
Michael Burry MD is a self-taught investor who made a name for himself by predicting the housing market crash. He's a true anomaly in the world of finance, having never attended business school or earned a degree in finance.
Burry's background is in medicine, having graduated from the University of Virginia with a degree in medicine. His experience in the medical field actually helped him develop a keen eye for detail and a unique perspective on the financial world.
One of Burry's most notable achievements is his role in exposing the subprime mortgage crisis. He was one of the first to sound the alarm on the dangers of subprime lending, and his warnings went largely unheeded by the financial industry.
Early Life and Education
Michael Burry was born and grew up in San Jose, California. He has Rusyn ancestry.
At the age of two, he lost his left eye to retinoblastoma and has had a prosthetic eye ever since.
Burry attended Santa Teresa High School as a teenager. He studied economics and pre-med at the University of California, Los Angeles.
He earned an MD degree from the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine. Burry also started but did not finish his residency in pathology at Stanford University Medical Center.
Despite not practicing, Burry has kept his license as a physician active with the Medical Board of California, including continuing education requirements.
Burry was highly critical of the lockdowns during the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States.
Investment Career
Michael Burry's investment career is a fascinating story of how he went from a hobby to a respected voice in the investment community. He started making a name for himself through his active participation in online forums and sharing his insights on his blog.
Burry's strategies and insights were unique, as he once said, "Everything I do in investment is just very different." He was known for diverging from the herd mentality, as he did when he shorted the mortgage bond market for CDOs in 2007.
Expand your knowledge: Principles: Investment and Economic Ray Dalio
In 2000, Burry launched Scion Capital, his own investment fund, with an initial capital boost of $1 million from Joel Greenblatt of Gotham Capital. This was a significant move that marked the beginning of his successful investment career.
Unlike the S&P 500, which suffered an 11% decline in 2001, Burry's fund gave its investors a return of 55%. He capitalized on the dot-com bubble by strategically shorting overvalued tech stocks.
Burry's fund was a success, and he became known for his astute investment decisions. He has continued to share his insights and predictions on social media, including a tweet in 2022 where he stated that the Fed has no intention of fighting inflation.
Consider reading: David Einhorn (hedge Fund Manager)
Michael Burry's Net Worth $300 Million
Michael Burry's net worth is estimated to be $300 million. This estimate comes from Celebrity News Net Worth.
Michael Burry's wealth primarily comes from the SEC filings of Scion Asset Management, the investment firm he owns.
The value of his assets and liabilities is not publicly known, so his net worth must be estimated rather than precisely calculated.
Personal Life and Investments
Michael Burry's personal life is not as widely discussed as his professional endeavors, but we do know that he founded Scion Asset Management LLC in 2013, a private investment company he still manages today.
As of June 2024, the firm had a notable $52.5 million in assets under management, according to its SEC filings.
Burry's investment portfolio is quite diverse, with his top holdings including Alibaba Group Holding Ltd., which accounts for 21% of his portfolio, and Shift4 Payments, Inc, making up 14%.
If this caught your attention, see: Leon Cooperman Holdings
How He Built His Wealth
Michael Burry's investing strategy is centered around being a contrarian investor, which means he tends to invest in the opposite direction of the market.
He's a value investor at heart, often shorting assets he deems over-hyped and buying put options instead.
Burry's approach is not for the faint of heart, as it encompasses significant risk, but it also yields high potential rewards.
He's not afraid to go against the herd mentality, as he did when he shorted the mortgage bond market for CDOs in 2007.
Here's an interesting read: Bill Miller Investor
Burry's also been highly critical of government financial policy, especially that of the Federal Reserve, which he believes has contributed to the real estate bubble.
He's not a public personality, preferring to keep a low profile and focus on his investments rather than seeking media attention.
Despite his reclusive persona, Burry's net worth has been amassed through his wise investment decisions, rather than through any other means.
What Does He Own?
Michael Burry's investment firm, Scion Asset Management LLC, has around $52.5 million in assets under management as of June 2024.
Burry's top holdings as of the second quarter of 2024 include Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. at 21% of his portfolio.
Shift4 Payments, Inc is another significant holding, making up 14% of Burry's investments.
Molina Healthcare, Inc is also a 14% stake in his portfolio, showing a diverse range of investments.
Baidu, Inc and JD.com Inc both hold 12% of Burry's portfolio, indicating a focus on technology and e-commerce.
Hudson Pacific Properties Inc is a smaller but still notable 11% holding, reflecting Burry's interest in real estate.
The RealReal, Inc, American Coastal Insurance Corporation, Olaplex Holdings, Inc, and BioAtla Inc round out his top holdings, each making up a smaller percentage of his portfolio.
Suggestion: David Swensen Portfolio
Scion Asset Management
Michael Burry, the former hedge-fund manager, predicted the housing market's plunge and made millions for himself and his investors. He shut down his original hedge fund, Scion Capital, in 2008 due to public criticism and a desire to explore other investment ventures.
Scion Capital was a hedge fund founded by Burry that strategically targeted investments in mortgage-backed securities. This move resulted in substantial financial gains - $700 million for his investors and $100 million personally.
Burry's success in predicting the stock market crash is largely credited to his unique focus on lenders rather than borrowers. He launched a new firm, Scion Asset Management, in 2013, which targets investments in gold, water, and agricultural land.
