world, as is believed by many people who have been observing major events of the financial markets. Druckenmiller and Soros actually go back quite a long way. They have both worked at the Quantum Fund alongside each other for over a decade, and in this time period, Druckenmiller has managed to learn quite a lot from Soros. In fact, he considers Soros to be his mentor.
Putting aside whatever is owed to his relation to Soros, Druckenmiller himself has been, for all intents and purposes, one of the exemplary traders, and has, without a doubt, showed “how it should be done”. Druckenmiller’s strategy is quite aggressive, as he capitalizes on seizing the moment when the trades are going successfully, and pushing it to the max. This kind of approach puts little regard on the importance of making right or wrong decisions. Rather, it requires that one go all-in when they’re right, and minimize damage to as much of a degree as possible when wrong.
After a decorated and successful career, already among the richest people trading Forex in the world, Druckenmiller eventually retired in 2010, stating that the Duquesne Fund was not able to live up to his expectations anymore. Druckenmiller definitely had a point, as the fund was performing extremely bad at the time, averaging -5% returns in the last few years. This is in contrast with all of the previous year, where the average was 30% without any losses. Duquesne managed to recover eventually, and Druckenmiller shortly resumed the management of the company, only to repay his clients the funds, and eventually close down the company.
Despite these relatively fruitless last few years by Duquesne, Druckenmiller’s the respect and high regard towards Druckenmiller has not decreased in the slightest. He is still considered to be among the very best of the rich and successful traders that the world has ever seen, and he has proven this to be the case time and time again.
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