James Simons
- Net worth $31.4 billion
- Birthday April 25, 1938
- Status Married
- Country United States
- Ethnicity Ashkenazi Jewish
- Source(-s) of wealth Businessman, Entrepreneur, Philanthropist
How much is James Simons Worth? James Simons Net Worth in 2026
James Simons’s net worth at the time of death was estimated at $31.4 billion. He was a mathematician who founded Renaissance Technologies, one of the most successful quantitative hedge funds, and later gave away billions through the Simons Foundation. He died on May 10, 2024, at age 86.
| Net worth | $31.4 billion (at time of death) |
|---|---|
| Estimated annual income | Mainly from his ownership of Renaissance Technologies and its Medallion fund |
| Born | April 25, 1938, Cambridge, Massachusetts |
| Died | May 10, 2024 (age 86) |
| Country | United States |
| Occupations / sources of wealth | Mathematician, hedge fund manager, philanthropist |
| Known for | Founding Renaissance Technologies and the Simons Foundation |
How much was James Simons worth?
Jim Simons’s net worth at the time of death was estimated at about $31.4 billion, which placed him among the 60 richest people in the world. His wealth came from Renaissance Technologies and its Medallion fund.
Earlier estimates were lower, for example about $18 billion in 2017, because the value of his stake grew over time. All figures are estimates.
How James Simons built it
- Founded a math driven hedge fund. Renaissance Technologies uses mathematical models and automated trading.
- Launched the Medallion Fund. He established it in 1988 and it drove his wealth.
- Gave back through a foundation. He founded the Simons Foundation with his wife in 1994 and gave over $4 billion.
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- Simons Foundation: Founded in 1994 with his wife, Marilyn, it supports basic research in mathematics and science and runs the Flatiron Institute, established in 2016.
- Philanthropy: He gave over $4 billion to philanthropic causes during his life, including autism research (SFARI, 2003) and Math for America (2004).
- Stony Brook University: Gifts included $25 million (2006), $60 million (2008), $150 million (2011) and $500 million from the Simons Foundation in 2023.
- Renaissance Technologies: The firm’s computer-driven approach to trading remains his best-known business legacy.
How James Simons made money
- Renaissance Technologies: Founded the private hedge fund that uses mathematical models and automated trading; he retired as CEO in 2010 and stayed as non-executive chairman.
- Medallion Fund: Established in 1988; the fund contains the personal money of the firm’s executives and employees and drove his wealth.
- Reported annual earnings: Estimated at $1.5 billion in 2005, $1.7 billion in 2006 and $2.8 billion in 2007.
Career timeline
- 1958: Earned a bachelor’s degree in mathematics from MIT, finishing in three years.
- 1961: Received his PhD in mathematics from the University of California, Berkeley.
- 1964 to 1968: Worked at the IDA Communications Research Division and taught at MIT and Harvard.
- 1968 to 1978: Chaired the math department at Stony Brook University.
- 1976: Received the AMS Oswald Veblen Prize in Geometry.
- 1988: Renaissance Technologies established the Medallion Fund.
- 1994: Co-founded the Simons Foundation with Marilyn Simons.
- 2004: Founded Math for America.
- 2010: Retired as CEO of Renaissance, remaining non-executive chairman.
- 2014: Elected to the U.S. National Academy of Sciences.
- 2016: The Simons Foundation established the Flatiron Institute; asteroid 6618 Jimsimons was named in his honor.
- 2024: Died on May 10 in New York City.
Early life and background
Jim Simons was born in Cambridge, Massachusetts, the only child of Marcia and Matthew Simons, and grew up in Brookline in a Jewish family. He earned a bachelor’s degree in mathematics at MIT in 1958 and a PhD in mathematics at the University of California, Berkeley, in 1961. He is known in mathematics for work on geometry and topology, including the Chern-Simons form, which contributed to string theory.
Personal life
Simons co-founded the Simons Foundation with his wife, Marilyn, in 1994.
James Simons net worth FAQ
What was James Simons’s net worth when he died?
James Simons’s net worth at the time of death was estimated at $31.4 billion. Estimates vary and are approximate.
How did James Simons make his money?
He made his fortune through Renaissance Technologies, the quantitative hedge fund he founded, whose Medallion fund used computer-based models to trade.
When did James Simons die?
James Simons died on May 10, 2024, at age 86.
Where does James Simons’s wealth come from?
Mathematics and quantitative investing, through Renaissance Technologies, based in New York.
What is James Simons’s legacy?
Jim Simons died on May 10, 2024. His legacy continues through the Simons Foundation, the Flatiron Institute and his gifts to education and research.
How is James Simons’s net worth estimated?
Estimates combine public reporting, company valuations, and deal and earnings figures. They are approximate and change over time.
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How we estimate net worth
Our estimates are based on public reporting, company valuations, and deal and earnings figures all compiled in an internal valuation model. They are approximate, and figures change over time as new information emerges.
Last updated: October 2026.