Leon G. Cooperman

$3.61 B

Ranked #1156 in World

About Leon G. Cooperman

Renowned American billionaire and hedge fund magnate, Leon G. Cooperman, has had a storied career in finance. As Omega Advisors' chairman and a former Goldman Sachs executive, his influence extends from Wall Street to philanthropy. Facing SEC scrutiny in 2016, Cooperman's firm settled without admission of wrongdoing. A vocal critic of democratic fiscal policies, he recently halted donations to Columbia amid political dissent. His generosity has marked health and education sectors, notably with a $100 million donation to the now-named Cooperman Barnabas Medical Center.

Born

April 25, 1943 in New York City, U.S.

Age

82 years

Source Of Wealth

Hedge Funds

Industries

Finance & Investments

Citizenship

United States

Residence

Boca Raton, Florida

Education

Master of Business Administration, Columbia Business School; Bachelor of Arts/Science, Hunter College

Spouse

Toby Cooperman

Children

Leon G. Cooperman, an American billionaire investor and hedge fund manager, was born on April 25, 1943, in the South Bronx, New York City. Born into a Jewish family, he is the son of immigrants from Poland. Cooperman holds the distinction of being the first person in his family to earn a college degree.

Leon G. Cooperman: Family

Leon G. Cooperman is married to Toby, and together they have two sons, Wayne and Michael. The couple is also blessed with three grandchildren. They reside in the Short Hills neighborhood of Millburn, New Jersey, and Boca Raton, Florida.

Leon G. Cooperman: Career Highlights

Cooperman's career journey began in 1965 when he worked as a quality control engineer at Xerox. After graduating from Columbia Business School with an MBA in 1967, he joined Goldman Sachs and spent 22 years in the Investment Research Department. During his tenure, he held various leadership positions, including partner-in-charge, co-chairman of the Investment Policy Committee, and chairman of the Stock Selection Committee. In 1989, he became chairman and CEO of Goldman Sachs Asset Management and served as the chief investment officer of the equity product line. He also managed the GS Capital Growth Fund for one and a half years.

Cooperman achieved remarkable recognition in the industry, being voted number one portfolio strategist in Institutional Investor's "All-America Research Team" survey for nine consecutive years. After a successful 25-year career at Goldman Sachs, he retired in 1991.

Leon G. Cooperman: Companies

Following his retirement from Goldman Sachs, Cooperman established his private investment partnership, Omega Advisors, Inc. He served as the chairman and CEO of Omega Advisors until his retirement in 2016, when the firm transitioned into a family office.

Leon G. Cooperman: Major Achievements

Cooperman's contributions to the financial world have been widely recognized. He received an honorary doctorate in finance from Roger Williams University and was included in Bloomberg Markets magazine's 50 Most Influential list in 2012.

Additionally, Forbes magazine listed him as one of the 40 Highest-Earning hedge fund managers in 2013 and among the top 25 hedge fund managers in 2014.

Leon G. Cooperman: Awards & Achievements

Cooperman's exceptional achievements in the investment industry have garnered numerous awards and accolades. He was recognized as the number one portfolio strategist in Institutional Investor's "All-America Research Team" survey for an impressive nine consecutive years.

Leon G. Cooperman: Personal Life & Legacy

Beyond his professional accomplishments, Cooperman is actively involved in philanthropic endeavors. He and his wife, Toby, are signatories of The Giving Pledge, committing a significant portion of their wealth to charitable causes. Their contributions include $5 million to Birthright Israel in 2010, $25 million to Columbia Business School in 2011, and $25 million to Saint Barnabas Medical Center in 2014. In 2021, they made a substantial donation of $100 million to Saint Barnabas Medical Center, leading to its renaming as Cooperman Barnabas Medical Center.

Cooperman's commitment to education is evident through the establishment of the Cooperman College Scholars Fund in 2015, which assists high-achieving high school students with college expenses. He is also the founding Master Player of the Portfolios with Purpose virtual stock trading contest and serves as a board member for the Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation and a charitable member of the Songs of Love Foundation.

Leon G. Cooperman: Trivia

Cooperman's political and economic views have often sparked discussions. He primarily supports Republican political campaigns and has expressed his opinions on various economic policies. In 2011, he wrote an open letter to President Barack Obama, accusing him of engaging in class warfare. He criticized Elizabeth Warren's wealth tax proposal in 2019, predicting negative consequences for the stock market if she were elected. During the January 2021 GameStop short squeeze, he criticized potential capital gains tax increases, calling the fair share concept "bullshit" and an attack on wealthy individuals.

