Early Life and Education
Ole Andreas Halvorsen was born in Borge, Norway, in 1961. Before entering the world of finance, Halvorsen served as an officer in the Royal Norwegian Navy and was a leader of a Norwegian SEAL team. He then pursued higher education in the United States, graduating from Williams College in 1986 with a degree in economics. Halvorsen furthered his education by obtaining an MBA from Stanford University Graduate School of Business in 1990, where he was recognized as an Arjay Miller Scholar.
Rise to Success
Halvorsen's career began in the investment banking division of Morgan Stanley. He later joined Tiger Management Corporation, where he held positions including senior managing director and director of equities. In 1999, he co-founded Viking Global Investors with David Ott and Brian Olson. The firm, based in Connecticut, focuses on public equity and hedge funds, managing over $46 billion in assets. Halvorsen is known for his disciplined approach and strong performance, with Viking's flagship hedge fund returning 13.8% net of fees in 2023.
Key Business Strategies
Halvorsen's investment strategy is rooted in fundamental research and a long-term perspective. His firm employs a long-short equity strategy and conducts extensive due diligence to identify undervalued or overvalued stocks. Viking Global Investors focuses on financial, technology, and healthcare sectors. Halvorsen is also known for his bold bets, which have often led to significant gains.
Philanthropy
Halvorsen supports educational initiatives and charitable causes through the Viking Global Foundation. He also serves on the board of trustees of the Sterling and Francine Clark Art Institute and Williams College.
