Personal Information

Full Name: James Harris Simons

Nickname: Jim Simons

Country/State: United States

Date of Birth: 1938-04-25

Languages Known: English

Zodiac Sign: Taurus

Food Habit: Non-Vegetarian

Religion: Jewish

Hobbies: Mathematics, philanthropy, reading, scientific research, sailing/boating

Education

School: Brookline public schools (Massachusetts)

College: Brookline public schools (Massachusetts)

Degrees Obtained: Bachelor of Science in Mathematics (MIT) Doctor of Philosophy in Mathematics (UC Berkeley)

Physical Stats

Height: 175 cm

Weight: 78 kg

Family Information

Parents: Father: Matthew Simons Mother: Marcia (née Kantor) Simons

Siblings: Only child

Marital Status: married

Wife: Marilyn Hawrys Simons (co-founder of the Simons Foundation)

Children: 5

Career

Current Position: Mathematician, Investor, Philanthropist (He passed away May 10, 2024)

Skills:

Net Worth: Approx USD 31.4 billion at time of death

Awards & Achievements: Oswald Veblen Prize in Geometry (1976) Inducted into Hedge Fund Manager Hall of Fame (2008) Recognised for pioneering quantitative investing model Major philanthropic gifts via Simons Foundation (mathematics, science, autism research)

Biography Details

James Harris Simons (April 25, 1938 – May 10, 2024) was an American mathematician, investor and philanthropist. He began his career in academia and mathematics, obtaining a BS at MIT and a PhD at UC Berkeley by age 23. He taught, conducted research in geometry and topology and worked as a codebreaker. Later he founded Renaissance Technologies, a hedge fund famous for its quantitative trading strategies and extraordinary returns. Under his leadership, the firm’s Medallion Fund achieved returns unmatched in the industry. Simons later co-founded the Simons Foundation with his wife, Marilyn, through which he made major philanthropic contributions in mathematics, science, education, and autism research. He passed away in New York at age 86.

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