In 2023, Cooperman made headlines when he stopped donating to Columbia University due to student protests of the Israel-Hamas war.

Wealth History

Timeline

April 25, 1943

Leon G. Cooperman is born in the South Bronx, New York City.

1965

Cooperman works as a quality control engineer at Xerox.

1967

Cooperman receives an MBA from Columbia Business School.

1967

Cooperman joins Goldman Sachs after graduating from Columbia.

1989

Cooperman becomes chairman and CEO of Goldman Sachs Asset Management.

1991

Cooperman retires from Goldman Sachs after 25 years of service.

1991

Cooperman organizes private investment partnership, Omega Advisors, Inc. after leaving Goldman Sachs.

2010

Cooperman and his wife commit $5 million to Birthright Israel.

2011

Cooperman donates $25 million to Columbia Business School.

2012

Cooperman is included in Bloomberg Markets magazine's 50 Most Influential list.

2013

Cooperman is listed as one of the 40 Highest-Earning hedge fund managers by Forbes.

2014

Cooperman is among the top 25 hedge fund managers by Forbes.

2014

Cooperman pledges $25 million to Saint Barnabas Medical Center.

2015

Cooperman launches Cooperman College Scholars Fund to assist high-achieving high school students with college expenses.

2016

Cooperman retires and converts Omega to a family office.

2016

Cooperman is charged with insider trading by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

2017

Omega Advisors agrees to a $4.9 million settlement with the SEC.

2021

Cooperman donates $100 million to Saint Barnabas Medical Center, leading to its renaming as Cooperman Barnabas Medical Center.

2023

Cooperman stops donating to Columbia University due to student protests of the Israel-Hamas war.

Leon G. Cooperman : FAQs

What is Leon G. Cooperman's current net worth?

Leon G. Cooperman's current net worth is $3.61 billion.

What is Leon G. Cooperman's current global rank among billionaires?

Leon G. Cooperman holds the 1156th position globally among billionaires.

What is Leon G. Cooperman's current ranking within the United States?

Leon G. Cooperman holds the 425th position in United States.

What was the change in Leon G. Cooperman's net worth compared to the previous year?

Leon G. Cooperman's net worth decreased by 0 million dollars compared to the previous year 2025, when his net worth was 3.61 billion dollars.

What are Leon G. Cooperman's main sources of wealth?

Leon G. Cooperman's main source of income comes from Hedge Funds.

In which industry does Leon G. Cooperman primarily operate?

Leon G. Cooperman is primarily involved in the Finance & Investments industry.

What is Leon G. Cooperman educational background?

Leon G. Cooperman holds a Master of Business Administration from Columbia Business School and a Bachelor of Arts/Science from Hunter College.

How old is Leon G. Cooperman?

Leon G. Cooperman is 82 years old.

How many children does Leon G. Cooperman have?

Leon G. Cooperman has 2 children.

Who is Leon G. Cooperman and what is his connection to Omega Advisors?

Leon G. Cooperman is an American billionaire investor, hedge fund manager, and the Chairman and CEO of Omega Advisors, a New York-based investment advisory firm.

What was the outcome of the 2016 SEC investigation into Leon G. Cooperman's Omega Advisors?

Omega Advisors faced insider trading charges from the SEC in 2016, leading to a $4.9 million settlement in 2017 without any admission of wrongdoing and compliance monitoring until 2022.

What significant contributions has Leon G. Cooperman made to philanthropy?

Leon G. Cooperman is a signatory of The Giving Pledge, has donated millions to various institutions including Columbia Business School and Saint Barnabas Medical Center, and established the Cooperman College Scholars Fund.

How has Leon G. Cooperman influenced political and economic discourse?

Leon G. Cooperman is known for his support of Republican campaigns, his open letter to President Obama criticizing class warfare, opposition to Elizabeth Warren's wealth tax, and his stance on capital gains tax increases.

What is Leon G. Cooperman's background and early career?

Born in the Bronx to a Jewish family of Polish immigrants, Cooperman was the first in his family to earn a college degree, graduated from Columbia Business School, and began his investment career at Goldman Sachs, eventually becoming its CEO.