James Harris Simons (April 25, 1938 – May 10, 2024) was an American hedge fund manager, mathematician, and philanthropist. He was the founder of Renaissance Technologies, a quantitative hedge fund based in East Setauket, New York.
JIM SIMONS PROFILE
| Name | Jim Simons |
| Real Name | James Harris Simons |
| Date of Birth | 25 April 1938 |
| Date of Death | 10 May 2024 |
| Nationality | American |
| Occupation | Hedge Fund Manager, Mathematician and Philanthropist |
| Religion | Christain |
| Marital Status | Married |
| Net Worth | $31.4 Billion |
| Copied From | Contents101.com |
JIM SIMONS BIOGRAPHY
James Harris Simons, born on April 25, 1938, into an American Jewish family, was the sole child of Marcia (née Kantor) and Matthew Simons. He spent his formative years in Brookline, Massachusetts, where he was raised.
EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND
James Harris Simons achieved academic excellence early in his life, earning a bachelor’s degree in mathematics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in 1958. His passion for mathematics led him to pursue further studies, culminating in a Ph.D. in mathematics from the University of California, Berkeley, in 1961. Remarkably, Simons completed his doctoral studies under the supervision of Bertram Kostant at the young age of 23.
CAREER
Simons was known for his studies on pattern recognition. He developed the Chern–Simons form (with Shiing-Shen Chern), and contributed to the development of string theory by providing a theoretical framework to combine geometry and topology with quantum field theory. In 1994, Simons and his wife, Marilyn, founded the Simons Foundation to support research in mathematics and fundamental sciences.
CONTROVERSIES
James Harris Simons faced scrutiny and challenges during his career, notably highlighted by incidents such as those reported by The Wall Street Journal in May 2009. Investors questioned him about the significant performance gap observed in Renaissance Technologies’ portfolios. Additionally, on July 22, 2014, Simons encountered bipartisan condemnation from the U.S., although the specific reasons for this condemnation are not provided.
PERSONAL LIFE
James Harris Simons is survived by his wife, three children, five grandchildren, and a great-grandchild.
JIM SIMONS NET WORTH
At the time of his death, Simons’s net worth was estimated to be $31.4 billion, making him the 51st-richest person in the world.
DEATH
James Harris Simons passed away in New York City on May 10, 2024, at the age of 86. Throughout his life, he remained deeply involved in the work of his foundation.