This new firm reflects Burry's conviction that water, as a potentially scarce resource, is the most valuable asset of the future.
Check this out: Bill Ackman Hedge Fund
Key Concepts and Definitions
Michael Burry is a physician turned investor, known for his value investing approach.
He is the founder of Scion Asset Management, a hedge fund he started in 2000.
Michael Burry's investment philosophy is based on his medical background, where he observed the importance of understanding the underlying causes of a patient's symptoms.
He is famous for his short position on the housing market in 2005, which was later portrayed in the film "The Big Short."
Value investing involves looking for undervalued companies with strong fundamentals.
Burry's investment strategy is focused on finding companies with a "moat", or a sustainable competitive advantage.
Biography and Company
Michael Burry was born on June 19, 1971, in San Jose, California. He studied economics and pre-medical sciences at UCLA.
After completing his studies, Burry went on to obtain his M.D. from the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine. He then moved on to complete his residencies at the Stanford Hospital in neurology and pathology.
During his spare time, Burry moonlighted as a financial investor, using fundamental analysis techniques learned from Benjamin Graham and David Dodd to identify overpriced stocks.
What Is

So, you're wondering what a biography is? A biography is a written account of a person's life, which can be a fascinating read.
It's a detailed description of someone's experiences, achievements, and challenges, often written by someone who knew them well.
A biography can be about anyone, from a historical figure to a famous celebrity.
It's a way to learn about a person's life story, their passions, and their impact on the world.
Biographies are often written in a narrative style, making them easy to read and engaging.
They can also be a great way to learn about a person's values, motivations, and lessons learned.
A company biography, on the other hand, is a written account of a company's history, mission, and values.
It's a way to learn about a company's origins, its founders, and its growth over time.
A company biography can be a valuable resource for employees, customers, and investors alike.
It provides insight into a company's culture, its products, and its services.
By reading a company biography, you can get a sense of what makes a company tick and what drives its success.
A fresh viewpoint: Read Shakespeare
Dr. Biography
Dr. Michael Burry was born June 19, 1971, in San Jose, California.
He studied economics and pre-medical sciences at UCLA before obtaining his M.D. from the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine.
While completing his residencies at the Stanford Hospital in neurology and pathology, he moonlighted as a financial investor in his spare time.
Dr. Burry used fundamental analysis techniques learned from Benjamin Graham and David Dodd to identify stocks that were overpriced relative to their intrinsic value.
He successfully shorted many stocks that he deemed were overvalued by speculative investors at the height of the dot-com bubble.
Dr. Burry managed to leave his residency position to become a hedge fund manager full-time in the early 2000s.
He founded Scion Capital and generated returns of 55% in his first full year, 2001, at a time when the S&P 500 fell nearly 12%.
Dr. Burry's contrarian investing strategy proved successful throughout the first decade of the 2000s.
Discover more: Michael Burry Portfolio
He capitalized on the instability of internet companies and the subprime lending market.
Burry's firm purchased credit default swaps from Goldman Sachs that were positioned against subprime mortgage deals.
His move proved to be extremely profitable, generating $825M for himself and his investors when the housing market collapsed in late 2007.
The Bottom Line
Michael Burry, MD, is a name that will likely be remembered for his remarkable prediction of the subprime mortgage crisis. He shorted the 2007 mortgage bond market and profited from it.
Burry's prediction was a bold move, but it paid off. He swapped CDOs and made a significant profit from the crisis.
Burry's story is an inspiration to anyone who has ever doubted their own abilities. He's a great example of how one person can make a real difference in the world.
Burry's investment firm, Scion Asset Management, has been successful in its own right. According to PitchBook, the firm has a reputation for being a savvy investor.
One of Burry's most notable investments was in the 2007 mortgage bond market. He shorted the market, which means he bet against it, and made a significant profit when the market crashed.
Burry's success has not gone unnoticed. He has been featured in several publications, including Vanity Fair and The New York Times.
Here are some key facts about Michael Burry's predictions and investments:
Burry's net worth is estimated to be over $1.5 billion, according to Celebrity News Net Worth.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Michael Burry still a doctor?
Michael Burry's medical license remains active, but it's unclear if he actively practices medicine. He continues to meet the Medical Board of California's requirements for a licensed physician.
What does Michael Burry have a doctorate in?
Michael Burry holds an M.D. from Vanderbilt University School of Medicine.
What is Michael Burry doing now?
Michael Burry currently runs his own investment fund, Scion Asset Management, which focuses on a limited portfolio of eight stocks. He has transitioned from his previous role as a hedge fund manager.
Does Michael Burry own Alibaba?
Yes, Michael Burry's hedge fund, Scion Capital Management, owns 45,000 shares of Alibaba Group Holdings Ltd. This investment is part of Burry's strategy to bet on Chinese stocks.
Did Michael Burry sell BioAtla?
Yes, Michael Burry sold BioAtla as part of his portfolio liquidation. He also sold shares in Hudson Pacific Properties.
Sources
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Burry
- https://www.investopedia.com/who-is-michael-burry-5235600
- https://www.foxbusiness.com/business-leaders/who-is-michael-burry
- https://moneymade.io/learn/article/michael-burry-net-worth
- https://sophisticatedinvestor.com/michael-burry-net-worth-companies-full-bio-investor-profile/
Featured Images: pexels.com