US billionaire American investor Leon Cooperman has reportedly bought almost one million shares in Man United. Details about his fortune and career explored.
Leon Cooperman made the news in November 2023 and once again for his riches as he reportedly bought just under one million shares in Manchester United.
Bloomberg have reported that the shares purchased by Cooperman – who is a former hedge fund manager – are worth £13.5m.
The shock news of Cooperman’s investment comes as Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s deal to take over 25 percent of the club for £1.3bn is nearing completion.
Following this, many are curious to know more about how he makes his money and how much he is worth as of today.
What is Leon Cooperman’s net worth?
Leon Cooperman — businessman, hedge fund manager, and trader — is one of the wealthiest investors in the world.
How much is Leon Cooperman worth? As of right now, he has an estimated current net worth of approximately 2.8 billion dollars, per Forbes.
The publication pegs him as the 1113th richest person in the world as of 2023.
How does Leon Cooperman make his money? He currently serves as the chairman and CEO of Omega Advisors, a New York-based investment advisory firm managing over $3.3 billion in assets under management.
Most of the money managed consists of his wealth.
Forbes magazine regards Cooperman as a “Wall Street legend” and ranks at number 24 in the highest-earning hedge fund managers list from 2018.
“I’m the first generation in my family born in America, the first generation to go to college. All of my education is public-school-based,” Cooperman said in a CNBC interview in 2020.
In 2018, he converted Omega Advisors into a family office, claiming he did not want to spend more time chasing the S&P 500 market index.
Who is Leon Cooperman? He has an impressive career
Leon G. Cooperman was born on April 25, 1943, in New York, New York, United States.
The 80-year-old investor made a career managing hedge funds and trading stocks — he was voted the number one portfolio strategist in the Institutional Investor for nine years.
He was the first in his family to earn a college degree, later receiving his MBA from Columbia Business School in 1967.
Cooperman worked for 22 years at Goldman Sachs in the Investment Research Department.
He held the title of partner-in-charge, co-chairman of the Investment Policy Committee, and chairman of the Stock Selection Committee while there.
In 1989 he was named chairman and chief executive officer of Goldman Sachs Asset Management.
Cooperman retired from Goldman Sachs two years later and organized a private investment partnership — Omega Advisors, Inc.
According to Bloomberg, in November 2023 the former hedge fund manager bought just shy of a million shares in Manchester United.
Leon’s shares are understood to be valued at around $16.8million (£13.5million).
What is known about Leon Cooperman’s love life?
Leon is married to Toby Cooperman, a retired special education specialist with a lifelong interest in helping those with learning disabilities.
The pair met in French class at the Hunter College Bronx campus — now Lehman College — and got married the same year they finished.
For more than 20 years Toby has worked at the Early Childhood Learning Center, a school for special education students in Chatham, New Jersey.
She established a special needs department at the Leon and Toby Cooperman Jewish Community Center of MetroWest New Jersey.
Toby currently serves on the Board of JFS and the Federation Board of UJA of South Palm Beach County.
Toby and Leon are philanthropists and regularly donate to charitable causes and institutions they support.
In 2011 the couple donated $25million to Hunter College — the largest donation the educational institution has ever received.
At the time Hunter president Jennifer Raab said: “With the Coopermans’ gift, the library — which will cost a total of $45 million — is now only $9 million short of its goal.”
They regarded their gift as “a way to celebrate both their 50th wedding anniversary and their 50th Hunter reunion.”
The couple also donates to health research, Jewish community causes, and research and school grants.