How these smart investors made $1B
Jan 21, 2024
Case Study
Recent Posts
Hey Folks,
Smart investors spot edges others miss. They build conviction through data. They size bets with discipline. George Soros netted $1 billion in one day shorting the British pound. John Paulson cleared $4 billion personally betting against subprime mortgages. These cases show paths to outsized wins. You apply their steps in your trades.
We dissected these stories years ago. Emphasis landed on macro imbalances and asymmetric setups. Soros forced a currency crisis. Paulson rode a housing collapse. Both turned analysis into action.
The Thesis Building Engine
They start with exhaustive research. Soros pored over European exchange rates for months. He pegged the pound as 20% overvalued against the Deutsche mark under the ERM system. Paulson combed mortgage data. He flagged rising defaults in adjustable-rate loans tied to teaser rates. Neither chased headlines. They built models that screamed inefficiency.
Conviction follows proof. Soros borrowed $10 billion to short the pound. He held through volatility as the Bank of England burned reserves. Paulson bought $25 billion in credit default swaps. He scaled as spreads widened from 2006 to 2008. Risk management caps downside. Soros set stops at 10% loss. Paulson diversified across tranches.
Execution seals the deal. On Black Wednesday in 1992, the UK devalued the pound and quit the ERM. Soros closed his position for $1 billion profit in hours. Paulson's fund tallied $15 billion total as banks wrote down $500 billion in assets.
So what's the bigger picture on this?
You replicate their framework today. Scan for policy cracks or sector bubbles. Models project 20-50% edges in similar setups. Soros's play informs currency trades. Paulson's guides credit shorts.
We outline steps for your next big bet:
Screen global pegs for strains like ERM breaks.
Map debt cycles for CDS opportunities in overleveraged assets.
Target 5-10% portfolio allocation per thesis.
Exit on 3x risk or fundamental shifts.
Compound wins into a $100 million book over 20 years at 25% returns.
Macro Tailwinds: Currency and Credit Cycles
These wins rode systemic shifts. Soros exploited ERM rigidity amid German reunification costs. Paulson timed the Fed's rate hikes clashing with loose lending.
Key Parallels for Now:
Diverging central bank paths widen FX gaps.
Rising delinquencies signal credit unwind in consumer debt.
Policy pivots amplify moves, like rate cut delays.
Liquidity drains force devaluations or writedowns.
You spot these in real time. Tools like Bloomberg terminals flag divergences early.
The Asymmetric Bet Flywheel
Their process creates self-reinforcing gains. Research uncovers alpha. Conviction draws capital. Wins fund bigger positions. Losses stay small.
You build it step by step:
Dedicate 20 hours weekly to scenario modeling.
Backtest theses against 10-year data sets.
Partner with quants for edge validation.
Journal every trade to refine patterns.
Scale conviction scores above 80% into live books.
Repetition turns skill into wealth. Soros grew Quantum Fund to $25 billion assets. Paulson hit $35 billion peak AUM.
These cases deliver blueprints for billion-dollar outcomes. Soros proved one bold call pays forever. Paulson showed patience multiplies returns. You pick one tactic. Test it small. Watch your edge compound. Markets reward preparation over luck.
Anyways...
That's all for now!
Until Next Time,
- Equity Insider



