Mathematics · Finance · Philanthropy

Jim Simons

The Man Who Solved the Market

From groundbreaking mathematician to legendary quant investor to philanthropist extraordinaire. Explore the remarkable journey of the mathematician who revolutionized Wall Street.

3
Years at MIT
5 & 44
Medallion Fees
~100
PhDs at Renaissance
$B+
Given to Science

Ten Chapters

Journey through the extraordinary life of Jim Simons, from mathematical prodigy to market wizard to philanthropic visionary

1

The Mathematical Prodigy

From Childhood Wonder to MIT Brilliance

"I discovered as a very young kid, maybe four, something called Zeno's paradox... the idea that in pr..."
Read Chapter
2

Berkeley and Breaking Barriers

Solving the 'Impossible' Problem

"He said, 'Don't work on that question... because it's too tough.' Well, of course that just sort of ..."
Read Chapter
3

Code-Breaking and Consequences

The NSA Years and Getting Fired

"I was 29 years old and some kid came around and said he was a stringer from Newsweek... I was fired ..."
Read Chapter
4

Chern-Simons Theory

Accidental Physics Revolution

"You never know where it's going to go. It is a mystery... Math certainly works. But this has been fu..."
Read Chapter
5

From Blackboards to Trading Floors

The Pivot to Finance

"I got a little tired of mathematics. I was in my late 30s... I started trading and it went very well..."
Read Chapter
6

Building Renaissance Technologies

Assembling the Greatest Minds in Finance

"I didn't really know how to hire people to do fundamental trading... But I did know how to hire scie..."
Read Chapter
7

The Medallion Fund

Cracking the Market's Code

"The efficient market hypothesis is not correct... You're looking for anomalies. Any one anomaly migh..."
Read Chapter
8

Mathematical Approaches to Markets

Algorithms, Costs, and Risk Management

"Prediction is only one part. You have to understand costs... and how to minimize volatility. That ta..."
Read Chapter
9

Five and Forty-Four

Unprecedented Success and Wealth

"People got very mad: 'How can you charge such high fees?' I said, 'OK, you can withdraw.' But 'How c..."
Read Chapter
10

Giving It All Away

The Simons Foundation and Mathematical Philanthropy

"Basic science is the seed corn of our knowledge. You never know where it's going to go - but so ofte..."
Read Chapter

By The Numbers

The remarkable impact of Jim Simons

3
Years at MIT
Graduated in just 3 years
5 & 44
Medallion Fund Fees
% management + % profits
~100
PhDs Employed
At Renaissance Technologies
~4
Daily Physics Papers
Referencing Chern-Simons Theory
800+
Teachers Supported
Through Math for America in NYC
1994
Foundation Started
Simons Foundation for science

About This Project

This interactive website explores the life and legacy of Jim Simons, one of the greatest mathematicians and investors of our time. Through ten carefully crafted chapters, discover how a mathematician revolutionized quantitative trading and then dedicated his fortune to advancing science and mathematics education.

Content sourced from Jim Simons' TED Talk, interviews, and public presentations. Built with FastAPI and Jinja2 templates for traders and investors who want to learn from one of the masters.