Michael Burry News: The Man Who Predicted the Housing Market Crash

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Michael Burry's big break came when he started working at Goldman Sachs, where he discovered a passion for value investing. He eventually left to start his own hedge fund, Scion Asset Management.

Burry's most notable prediction was the housing market crash, which he foresaw due to the excessive borrowing and speculation in the market. He shorted the housing market, betting against it, and made a significant profit when the bubble burst.

Early Life and Education

Michael Burry was born and grew up in San Jose, California, with Rusyn ancestry.

He lost his left eye to retinoblastoma at the age of two and has worn 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, earning a strong foundation in both fields.

Burry earned an MD degree from Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, a prestigious institution with a long history of producing top-notch medical professionals.

Credit: youtube.com, Michael Burry: Early Life and Education

He started but did not finish his residency in pathology at Stanford University Medical Center, where he likely gained valuable hands-on experience.

Despite not practicing medicine full-time, Burry has kept his license as a physician active with the Medical Board of California, including continuing education requirements.

Burry's early life was marked by both challenge and opportunity, setting him up for success in his future endeavors.

Investment Career

Michael Burry's investment career is a testament to his unique approach to the market. He started out as a hobby, making a name for himself in online forums and on his blog.

Burry's strategies and insights were unlike those of others in the field, as he himself said, "Everything I do in investment is just very different." His active participation in online forums and sharing of insights on his blog positioned him as a respected voice in the investment community.

In 2000, Burry launched his own investment fund, Scion Capital, with an initial capital boost of $1 million from Joel Greenblatt of Gotham Capital. This marked a significant move in his career, and the fund's success was swift.

Michael Burry's Career

Credit: youtube.com, Michael Burry Explains Investing Process for Beginners

Michael Burry's career as an investor started as a hobby, but he quickly made a name for himself in the investing space. His unique strategies and insights, shared on his blog, positioned him as a respected voice in the investment community.

He launched his own investment fund, Scion Capital, in 2000 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 professional investment career.

Burry's fund, Scion Capital, was a huge success, giving its investors a return of 55% in 2001, while the S&P 500 suffered an 11% decline. He strategically shorted overvalued tech stocks, capitalizing on the dot-com bubble.

In 2008, Burry shut down his original hedge fund, Scion Capital, due to substantial criticism of his strategy. He then rebranded and relaunched his fund as Scion Asset Management in 2013.

Burry's new firm, Scion Asset Management, targets investments in gold, water, and agricultural land, reflecting his conviction that water is the most valuable asset of the future. He believes that water, as a potentially scarce resource, will become increasingly valuable.

Credit: youtube.com, Want to be Rich? Don't Break Michael Burry's 4 Rules

Burry is known for being an independent thinker who diverges from the herd mentality, as seen in his decision to short the mortgage bond market for CDOs in 2007. He considers himself a value investor and has been highly critical of government financial policy.

Burry has expressed his views on the Federal Reserve's policies, stating that they have no intention of fighting inflation. He has also been known to share his predictions and insights on social media, including his prediction of a recession in 2023, which he later contradicted.

$300 Million

Michael Burry's net worth is estimated to be $300 million, according to Celebrity News Net Worth.

He had a significant amount of assets under his management in 2004, over $600 million.

Burry's correct prediction of the 2008 housing market collapse led to significant profits.

He has continued to invest in stocks that have increased his net worth since then.

Burry has profited the most from identifying and betting against markets.

His investment strategy has been successful, allowing him to grow his net worth to $300 million.

Key Takeaways and Facts

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Michael Burry is an investor who made a name for himself by predicting the subprime mortgage crisis and profiting from it. He shorted the 2007 mortgage bond market, making $100 million for himself and $700 million for his investors.

Burry has a unique background, holding an M.D. and being licensed to practice medicine in California, although he doesn't actually practice.

Here are some key facts about Michael Burry:

  • He shut down his hedge fund, Scion Capital, in 2008.
  • In 2013, he incorporated his private investment firm, Scion Asset Management.
  • In April 2022, he tweeted that the Fed “has no intention of fighting inflation.”

Burry's predictions and investments have been featured in various publications, including Vanity Fair and The New York Times.

Personal Life and Education

Michael Burry was born in 1971 and raised in San Jose, California. He lost his left eye to a rare form of cancer called retinoblastoma at the age of two and has worn a prosthetic eye ever since.

Burry earned his bachelor's degree in economics at the University of California, Los Angeles. He also studied premed during his time at UCLA.

He then went on to get an M.D. from Vanderbilt University School of Medicine. Burry's medical education laid the groundwork for his future career in investing.

Businesswoman analyzing financial documents at her desk in a professional office setting.
Credit: pexels.com, Businesswoman analyzing financial documents at her desk in a professional office setting.

Burry began residencies at Stanford University in neurology and pathology. He left Stanford after his third year in residency to focus full-time on investing.

