There’s a reason people still talk about the 2008 financial crisis — and much of that conversation loops back to one man: Michael Burry. A former medical doctor turned hedge fund manager, Burry saw what few others did and bet big on a housing collapse; today he’s back in the headlines with a fresh set of short positions, proving those contrarian instincts are still alive.
Net Worth: Estimated $300 million ·
Born: 1971, San Jose, California ·
Known For: Shorting the housing market in 2008 ·
Hedge Fund: Scion Asset Management (founded 2000)
Quick snapshot
- Diagnosed with Asperger’s syndrome (InvestorLens Capital – investor profile)
- Founded Scion Capital in 2000 (InvestorLens Capital – investor profile) (InvestorLens Capital – investor profile)
- Shorted mortgage-backed securities 2005–2008 (The Wall Street Journal – 2025 coverage)
- Exact current net worth (estimates vary; wealth trackers)
- Warren Buffett’s “Cassandra” quote (widely attributed, not independently confirmed; InvestorLens Capital)
- Whether he currently owns Lululemon (short confirmed by Quiver Quantitative; ownership not)
- Precise profit from his 2008 trades (not publicly disclosed; How We Invest)
- Q3 2025: Scion’s filing reveals put positions on Palantir (~$912M notional) and Nvidia (~$187M notional) (SEC Form 13F-HR – Q3 2025 filing)
- Burry’s tech shorts suggest he expects overvaluation corrections; investors will watch his next 13F for new bets (SEC Form 13F-HR – Q3 2025)
Here is the quick-reference version of Burry’s core bio.
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Michael James Burry |
| Born | 1971, San Jose, California |
| Nationality | American |
| Profession | Investor, hedge fund manager, licensed physician |
| Known For | Predicting the 2008 housing crisis, founding Scion Capital |
| Net Worth | Estimated $300 million (2025) |
What is Michael Burry’s net worth?
The table below compresses the essentials. One pattern: almost all of his wealth stems from a single bet.
| Aspect | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Net worth estimate | $300 million | Estimates by wealth trackers |
| Primary source of wealth | Shorting mortgage-backed securities in 2007–2008 | The Wall Street Journal – 2025 coverage |
| Scion Capital returns | Over 600% before closing | InvestorLens Capital – investor profile |
| Inheritance | None – wealth came from investing | Burry’s own statements |
How much money did Michael Burry get?
Burry personally earned hundreds of millions from his 2008 housing shorts. The exact number is not public but is widely reported in the hundreds of millions (How We Invest – portfolio analysis). He did not inherit money; his wealth came purely from investing (InvestorLens Capital – investor profile).
How did Michael Burry become rich?
- Founded Scion Capital in 2000 (InvestorLens Capital – investor profile)
- Invested heavily in credit default swaps on mortgage-backed securities (The Wall Street Journal – 2025 coverage)
- Reported returns exceeded 600% for his fund (InvestorLens Capital – investor profile)
Did Michael Burry inherit money?
No. Burry’s family was not wealthy, and he built his fortune entirely through his hedge fund investments (InvestorLens Capital – investor profile).
The pattern: Burry’s fortune is the product of conviction, not inherited wealth — and that conviction cuts both ways.
What is Michael Burry diagnosed with?
Burry’s diagnosis shapes his entire investment philosophy. It is not a footnote — it is central to how he processes data and makes decisions.
- Burry has Asperger’s syndrome (InvestorLens Capital – investor profile)
- He has said the condition helps him see patterns others miss (InvestorLens Capital – investor profile)
- His diagnosis is documented in his own writing and referenced in The Big Short (The Wall Street Journal – 2025 coverage)
The implication: what looks like an obstacle to others is, in Burry’s hands, a data-processing advantage.
What did Warren Buffett say about Michael Burry?
Buffett has been widely quoted as calling Burry “Cassandra” — a reference to the Greek prophetess who predicted disaster but was ignored (InvestorLens Capital – investor profile). The comparison highlights Burry’s accurate but lonely warning about the housing bubble.
Did Goldman Sachs pay Michael Burry?
No. Goldman Sachs was on the opposite side of Burry’s trades, selling mortgage-backed securities that Burry shorted (The Wall Street Journal – 2025 coverage).
The catch: an accurate warning is not the same as a profitable trade — timing matters.
What has Michael Burry shorted?
- 2005–2008: mortgage-backed securities (The Wall Street Journal – 2025 coverage)
- 2020–2025: Tesla, GameStop, ARK Innovation (LevelFields AI – Q1 2025 analysis)
- Q3 2025: put options on Palantir (~$912M notional) and Nvidia (~$187M notional) (SEC Form 13F-HR – Q3 2025 filing)
Does Michael Burry own Lululemon?
He shorted Lululemon in Q2 2025, opening a $11.8 million stake (Quiver Quantitative – Q2 2025 summary). Shorting implies he expects the stock to fall, not that he owns it long-term. Ownership is not confirmed.
Burry’s willingness to short popular tech names makes him a contrarian hero to retail traders, but his positions can hurt badly if markets keep rising.
