Thomas Peterffy

$79.10 B

Ranked #24 in World

About Thomas Peterffy

Thomas Peterffy, the Hungarian-born American magnate and pioneering force behind electronic trading, is the founder and principal owner of Interactive Brokers, a premier global online brokerage firm. Born in Budapest in 1944 and settled in the US post-1956 Hungarian Revolution, Peterffy transformed from an architectural draftsman to a leading technologist who introduced computerized trading. With a net worth of $25.3 billion, he's the 57th wealthiest individual globally. Despite stepping down as CEO in 2019, his innovative legacy continues to shape the financial trading industry.

Born

September 30, 1944 in Budapest, Hungary

Age

81 years

Source Of Wealth

Discount Brokerage

Industries

Finance & Investments

Citizenship

United States

Residence

Palm Beach, Florida

Education

Drop Out, New York University

Spouse

Dale McDonald (Divorced 1992)

Children

Thomas Peterffy, a Hungarian-born American billionaire businessman, was born on September 30, 1944, in Budapest, Hungary. After the failure of the Hungarian Revolution in 1956, he emigrated to the United States and joined his father in New York City in 1965. Peterffy worked as an architectural draftsman on highway projects and later volunteered to program a newly purchased computer at his firm, sparking his interest in technology.

Thomas Peterffy: Family

Thomas Peterffy is divorced and has three children. He currently resides in Palm Beach, Florida, and is known for his passion for equestrian sports.

Thomas Peterffy: Career Highlights

Peterffy started his career as an architectural draftsman but later became a computer programmer. He purchased a seat on the American Stock Exchange (AMEX) and developed the first electronic trading platform for securities, revolutionizing the financial industry. Peterffy's consistent drive to automate manual processes led him to introduce handheld computers onto the trading floor in the early 1980s, causing a stir in the industry. His AMEX seat-related business eventually evolved into Interactive Brokers, where he served as CEO until 2019.

Thomas Peterffy: Companies

Interactive Brokers

Interactive Brokers is an online discount brokerage firm founded by Thomas Peterffy in 1977. Initially known as T.P. & Co., the company has grown to operate numerous subsidiaries on major stock, futures, bonds, forex, and options exchanges worldwide. Interactive Brokers went public in 2007 under the ticker symbol IBKR on the Nasdaq exchange and later moved its listing to IEX in 2018, becoming the exchange's founding issuer. Barron's consistently ranks Interactive Brokers as the lowest-cost broker and Best Online Broker.

OneChicago

OneChicago is an all-electronic exchange jointly owned by IB Exchange Group, CBOE, and CME Group. As a privately held company regulated by the SEC and CFTC, OneChicago is headquartered in the Chicago Board of Trade Building. It offered approximately 2,272 single-stock futures (SSF) products and cleared all trading through Options Clearing Corporation (OCC).

OneChicago operated the only U.S.-based securities futures marketplace at the time.

Thomas Peterffy: Major Achievements

Thomas Peterffy's major achievements include founding and leading Interactive Brokers, a successful online discount brokerage firm. He revolutionized the financial industry by developing the first electronic trading platform for securities and consistently pushing for automation in financial processes. Peterffy's contributions have significantly impacted the way securities are traded and have made investing more accessible to individuals.

Thomas Peterffy: Awards & Achievements

In recognition of his contributions, Thomas Peterffy was honored with the Hungarian Order of Merit in 2017.

Thomas Peterffy: Personal Life & Legacy

Thomas Peterffy is known for his passion for equestrian sports and is an avid equestrian. He has made significant contributions to the equestrian community and is actively involved in various equestrian events. Peterffy's legacy lies in his pioneering role in the financial industry, where his innovative ideas and drive for automation have transformed the way securities are traded.

Thomas Peterffy: Trivia

Thomas Peterffy owns 75% of Interactive Brokers and has a net worth estimated at $25.3 billion as of 2023, making him the 57th richest man in the world and the richest Hungarian.

Wealth History

Timeline

September 30, 1944

Thomas Peterffy is born in Budapest, Hungary.

1956

Peterffy emigrates to the United States after the failure of the Hungarian Revolution.

1965

Peterffy joins his father in New York City and works as an architectural draftsman on highway projects.

Early 1980s

Peterffy creates a stir by introducing handheld computers onto the trading floor.

1977

Peterffy founds T.P. & Co., which later becomes Interactive Brokers.

2007

Interactive Brokers goes public under the ticker symbol IBKR on the Nasdaq exchange.

2018

Interactive Brokers moves its listing to IEX, becoming the exchange's founding issuer.

2019

Peterffy steps down as CEO of Interactive Brokers.

2020

Peterffy sells his 80-acre Connecticut estate for $21 million.

2023

Peterffy's net worth is estimated at $25.3 billion, making him the 57th richest man in the world.

Thomas Peterffy : FAQs

What is Thomas Peterffy's current net worth?

Thomas Peterffy's current net worth is $79.10 billion.

What is Thomas Peterffy's current global rank among billionaires?

Thomas Peterffy holds the 24th position globally among billionaires.

What is Thomas Peterffy's current ranking within the United States?

Thomas Peterffy holds the 17th position in United States.

What was the change in Thomas Peterffy's net worth compared to the previous year?

Thomas Peterffy's net worth increased by 3.1 billion dollars compared to the previous year 2025, when his net worth was 76.00 billion dollars.

What is the recent change in Thomas Peterffy's net worth?

Thomas Peterffy's net worth decreased by 181.01 million dollars recently, a 0.23% decrease, with his net worth standing at 79.10 billion dollars.

What are Thomas Peterffy's main sources of wealth?

Thomas Peterffy's main source of income comes from Discount Brokerage.

In which industry does Thomas Peterffy primarily operate?

Thomas Peterffy is primarily involved in the Finance & Investments industry.

What is Thomas Peterffy educational background?

Thomas Peterffy is a dropout from New York University.

How old is Thomas Peterffy?

Thomas Peterffy is 81 years old.

How many children does Thomas Peterffy have?

Thomas Peterffy has 3 children.

Who is Thomas Peterffy and what is he known for?

Thomas Peterffy is a Hungarian-born American billionaire businessman, recognized as the founder, chairman, and largest shareholder of Interactive Brokers. He is hailed for developing the first electronic trading platform for securities.

What was Thomas Peterffy's journey to founding Interactive Brokers?

Thomas Peterffy emigrated to the U.S in 1965, started as an architectural draftsman, transitioned to a computer programmer, and then bought a seat on the American Stock Exchange. His efforts in automating trading processes led to the founding of Interactive Brokers.

What services does Interactive Brokers offer and its significance in the market?

Interactive Brokers is an online discount brokerage firm offering services on major stock, futures, bonds, forex, and options exchanges worldwide. It is known for its cost-effectiveness and was ranked as Best Online Broker by Barron's.

What is OneChicago and what role did it play in the securities market?

OneChicago was an all-electronic exchange jointly owned by IB Exchange Group, CBOE, and CME Group. It was regulated by the SEC and CFTC and operated the only U.S.-based securities futures marketplace, offering single-stock futures products.