Burry keeps up his medical license with the Medical Board of California by taking continuing education courses. This shows his commitment to staying up-to-date in both his medical and investing pursuits.

Michael Burry has a wife and two adult sons. One of his sons was diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome as a boy.

Investment Strategies

Michael Burry's investment strategy is worth noting, especially when it comes to his recent moves in Chinese stocks. He significantly increased his stake in JD.com, doubling his shares to 500,000 for a total value of roughly $20 million.

Burry's confidence in these stocks is evident in his significant investments, but it's also worth noting that he purchased put options on these stocks, which could be a protective measure against potential losses. He might be preparing for a possible downturn in the market.

Credit: youtube.com, Michael Burry Just Bet Against the Entire Stock Market

JD.com, Alibaba, and Baidu have strong earnings growth, but their valuations are lower compared to growth and tech stocks in the US. Burry's strategy of buying put options on these stocks could be a way to hedge against potential losses due to the uncertainty of Trump's tariffs.

Burry's approach is not without risk, as the Chinese government's influence and the country's struggling economy could impact these stocks. However, his experience and track record make his investment decisions worth considering.

Here are the stocks Burry increased his stake in during the third quarter:

  • JD.com: 500,000 shares, valued at roughly $20 million
  • Baidu: 125,000 shares, valued at roughly $13.2 million
  • Alibaba: 200,000 shares, valued at more than $21 million

Burry's investment strategy is a reminder that even experienced investors like him can't predict the future with certainty. However, his willingness to take calculated risks and adapt to changing market conditions is a valuable lesson for investors.

The Big Short

The Big Short is a 2015 film adaptation of Michael Lewis' best-selling book of the same name. It focuses on the lives of several American financial professionals who predicted and profited from the housing bubble collapse in 2007 and 2008.

Credit: youtube.com, The Big Short (2015) - Dr.Michael Burry closes Scion Capital (Final Letter to Investors)

The book, published in 2010, is a loose sequel to Lewis' Liar's Poker, which chronicles his work experiences at Salomon Brothers in the 1980s. The Big Short offers a deep dive into the lives and psychology of Wall Street professionals.

The film adaptation, cowritten and directed by Adam McKay, highlights the story of Michael Burry, who predicted and profited from the housing bubble collapse.

What Is Burry Shorting?

Michael Burry is known for shorting high-flying technology stocks and funds. He's made big bets against companies like Tesla Inc. and Cathie Wood's ARK Innovation ETF.

Burry's latest short is against BlackRock Inc.'s semiconductor fund. Unfortunately for him, BlackRock's success has continued into 2024, leaving his choice looking wobbly.

What Is the Big Short?

The Big Short is a 2015 film adaptation of Michael Lewis' best-selling book of the same name. The movie focuses on the lives of several American financial professionals who predicted and profited from the housing bubble collapse in 2007 and 2008.

The book, published in 2010, is a loose sequel to Lewis' earlier work, Liar's Poker, which chronicled his experiences at Salomon Brothers in the 1980s.

Market Impact

Credit: youtube.com, Why Michael Burry Just Sold Half his Stock Holdings

Michael Burry's investment strategies are always worth paying attention to, and his latest moves are no exception. He's betting on a Wall Street crash by purchasing put options against the S&P 500 and Nasdaq 100.

Burry's firm, Scion Asset Management, has a unique approach to investing, owning only eight stocks. In the third quarter, they significantly increased their position in several Chinese stocks, including JD.com, Baidu, and Alibaba. Burry doubled his stake in JD.com to 500,000 shares, valued at around $20 million.

Burry's investment in Chinese stocks is a bullish move, despite the potential risks of tariffs imposed by the Trump administration. He purchased put options on these stocks, which could lead to profits if the stocks go down, but are also a protective measure in case the market doesn't react as expected.

The impact of tariffs on Chinese stocks could be significant, with some estimates suggesting they could be as high as 60%. However, Burry's experience and track record suggest he's not one to be swayed by market sentiment. He's likely considering the long-term potential of these stocks, despite the short-term volatility.

Here's a breakdown of Burry's investments in Chinese stocks:

Frequently Asked Questions

Did Michael Burry sell BioAtla?

Yes, Michael Burry sold BioAtla. He liquidated his holdings in the cancer biotech company.

What stock did Michael Burry buy?

Michael Burry bought 250,000 shares of JD.com and 50,000 shares of Baidu, increasing his fund's stakes in these Chinese companies significantly.

Rosalie O'Reilly

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Rosalie O'Reilly is a skilled writer with a passion for crafting informative and engaging content. She has honed her expertise in a range of article categories, including Financial Performance Metrics, where she has established herself as a knowledgeable and reliable source. Rosalie's writing style is characterized by clarity, precision, and a deep understanding of complex topics.

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