Michael Burry's net worth is estimated at roughly $300 million in 2026, though no verified figure exists. Published estimates range from $200 million to $350 million. He does not appear on Forbes or Bloomberg wealth rankings, and his finances have never been publicly disclosed.
Who Is Michael Burry?
Early Life and Education
Michael Burry was born on June 19, 1971, in San Jose, California. At age two, he lost his left eye to retinoblastoma and has worn a prosthetic eye since. He studied economics and pre-medicine at UCLA, earned an MD from Vanderbilt, and began a neurology residency at Stanford before leaving to pursue investing full-time. During hospital shifts, he published stock analysis on early internet forums, drawing on the value investing principles of Benjamin Graham.
From Medicine to Markets
His online writing attracted institutional readers at Vanguard and White Mountains Insurance Group. In late 2000, using a personal inheritance, family loans, and savings, he founded Scion Capital.
Personal Life
Burry is married to Anh-Thi, and they have one son. After their son was diagnosed with Asperger syndrome, Burry read extensively on the condition and came to believe he likely has it as well.
How Michael Burry Built His Wealth
His wealth accumulated across three phases, each involving a different vehicle and a different level of risk.
Phase 1: Scion Capital and the Dot-Com Era (2000 to 2008)
Scion Capital launched as the dot-com bubble was collapsing, and Burry's deep-value approach produced results that stood out sharply against the losses most funds posted.
Scion Capital Performance vs. S&P 500 (2001 to 2004)
|
Year |
Scion Capital Return |
S&P 500 Return |
|
2001 |
+55% |
-12% |
|
2002 |
Positive |
-22% |
|
2003 |
+50% (approx.) |
+29% |
|
2004 |
Managing approx. $600 million AUM |
+11% |
Performance fees from those years built his first meaningful personal wealth base.
Phase 2: The Subprime Trade (2005 to 2008)
After reviewing thousands of individual mortgage loan documents, Burry concluded that the housing market was built on subprime debt that would fail once adjustable rates reset. He persuaded major Wall Street banks to sell him credit default swaps, contracts that would pay out if mortgage-backed securities collapsed.
He began placing positions in 2005. For nearly two years the trade appeared to be failing, with Scion paying large monthly premiums and investors growing restless. Burry held. When the market cracked in 2007, his fund generated approximately $700 million in profits for investors and roughly $100 million for Burry personally. That $100 million is generally treated as the starting point for current net worth estimates.
Phase 3: Michael Burry Net Worth Built Through Scion Asset Management (2013 to 2025)
Burry returned in 2013 with Scion Asset Management, registered as an exempt reporting adviser, which required fewer public disclosures and is part of why tracking his wealth is difficult.
His most discussed trade was GameStop. From 2019, Scion accumulated roughly three million shares at approximately $4 per share and urged the board to conduct buybacks. Burry sold in late 2020, reportedly earning around $100 million, before the meme-driven short squeeze sent the stock to an intraday high of $480 in early 2021.
By March 2025, Scion reported approximately $155 million in regulatory assets under management. According to Reuters, Burry informed investors in a letter dated October 27, 2025 that he would liquidate the funds and return capital by year end. The firm terminated its SEC registration on November 10, 2025.
Why Michael Burry's Net Worth Cannot Be Pinned Down
No public record establishes his personal wealth. He filed as an exempt reporting adviser, which carries fewer disclosure requirements than standard registration, and does not appear on any wealth ranking from Forbes or Bloomberg. Since Scion deregistered, he no longer files quarterly 13F reports.
As reported by Bloomberg, the termination took place on November 10, 2025. Future estimates will depend on what he chooses to disclose voluntarily.
Published Net Worth Estimates Compared
|
Source |
Estimate |
Range Given |
Uncertainty Flagged |
|
Celebrity Net Worth |
$200 million |
None stated |
No |
|
Datawallet |
$300 million |
$200M to $350M |
Yes |
|
General media consensus |
$200M to $300M |
Varies |
Rarely |
The gap between those figures reflects how little confirmed data exists, not a factual disagreement between sources.
Michael Burry's Current Wealth Drivers (2026)
Personal Trading Account
Since closing Scion, Burry manages only his own capital. No outside investors, no management fees, and no required public filings. His positions become known only when he discloses them through Cassandra Unchained.
