Ken Griffin is a Daytona Beach native, and the founder of Citadel LLC in Chicago. The hedge fund manager’s estimated net worth is approximately $5.5 billion. Griffin was known for many years as being very private, not opening up often to the media. In 2001, he made the decision to become a bit more of a prominent public figure in hopes that his media presence would help his business grow, and he was correct. Here are a few things you might not have known about Ken Griffin.
He Traded in his Harvard Dorm
When he was a student at the prestigious Harvard University, Ken Griffin allegedly took trades in between classes in his dorm room. He had his dorm outfitted with a high-tech satellite link that enabled him to access real time stock information so that he could make profitable trades – and he succeeded.
He Left His Wife
Griffin married Anne Dias-Griffin in 2003, and the couple has three children together. Griffin left his wife in 2012 during the time she was pregnant with their third child. The divorce is currently ongoing and has not been settled at this time. According to the media, Anne Dias-Griffin is not happy with the state of affairs as far as a settlement is concerned.
He’s Been Accused of Coercing His Wife into Signing a Prenup
Griffin’s soon-to-be ex-wife recently announced that she was forced into signing a prenuptial agreement just before her wedding rehearsal dinner when Griffin became violent. She accused Griffin of breaking furniture and becoming violent, urging her to see a counselor that told her essentially that she needed to sign a prenup.
He’s a Rival of Daniel S. Loeb
Daniel S. Loeb of Third Point and Ken Griffin are known enemies. The two became enemies (allegedly) when Griffin recruited several employees from Third Point. The incident prompted Loeb to write a letter to Griffin calling the two enemies and telling Griffin that any further attempt to woo his employees would be considered an act of war.
He’s Generous with Donations
Ken Griffin is nothing if not generous with his personal donations. Over the years he has donated millions of dollars of his own money to some of the biggest charities in and around Chicago as well as the rest of the company. Many of his donations go toward encouraging childhood education and to his favored Republican political affiliations.
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