Early Life
Henry B. Laufer was born in 1945 to a Jewish family. He displayed a strong aptitude for mathematics from a young age. Laufer earned a Ph.D. in mathematics from Princeton University in 1965.
Rise to Success
Laufer began his career in academia, joining the mathematics department at the State University of New York at Stony Brook in 1971. His research focused on complex variables and algebraic topology. In 1988, Laufer co-founded the Medallion Fund with Jim Simons. In 1992, Laufer left Stony Brook to join Renaissance Technologies. He served as the chief scientist and vice president of research. In 2008, he earned $125 million during the financial crisis. In 2009, he was named one of "Wall Street's Highest Earners" by Forbes, with an income of $390 million.
Key Business Strategies
Laufer's success is closely tied to his expertise in mathematics and quantitative analysis. His ability to apply complex mathematical models to financial markets was crucial to his achievements at Renaissance Technologies and the Medallion Fund.
Philanthropy
Laufer is known for his philanthropic endeavors, particularly in education. He and his wife, Marsha Zlatin Laufer, have supported numerous causes. Notably, they enabled the foundation of the Louis and Beatrice Laufer Center for Physical and Quantitative Biology at Stony Brook University. The Laufers also joined Jim and Marilyn Simons to endow the Mathematical Sciences Research Institute at the University of California, Berkeley, with a $70 million gift. Additionally, the Laufers have contributed to political campaigns, including Hillary Clinton's 2016 presidential campaign and Joe Biden's 2020 presidential campaign.
