Early Life
Raymond Thomas Dalio was born on August 8, 1949, in New York City. He grew up in a middle-class family. At the age of 12, he started investing in stocks, buying shares of Northeast Airlines. Dalio attended C.W. Post College of Long Island University and later earned an MBA from Harvard Business School in 1973.
Rise to Success
In 1975, Dalio founded Bridgewater Associates in his New York City apartment. Over nearly five decades, he grew Bridgewater into the largest hedge fund in the world. The firm gained recognition for its innovative investment strategies, including risk parity and separating alpha and beta. Dalio's leadership led Bridgewater to manage significant assets for institutional clients globally. Dalio stepped down as CEO in 2017, as CIO in 2020, and as chairman at the end of 2021, selling his full stake by 2025.
Key Business Strategies
Dalio's investment philosophy centers on understanding global macroeconomic trends and applying a "radical truth and transparency" approach. He introduced strategies such as the "Pure Alpha" fund, a diversified alpha source, and the "All Weather" strategy designed to perform well in various economic conditions.
Philanthropy
Ray Dalio and his wife, Barbara, are committed to philanthropy. Through the Dalio Foundation, they have contributed over $1 billion to various causes, including health equity, education, ocean exploration, and social entrepreneurship. They are signatories of the Giving Pledge, committing to donate most of their wealth to charitable causes.
