NetWorth
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Asness
Clifford Asness
Rank #642
UNITED STATES•Finance & Investments•Money management

Clifford Asness

Net Worth
$6.282B
0% (24h)
Clifford Asness is an American hedge fund manager and the co-founder of AQR Capital Management, a leading global investment firm specializing in quantitative and systematic investment strategies. Born in Queens, New York, Asness has built a successful career managing money, amassing a net worth of approximately $2.0 billion as of July 2024. His wealth stems from his expertise in money management and his role at AQR, which offers a range of products including hedge funds and mutual funds. Asness is recognized for his innovative, research-driven investment approaches.

How to read Clifford Asness's profile

Public net-worth figures are estimates. They combine observable inputs—typically listed equity, disclosed transactions, and market prices—with editorial judgment where filings are incomplete (for example, private holdings, debt, or cross-holdings). For Clifford Asness, we anchor the narrative to Money management and Money management, then update the headline number as markets move. The chart on this page is meant to show trajectory, not a certified balance sheet.

When you see $6.282B alongside global rank #642, interpret it as our best synthesis of widely cited ownership and price signals—not a claim about cash on hand. Estimates can diverge from other publishers because of different treatment of options, trusts, charitable vehicles, or illiquid assets. We document the general approach in methodology and welcome corrections via corrections.

Country (UNITED STATES) and career milestones on this page are curated for reader context; they should be verified against primary sources when used for research. Editorial metadata for this profile is refreshed on a rolling basis, with deeper audits at least annually (last noted cycle: 2026).

Looking for depth? When available, the dossier and timeline sections below add long-form context beyond the headline number—prioritize those modules when evaluating claims about strategy, controversies, or philanthropic commitments.

The Full Dossier

Early Life and Education

Clifford Scott Asness was born on October 17, 1966, in Queens, New York. His family later moved to Roslyn Heights on Long Island. Asness attended the University of Pennsylvania, graduating summa cum laude in 1988 with bachelor's degrees in computer science and finance through the Jerome Fisher Program in Management and Technology (M&T). He furthered his education at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business, earning an MBA with high honors in 1991 and a PhD in finance in 1994. At the University of Chicago, he was a teaching assistant to Nobel laureate Eugene Fama.

Rise to Success

Asness began his career at Goldman Sachs Asset Management's quantitative research desk in 1990. In 1995, he started an internal hedge fund for Goldman Sachs, the Global Alpha Fund, which achieved a remarkable 140% return in its first year. In 1998, Asness co-founded AQR Capital Management with David Kabiller, John Liew, and Robert Krail. AQR was established to apply rigorous empirical research and quantitative methods to investment management. The firm initially launched with a hedge fund product. By 2019, AQR had become a major investment firm running one of the largest hedge funds globally. The firm has grown to manage roughly $120 billion in assets.

Key Business Strategies

AQR Capital Management utilizes a systematic and consistent approach to portfolio construction. This disciplined approach involves identifying long-term, repeatable sources of return and emphasizes diversification across asset classes and strategies. AQR was an early adopter of factor investing, using value, momentum, and other empirically validated factors. Asness has emphasized the importance of fair fees and transparent products, promoting mutual funds with lower fees.

Philanthropy

Clifford Asness is a board member of the International Rescue Committee. He has also backed lawmakers who supported New York's marriage equality initiative. AQR has also partnered with the London Business School to establish The AQR Asset Management Institute, which focuses on asset management research and thought leadership, donating over $15 million.

Career Timeline

2006

James R. Vertin Award

Received the James R. Vertin Award from the CFA Institute.

1998

Co-founded AQR Capital Management

Established AQR with David Kabiller, John Liew, and Robert Krail.

1990

Began Career at Goldman Sachs

Started his career at Goldman Sachs Asset Management's quantitative research desk.

Philanthropic Impact

Humanitarian AidUndisclosed

International Rescue Committee

Board Member

Net Worth History

In-Depth Analysis

Early Life and Education

Clifford Scott Asness was born on October 17, 1966, in Queens, New York. His family later moved to Roslyn Heights on Long Island. Asness attended the University of Pennsylvania, graduating summa cum laude in 1988 with bachelor's degrees in computer science and finance through the Jerome Fisher Program in Management and Technology (M&T). He furthered his education at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business, earning an MBA with high honors in 1991 and a PhD in finance in 1994. At the University of Chicago, he was a teaching assistant to Nobel laureate Eugene Fama.

Rise to Success

Asness began his career at Goldman Sachs Asset Management's quantitative research desk in 1990. In 1995, he started an internal hedge fund for Goldman Sachs, the Global Alpha Fund, which achieved a remarkable 140% return in its first year. In 1998, Asness co-founded AQR Capital Management with David Kabiller, John Liew, and Robert Krail. AQR was established to apply rigorous empirical research and quantitative methods to investment management. The firm initially launched with a hedge fund product. By 2019, AQR had become a major investment firm running one of the largest hedge funds globally. The firm has grown to manage roughly $120 billion in assets.

Key Business Strategies

AQR Capital Management utilizes a systematic and consistent approach to portfolio construction. This disciplined approach involves identifying long-term, repeatable sources of return and emphasizes diversification across asset classes and strategies. AQR was an early adopter of factor investing, using value, momentum, and other empirically validated factors. Asness has emphasized the importance of fair fees and transparent products, promoting mutual funds with lower fees.

Philanthropy

Clifford Asness is a board member of the International Rescue Committee. He has also backed lawmakers who supported New York's marriage equality initiative. AQR has also partnered with the London Business School to establish The AQR Asset Management Institute, which focuses on asset management research and thought leadership, donating over $15 million.

Data Sources & Methodology

Figures for Clifford Asness are synthesized from the sources below and cross-checked against our net worth methodology. Estimates may lag market moves; see corrections to report discrepancies.

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