Ray Dalio Biography: Raymond Thomas Dalio born August 8, 1949 is a renowned American investor and hedge fund manager. He has been co-chief investment officer of Bridgewater Associates, the world’s largest hedge fund, since 1985. Dalio founded Bridgewater in 1975 in New York. Born in New York City, Dalio attended C.W. Post College at Long Island University before earning an MBA from Harvard Business School in 1973. Two years later, he launched Bridgewater Associates. In 2013, Bridgewater was recognized as the largest hedge fund in the world. In 2020, Bloomberg ranked Dalio as the 79th wealthiest person globally. As of 2025, his net worth is estimated at $16 billion, placing him 124th on Forbes’ list of the richest people.
Ray Dalio Biography
Raymond Thomas Dalio was born on August 8, 1949, in New York City, to a jazz musician father and a homemaker mother. He grew up in Jackson Heights and later moved to Manhasset, New York. At the age of 12, Dalio began working as a caddy at The Links Golf Club. By the time he reached high school, he had already built an investment portfolio worth several thousand dollars, laying the foundation for his future career in finance.
Ray Dalio Biography Details
| Born | Raymond Thomas Dalio
August 8, 1949 (age 75) New York City, U.S. |
| Education | Long Island University, Post (BS) Harvard University (MBA) |
| Occupation | Hedge fund manager |
| Known for | Founder of Bridgewater Associates |
| Spouse | Barbara Dalio |
| Children | 4 sons, including Paul |
| Category | Politician Biography |
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About Ray Dalio
Raymond Thomas Dalio is an American investor and hedge fund manager, who has served as co-chief investment officer of the world’s largest hedge fund, Bridgewater Associates, since 1985. He founded Bridgewater in 1975 in New York.
- Born: 8 August 1949 (age 75 years), Jackson Heights, New York, United States
- Net worth: 1,400 crores USD (2025) Forbes
- Spouse: Barbara Dalio
- Children: Devon Dalio, Mark Dalio, Paul Dalio, Matt Dalio
- Education: Herricks High School, Harvard University · See more
- Parents: Marino Dallolio, Ann Dallolio
Early Life
Dalio was born in Jackson Heights, Queens, New York. At the age of 8, his family relocated to Manhasset in Nassau County, Long Island. He is the son of Marino Dalio, a jazz musician who played the clarinet and saxophone at New York City’s famous jazz venues, including the Copacabana, and Ann, a homemaker. Dalio is of Italian descent and attended Herricks High School.
As a teenager, Dalio worked as a caddy at The Links Golf Club, which was close to his home. There, he caddied for several Wall Street professionals, including veteran George Leib. Leib and his wife Isabelle took Dalio into their home for family dinners and holiday gatherings. Their son, a Wall Street trader, later gave Dalio a summer job at his trading firm. Dalio began investing at the age of 12 when he purchased $300 worth of Northeast Airlines shares and tripled his investment after the airline merged with another company.
Ray Dalio at a Glance
- Category: Richest Business › Richest Billionaires
- Net Worth: $16 Billion
- Birthdate: 1949 (76 years old)
- Birthplace: Jackson Heights, New York City
- Gender: Male
- Profession: Businessperson
- Nationality: United States of America
Career Beginnings
After graduating from Harvard, Dalio worked in a converted barn in Wilton, Connecticut, where he traded commodities. He later worked on the New York Stock Exchange, trading commodity futures. Dalio served as Director of Commodities at Dominick & Dominick LLC and later became a futures broker at Shearson Hayden Stone. However, Dalio’s behavior at Shearson, including paying a stripper to perform at a company event and punching a superior, led to his dismissal.
In 1975, Dalio founded Bridgewater Associates as a wealth advisory firm. The firm published market research reports and gained its first major client, McDonald’s, leading to significant growth. Dalio’s reputation expanded when he profited from the 1987 stock market crash and appeared on “The Oprah Winfrey Show.” In 1991, he launched the firm’s flagship strategy, Pure Alpha.
Bridgewater Associates
By 2005, Bridgewater Associates had become the largest hedge fund globally. At that point, Dalio managed assets for major clients such as the California Public Employees’ Retirement System, the Pennsylvania State Employees’ Retirement System, and National Australia Bank. In 2007, Bridgewater’s assets under management grew to $50 billion. The firm correctly predicted the global financial crisis of 2008, allowing it to avoid much of the market downturn. By 2017, Bridgewater’s assets reached $160 billion. Dalio’s investment strategies, such as risk parity and quantitative methods, have been central to the firm’s success. Bridgewater’s exact investment portfolios are kept confidential, even from many of its employees.
Investment Strategies
Dalio employs various investment strategies at Bridgewater, including dividing his portfolio into “alpha” and “beta” investments and utilizing quantitative methods to identify new opportunities. He uses risk parity, which allows for diversification, leverage, and short selling. Dalio is known for keeping the firm’s investment portfolios secret from both external parties and most employees.
Philanthropy and Advocacy
Dalio, along with his wife, Barbara, joined the Giving Pledge initiated by Bill Gates and Warren Buffett, vowing to donate more than half of their wealth to charitable causes during their lifetimes. Through the Dalio Foundation, Dalio has donated millions to organizations such as the David Lynch Foundation and the National Philanthropic Trust.
Dalio has served on the board of trustees for NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital since 2020. That year, the hospital launched the Dalio Center for Health Justice, which works to improve healthcare access for underserved communities. Additionally, Dalio founded OceanX, an initiative focused on ocean exploration and protection.
Written Works
Dalio is an author of several influential books, including How the Economic Machine Works: A Template for Understanding What is Happening Now (2007), Principles: Life & Work (2017), Principles for Navigating Big Debt Crises (2018), and The Changing World Order: Why Nations Succeed and Fail (2021). His books are widely regarded for their insights into economics and leadership.
Personal Life
Dalio married his wife, Barbara, in 1973, and they have four sons: Devon, Paul, Matthew, and Mark. Tragically, their son Devon passed away in a car accident in 2020. The Dalio family resides in Greenwich, Connecticut. Dalio is an avid outdoorsman who enjoys fishing and hunting, particularly bow hunting for large animals such as buffalo and elk. He also practices transcendental meditation, which he believes contributes to his personal and professional success.
What is Ray Dalio Net Worth 2025?
Ray Dalio is a billionaire hedge fund manager and investor, with a net worth of $16 billion. He is best known for founding Bridgewater Associates, the world’s largest hedge fund, and has served as its co-chief investment officer since 1985. Dalio is considered an innovator in finance and is credited with popularizing strategies like currency overlay, portable alpha, and risk parity. Dalio began investing at the young age of 12, purchasing stocks. He graduated from Long Island University and earned an MBA from Harvard Business School. Afterward, he worked at the New York Stock Exchange and in the commodity futures market. Dalio worked at Merrill Lynch’s commodities division in 1972 and later served as Director of Commodities at Dominick & Dominick LLC.