About Ken Griffin
- Ken Griffin founded and runs Citadel, a Miami-based hedge fund firm that manages $59 billion in assets.
- Griffin founded Citadel in 1990 but first began trading from his Harvard dorm in 1987. He put a satellite dish on the roof to get real-time stock quotes.
- Citadel Securities, one of Wall Street's biggest market-making firms, is responsible for one of every five stock trades in the U.S.
- Griffin has given some $2.2 billion to philanthropic causes, including $300 million to Harvard's Faculty of Arts and Sciences in April 2023; the graduate school of arts and sciences bears his name.
- In January 2024, Griffin said he would pause his support for Harvard, citing its handling of antisemitic incidents on campus.
Wealth History
HOVER TO REVEAL NET WORTH BY YEAR
Forbes Lists
Personal Stats
- Age
- 55
- Source of Wealth
- Hedge funds, Self Made
- Residence
- Miami, Florida
- Citizenship
- United States
- Marital Status
- Divorced
- Education
- Bachelor of Arts/Science, Harvard University
Did you know
The University of Chicago renamed its economics department after Griffin in 2017 after he donated $150 million.
Griffin's first job was selling Franklin Mint collectibles.
Related People & Companies
More on Forbes
29 minutes ago
Victory Against A.C Milan Will Give Inter The Serie A Title
In what could be an epic and historical night, Internazionale take on A.C Milan at the San Siro on Monday, with the Serie A league title in touching distance.
ByJoseph O'SullivanContributor
1 hour ago
Port Of Baltimore Likely To See $6.5 Billion Decline In April Trade
Last April, the fast-growing and vital seaport handled $6.8 billion in two-way trade. Census Bureau data for this April will not be released until early June.
ByKen RobertsContributor
Apr 20, 2024
2024 U.S. Exports To Israel Jump 962% In One Munitions Category
U.S. trade with Israel is off to the fastest start in nine years, largely due to an increase in military equipment exports that have surged since the Oct. 7 Hamas attack.
ByKen RobertsContributor
COUNCIL POST| Membership (fee-based)
Apr 19, 2024
How Organizations Can Mediate During Communication Breakdowns
Learning how to avoid miscommunication can improve workplace culture for everyone.
ByKen SterlingForbes Councils Member
Mar 29, 2024
Who Is Greg Lopez? The Former Colorado Mayor That’s A GOP Committee’s Pick To Replace Ken Buck.
The former mayor lost two gubernatorial bids in 2018 and 2022.
ByCailey GleesonForbes Staff
Mar 26, 2024
Securities Fraud Charges Against Texas AG Ken Paxton Dropped In Deal With Prosecutors—Avoiding Trial After 9 Years
If convicted, Paxton faced a sentence of up to 99 years in prison.
ByTy RoushForbes Staff
Mar 19, 2024
Ryan Gosling’s Oscar Performance Caused A 2,000% Surge In Sales Of ‘I’m Just Ken’
Ryan Gosling's “I’m Just Ken” performance was the most-talked-about moment from the 2024 Oscars, and it led to a huge bump in sales after the show.
ByHugh McIntyreSenior Contributor
Mar 13, 2024
How Ken Buck’s Retirement Puts Lauren Boebert’s House Seat In Peril
Boebert called Buck’s early retirement a “swampy backroom deal to try to rig an election.”
ByZachary FolkForbes Staff
Mar 12, 2024
Ryan Gosling Sings ‘I’m Just Ken’ At Oscars Wearing A Tag Heuer Carrera
The 96th Academy Awards, held Sunday at the Dolby Theater in Los Angeles, offered its annual ration of kudos, entertainment, and a little political commen...
ByNancy OlsonContributor
Mar 12, 2024
Trump Critic Ken Buck Resigns—Narrowing Republican House Majority Again
Rep. Ken Buck, R-Colo., joins former GOP Reps. Bill Johnson and Kevin McCarthy in resigning from Congress.
ByBrian BushardForbes Staff
Mar 11, 2024
Ryan Gosling’s Oscar Performance Of ‘I’m Just Ken’ Broke The Internet
Ryan Gosling's live performance of ''I'm Just Ken'' at Sunday's Oscars is already considered one of the best moments in Oscars history.
ByMaëlle Beauget-UhlContributor
Jan 30, 2024
Billionaire Ken Griffin Becomes Latest To Stop Harvard Donations—Worries Elite Students Becoming ‘Whiny Snowflakes’
The Citadel founder and CEO said he would donate again if the school resumes its role of producing “problem solvers.”
ByMolly BohannonForbes Staff
Jan 22, 2024
Forbes Daily: S&P 500 Set A New All-Time High On Tech Stock Optimism
AI drives market gains but not worker productivity (yet); Ron DeSantis drops out; Ken Griffin's Citadel still top earner; Meta stock hits record high; and more
ByDanielle ChemtobForbes Staff
Jan 21, 2024
British Manager Chris Hohn Scores A $13 Billion 2023 Windfall As Ken Griffin Remains Hedge Fund GOAT
No other hedge fund comes close to Ken Griffin’s $74 billion in all-time gains, according to a new LCH Investments report ranking the top 20 all-time managers, but one British fund generated more gains in 2023.
ByHank TuckerForbes Staff
Dec 12, 2023
Billionaires Griffin And Geffen Donating $400 Million To Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center—Largest In Hospital’s History
Ken Griffin is the founder of Miami hedge fund Citadel and David Geffen is a record label executive and co-founder of DreamWorks Animation.
ByMary Whitfill RoeloffsForbes Staff
Oct 19, 2023
Billionaire Ken Griffin Condemns Harvard Groups’ Letter, But Will Continue To Donate To University Amid Israel And Hamas Conflict
The founder and CEO of hedge fund Citadel will not follow two other billionaires who cut ties with the Ivy League School after student groups signed a letter blaming Israel for the attacks committed by Hamas.
ByDevin Sean MartinContributor