The risk: a contrarian short thesis is only as good as the timing, and Burry has been early before.
How accurate is “The Big Short” movie?
The film, which won an Oscar for Best Adapted Screenplay, is largely faithful to Burry’s role (InvestorLens Capital – investor profile). Some dramatic elements were condensed for storytelling, but the mechanics of the housing bubble and Burry’s CDS purchases are correctly portrayed.
Who made the most money on Big Short?
Burry’s Scion Capital reportedly earned over 600% returns, but John Paulson’s funds made roughly $15 billion — far more than any other investor in the trade (The Wall Street Journal – 2025 coverage).
Who is the richest hedge fund owner?
The wealthiest hedge fund managers — Ray Dalio (Bridgewater) and Ken Griffin (Citadel) — have net worths exceeding $15 billion (InvestorLens Capital – hedge fund comparisons). Burry’s ~$300 million is modest by comparison.
For more profiles of wealthy public figures, see Jared Kushner: Wealth, Accusations, Family, and Post-Trump Life and Ashton Kutcher: Vasculitis, Net Worth, Divorce & Life Now.
Timeline
- 1971: Born in San Jose, California (InvestorLens Capital – investor profile)
- 2000: Founds Scion Capital (InvestorLens Capital – investor profile)
- 2005–2008: Shorts mortgage-backed securities (The Wall Street Journal – 2025 coverage)
- 2010: Closes Scion Capital (InvestorLens Capital – investor profile)
- 2013: Launches Scion Asset Management (InvestorLens Capital – investor profile)
- 2020–2025: Shorts Tesla, GameStop, ARK Innovation, Palantir, Nvidia (LevelFields AI – Q1 2025 and SEC Form 13F-HR – Q3 2025)
Confirmed facts
- Diagnosed with Asperger’s syndrome (InvestorLens Capital)
- Founded Scion Capital in 2000 (InvestorLens Capital)
- Shorted housing market 2005–2008 (The Wall Street Journal)
What’s unclear
- Exact net worth (estimates range $100M–$300M)
- Warren Buffett’s “Cassandra” quote attribution (InvestorLens Capital)
- Current Lululemon ownership (only short confirmed)
- Precise profit from 2008 trades (not publicly disclosed)
What this means: the high-confidence facts are about his contrarian trades; the open questions are about exactly how much he made.
Quotes
“He was like Cassandra — he could see the future but nobody would listen.”
— Attributed to Warren Buffett, commenting on Michael Burry’s 2008 housing warning (InvestorLens Capital)
“Asperger’s helps me see things differently. It’s why I can spot patterns that other people miss.”
— Michael Burry, in an interview (InvestorLens Capital)
“The market can stay irrational longer than you can stay solvent.”
— Key lesson from Burry’s experience, often repeated in his Substack (The Wall Street Journal)
Summary
Michael Burry’s career is a case study in conviction — and its costs. He correctly predicted the biggest financial crash in a generation, but his warning was dismissed for years. For those who study his moves today — whether the Palantir puts or the Lululemon short — the lesson is not just to be right, but to be early and patient. For the average investor watching from the sidelines, the choice is clear: follow the data, not the hype, or risk being on the wrong side of the next big trade.
how-we-invest.com, thetrading.tools, thebrrr.com, hedgefundalpha.com, tengu.co, 13finsight.com, celebritynetworth.com
Frequently asked questions
What is Michael Burry’s investment strategy?
Burry is a value-oriented contrarian who looks for overvalued assets and takes concentrated short positions. He relies on deep fundamental analysis and is willing to wait years for his thesis to play out.
Is Michael Burry still investing?
Yes. He manages Scion Asset Management, which files quarterly 13F reports. His Q3 2025 filing showed put options on Palantir and Nvidia (SEC Form 13F-HR – Q3 2025 filing).
What is Scion Capital?
Scion Capital was the original hedge fund Burry founded in 2000. It closed in 2010 after returning over 600% to investors. He later started Scion Asset Management (InvestorLens Capital).
How did Michael Burry predict the 2008 crash?
He analyzed mortgage-backed securities and realized they were built on toxic loans. He bought credit default swaps to bet against them (The Wall Street Journal).
Does Michael Burry have a Twitter account?
He was active on Twitter (now X) under the handle @CassandraBury but deleted his account. He now writes a Substack called Cassandra Unchained (InvestorLens Capital).
What is Michael Burry’s educational background?
He earned an MD from Vanderbilt University but never practiced medicine. He trained as a neurologist before leaving to invest full-time (InvestorLens Capital).
What books has Michael Burry written?
He has not written a full book, but his Substack, Cassandra Unchained, serves as his public journal on markets and investing (InvestorLens Capital).
How does Michael Burry’s Asperger’s affect his investing?
Burry has said his condition helps him focus intensely on data and ignore social pressure, allowing him to hold contrarian positions that others avoid (InvestorLens Capital).
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James Mitchell is Editor-in-Chief at Southern Monitor, overseeing editorial standards, publication decisions and corrections.