
22. Jim Simons – $23.5 billion
Simons is likely one of the most brilliant people on this list, both in business and in general. A codebreaker for the US during the Vietnam War, Simons has always had an aptitude for numbers and mathematics. Before turning to finance, he served as the chair of the Mathematics department at Stony Brook University. Simons obtained his undergraduate degree at the notoriously challenging MIT and received his Ph.D. from the University of California, Berkeley. In 1982, he founded Renaissance Technologies, a hedge fund firm that now manages about $80 billion in global wealth. Renaissance even manages a special fund that is only open to employees of the firm.

Simons retired from his role as CEO and Chairman of the firm in 2010 but remained involved with the company at various levels. He is by far one of the most generous philanthropists on this list, having already given over $2.7 billion to various charities and philanthropic causes. Simons donates heavily to autism research and support. He also started the Math For America fund. It aims to recruit and retain high-quality math teachers for the New York City public school system to give more children access to an outstanding education in mathematics since math paved the way for his success.