George Soros is a Hungarian-American investor, philanthropist, and political activist known for his success in finance and his support of various [liberal](https://doctorparadox.net/dictionaries/authoritarianism/liberalism/) and progressive causes. Born on August 12, 1930, in Budapest, Hungary, Soros experienced the horrors of [[The Holocaust]] during his childhood, as his Jewish family had to hide their identity to survive the occupation of the [[Nazis]]. Soros emigrated to England in 1947, where he studied at the London School of Economics (LSE). There, he became acquainted with the work of philosopher Karl Popper, whose ideas on open societies greatly influenced Soros' future endeavors. After graduating from LSE in 1952, Soros began his career in finance, working for various firms before establishing his own hedge fund, Soros Fund Management, in 1970. Soros gained international fame as "The Man Who Broke the Bank of England" in 1992, when he made a massive bet against the British pound and earned a profit of over $1 billion during the Black Wednesday currency crisis. His investment prowess earned him a reputation as one of the most successful investors in history. ## Philanthropy A dedicated philanthropist, Soros established the Open Society Foundations (OSF) in 1984. The OSF supports civil society groups worldwide, promoting democracy, [[human rights]], and [[social justice]]. Throughout its history, the organization has donated billions of dollars to various causes, such as education, public health, and the arts. Soros has also been a prominent supporter of progressive and liberal political causes. He has donated large sums to the campaigns of various candidates, such as [[Barack Obama]] and Hillary Clinton, and has been involved in policy advocacy on issues like [[climate change]], immigration, and criminal justice reform. Soros' financial success and political activism have made him a controversial figure, particularly among [[conservative]] circles. He has often been the target of [conspiracy theories](https://doctorparadox.net/why-do-people-believe-conspiracy-theories/) and misinformation, which have been debunked by various sources. Soros is a favorite [scapegoat](https://doctorparadox.net/dictionaries/authoritarianism/scapegoat/) of the [right-wing](https://doctorparadox.net/tag/right-wing/), particularly as the [Republican Party](https://doctorparadox.net/the-gop-is-3-cults-in-a-trenchcoat/) continues to bring [[antisemitism]] into mainstream politics. Despite the controversies surrounding him, George Soros has undoubtedly had a significant impact on both the worlds of finance and philanthropy. His investment strategies have influenced generations of investors, and his dedication to fostering open societies has helped improve the lives of millions worldwide.