Ray Dalio
From Caddying at Golf Courses to Founding the World's Largest Hedge Fund
Net Worth
$15B
Born
August 8, 1949 (age 76)
Country
United States
Occupation
Founder of Bridgewater Associates, Investor, Author
Gender
male
Generation
Boomer
Marital Status
married
Children
3
Single Parent Household
No
Education
Master's
University
Long Island University, Harvard Business School
Industries
business, education
Wealth Category
billionaire
Wealth Origin
self-made
First-Gen Wealth
Yes
Overcame
- • Grew up in a middle-class family with no financial connections
- • Nearly went bankrupt in 1982 after wrong market prediction
- • Let go all employees and rebuilt company from scratch
- • Faced criticism for radical transparency culture at Bridgewater
- • Struggled with public perception after 2022 market losses
Ray Dalio is the founder of Bridgewater Associates, the world's largest hedge fund with over $150 billion in assets. Known for his systematic approach to decision-making, he developed 'Principles'—a collection of rules for life and work that he published in a bestselling book. His radical transparency philosophy and idea meritocracy transformed how investment firms operate.
Career Timeline
Notable Quotes
"Pain plus reflection equals progress."
"The biggest mistake people make is to not look at themselves and their weaknesses objectively."
"I believe that the key to success lies in knowing how to both strive for a lot and fail well."
"It is far more common for people to let ego stand in the way of learning."
"Don't get hung up on your views of how things should be, because you will miss out on learning how they really are."