Early Life and Education
Leon Cooperman was born in the South Bronx, New York City, to a Jewish family of Polish immigrants. He was the first in his family to earn a college degree, graduating from Hunter College. He later earned an MBA from Columbia Business School in 1967. Cooperman began his career as a quality control engineer at Xerox in 1965.
Rise to Success
After graduating from Columbia Business School, Cooperman joined Goldman Sachs the day after graduation. He spent 22 years in the investment research department, eventually becoming a partner and co-chairman of the Investment Policy Committee and chairman of the Stock Selection Committee. In 1989, he became chairman and CEO of Goldman Sachs Asset Management. In 1991, Cooperman left Goldman Sachs to found Omega Advisors, a hedge fund that achieved impressive returns.
Key Business Strategies
Cooperman employed a value-oriented investment strategy, focusing on undervalued stocks. His fund, Omega Advisors, often outperformed the S&P 500 Index. After converting his fund to a family office in 2018, Cooperman continued to manage his investments. He is known for his hard work and intuition in the investment world.
Philanthropy
Cooperman and his wife, Toby, are signatories of The Giving Pledge, committing to donate a significant portion of their wealth to charitable causes. Their philanthropic efforts include substantial donations to Saint Barnabas Medical Center, which was renamed Cooperman Barnabas Medical Center, Columbia Business School, and Hunter College. They also launched the Cooperman College Scholars Fund to assist high-achieving high school students with college expenses.