The AI Short: Nvidia, Palantir, and Oracle
In October 2025, Burry returned to X and posted a reference to bubble imagery from The Big Short. Scion then filed its final 13F on November 3, 2025, disclosing put options on five million Palantir shares (notional value approximately $912 million) and one million Nvidia shares (notional value approximately $187 million).
The combined notional figure of roughly $1.1 billion generated widespread headlines, but the actual cash at risk was far smaller. Burry confirmed his Palantir puts cost approximately $9.2 million in premiums, since 13F reports capture notional exposure rather than actual premium paid.
He has since disclosed additional positions through Cassandra Unchained, including a short against Oracle and smaller call positions in Halliburton and Pfizer.
AI Short Positions: Notional Value vs. Estimated Premium at Risk
|
Position |
Notional Value |
Confirmed Premium Paid |
Options Expiry |
|
Palantir puts |
approx. $912 million |
approx. $9.2 million |
2027 |
|
Nvidia puts |
approx. $187 million |
Not publicly confirmed |
2027 |
|
Oracle short |
Not disclosed |
Not disclosed |
Not disclosed |
As of mid-2026, Palantir had declined approximately 35% from his entry and Oracle had fallen roughly 50% from its 2025 high. Nvidia traded largely sideways, leaving those puts underwater. The options run into 2027, so the trade has not yet produced a final result.
Cassandra Unchained Newsletter
Burry launched the newsletter in late November 2025, days after Scion's deregistration. By July 2026, it had exceeded 300,000 subscribers and ranked second on Substack's finance leaderboard. Priced at $39 per month or $379 per year, it generates at least $3.8 million annually at Substack's Bestseller badge floor of 10,000 paid subscribers, before Substack's revenue share.
The actual paying subscriber count is not publicly confirmed. The name refers to Warren Buffett calling Burry "Cassandra" during congressional testimony on the financial crisis.
Michael Burry Net Worth vs. Comparable Investors
Personal wealth in fund management tends to reflect the scale of assets managed as much as the quality of returns. Burry's funds were small relative to peers, which limited fee income even when performance was strong.
|
Investor |
Estimated Net Worth |
Primary Wealth Source |
|
Michael Burry |
$200M to $350M |
Subprime trade, fund management |
|
Cathie Wood |
approx. $250M |
ARK fund fees |
|
Jim Chanos |
approx. $500M |
Short selling, fund management |
|
John Paulson |
approx. $4 billion |
Subprime trade (larger AUM scale) |
John Paulson made a comparable bet at the same time but managed far larger capital, which amplified his personal gain significantly.
Michael Burry and Cryptocurrency
Burry has never reported owning Bitcoin or any other cryptocurrency. In December 2025, speaking on Michael Lewis's podcast, he called Bitcoin "the tulip bulb of our time." He argues it functions as a leveraged risk asset, falling alongside equities when liquidity tightens rather than holding value independently.
Michael Burry in Popular Culture
Michael Lewis's 2010 book The Big Short positioned him as the central figure who identified subprime risk earliest and most independently. The 2015 film adaptation featured Christian Bale as Burry and won the Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay. Cassandra Unchained is now his primary public platform.
Conclusion
Michael Burry's net worth is estimated at $200 million to $350 million, with $300 million cited most often. The range is wide because his finances are private and no verified data exists. His wealth rests largely on the 2008 subprime trade, supplemented by fund management returns.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Michael Burry a billionaire?
No. His estimated net worth of $200 million to $350 million places him well below billionaire status. He does not appear on Forbes or Bloomberg wealth rankings, and no public data supports a figure near $1 billion.
How much did Michael Burry personally make from the 2008 subprime trade?
Burry earned approximately $100 million personally. His investors received approximately $700 million in profits. That personal gain is generally treated as the foundation of his current estimated net worth.
What is Michael Burry investing in right now?
His disclosed positions as of mid-2026 include put options against Nvidia and Palantir expiring in 2027, a short against Oracle, and smaller calls in Halliburton and Pfizer, disclosed through Cassandra Unchained.
Why did Michael Burry close Scion Asset Management?
Scion terminated its SEC registration on November 10, 2025, and Burry returned outside capital to investors. He launched Cassandra Unchained days later as his primary professional focus.
Does Michael Burry own Bitcoin?
No. Burry has publicly stated he does not own Bitcoin and called it speculative. In December 2025, he described it as "the tulip bulb of our time" and has consistently argued it behaves as a risk asset rather than a hedge.
