The Great Speculator - The Mysterious Life of George Soros

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George Soros, often a figure shrouded in both mystique and controversy, is the subject of the documentary "The Great Speculator - The Mysterious Life of George Soros." Born in 1930 to a Hungarian family with a history of surviving adversity, Soros's early life was defined by the pragmatic survival lessons from his father, who had endured the horrors of World War I and the Nazi occupation of Hungary. These experiences ingrained in Soros a profound understanding of risk and survival, elements that later became cornerstones of his speculative financial strategies. The film delves into Soros's academic years at the London School of Economics where he was deeply influenced by the philosopher Karl Popper, shaping his views on market dynamics and the imperfection of knowledge. It follows his journey into the world of finance, where after a rocky start in London, he moved to New York, setting the stage for the establishment of his Quantum Fund. This fund became a vehicle for his speculative prowess, famously earning him a billion dollars during 1992’s Black Wednesday by betting against the British pound. "The Great Speculator" not only explores Soros’s financial ventures but also his complex personal and ideological evolution, highlighting his philosophical and philanthropic engagements later in life.

• (00:05) The documentary opens with a recount of George Soros earning a billion dollars during the Black Wednesday financial crisis in 1992 when the British government raised interest rates to 15% in a failed attempt to stabilize the pound.
• (01:43) It highlights George Soros's challenging childhood, born in 1930 to a father who was a prisoner of war during World War I and later taught Soros the art of survival, which proved crucial during the Nazi occupation of Hungary.
• (04:17) During World War II, the Soros family survived by using false identities and bribing authorities to evade Nazi persecution in Hungary, significantly impacting Soros's understanding of risk and survival strategies.
• (07:08) The narrative then shifts to Soros's academic journey at the London School of Economics, where he was influenced by philosopher Karl Popper, learning about the imperfection of knowledge and the concept of falsifiability, which shaped his investment strategies.
• (09:08) The documentary details Soros's early career in finance in London and New York, his struggle as a trader, and the eventual establishment of his Quantum Fund, which capitalized on market discrepancies and made significant profits by speculating on real estate investment trusts and other financial instruments.