Leon Cooperman

Leon Cooperman grew up in the South Bronx and put himself through Columbia University, where he later earned his MBA. He spent 25 years at Goldman Sachs, becoming head of equity research and then running Goldman Sachs Asset Management, before leaving in 1991 to found Omega Advisors. His fund became one of the most respected on Wall Street over the following decades, known for rigorous fundamental analysis and a growth-at-a-reasonable-price philosophy.

Cooperman converted Omega to a family office in 2018 after settling insider trading charges with the SEC — charges he contested publicly and vigorously. He is known as one of Wall Street's most outspoken personalities, a frequent CNBC commentator, and a vocal critic of wealth taxes. He signed the Giving Pledge, committing to donate the majority of his wealth to charity. He continues to manage his personal capital with the same disciplined approach he applied at Omega.