Who is Ken Griffin?
Ken Griffin is the founder, chief executive and co-chief investment officer of the hedge fund Citadel and its sister firm Citadel Securities, one of the biggest market makers in US stocks. Forbes valued him at $57.8 billion on its real-time list on 12 November 2026, 33rd in the world 15.
How did Ken Griffin make his money?
He started trading as a Harvard undergraduate, using a satellite dish on his dormitory roof to receive stock prices, and launched a small hedge fund in 1987. He founded Citadel in 1990 and built it into a multi-strategy investment firm, and its separate market-making arm, Citadel Securities, now handles a large share of US retail stock trades 178. His wealth is his ownership of both businesses 7.
Early life and education
Kenneth Cordele Griffin was born on 15 October 1968 in Daytona Beach, Florida. He graduated from Harvard University with a bachelor’s degree in economics 12.
Citadel and Citadel Securities
Citadel is a global alternative asset manager, and Citadel Securities is a market maker that serves asset managers, banks and brokers. In 2022 Griffin announced that Citadel would move its headquarters from Chicago to Miami 179. Read Ken Griffin’s companies.
Giving and politics
Citadel’s biography says he has donated more than $2.5 billion to education, opportunity and health-science causes. Wikipedia lists his political party as Republican 17.
Ken Griffin net worth
Forbes valued him at $57.8 billion on 12 November 2026, about ₹5.4 lakh crore at ₹94 to the dollar, up from about $51.2 billion on Bloomberg’s index in January 56. See Ken Griffin net worth and our ranking of the top 50 richest people in the world.