Michael Burry Net Worth: How Rich is the Big Short Investor?

Who is Michael Burry?

Dr. Michael Burry is an American investor and hedge fund manager renowned for his prescient investment strategies and role in anticipating the 2008 financial crisis. Born on June 19, 1971, in San Jose, California, his early life was marked by significant challenges. At the age of two, he lost his left eye to retinoblastoma, a rare form of cancer, and has since worn a prosthetic eye.

Education

He has a bachelor's degree in economics and pre-med from the University of California, Los Angeles, followed by a Doctor of Medicine (M.D.) from Vanderbilt University School of Medicine. He started a residency in neurology at Stanford University Medical Center but departed before its completion.

Career

In 2000, Michael founded Scion Capital, a hedge fund that led to significant profits by shorting overvalued tech stocks during the early 2000s dot-com bubble. His most notable achievement came in the mid-2000s when he identified the burgeoning subprime mortgage crisis. 

Through meticulous analysis of mortgage lending practices and housing market trends, he foresaw the impending collapse of the housing bubble. Acting on this insight, he persuaded investment firms to sell him credit default swaps against subprime deals he deemed vulnerable. This strategy proved astute, yielding substantial profits when the market unraveled in 2007.

Following these successes, he liquidated Scion Capital in 2008 to focus on personal investments. In 2013, he established Scion Asset Management, where he continues to apply his analytical expertise to identify undervalued assets and market anomalies. 

Pop Culture Influence

He was featured in Michael Lewis's book, The Big Short: Inside the Doomsday Machine, which was later adapted into the 2015 film The Big Short, where actor Christian Bale portrayed him. This film won an Oscar for “Best Writing, Adapted Screenplay” and was nominated for several other categories.

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Michael Burry’s Net Worth in 2025

As of 2025, Michael Burry’s net worth is estimated to be around $300 million. While generally accepted, this figure may be somewhat conservative due to limited recent disclosures about his private financial dealings.

Michael first gained recognition for his successful bet against the mid-2000s housing bubble, a move that reportedly earned him personal profits of around $100 million and approximately $700 million for his investors. In recent years, his portfolio has included substantial positions in companies such as Alibaba Group Holding Ltd., Shift4 Payments, and Molina Healthcare.

It's important to note that net worth estimations can fluctuate due to market dynamics and personal investment decisions. While $300 million is a commonly cited figure, some sources suggest that his net worth could be higher, reaching up to $1.2 billion, depending on the valuation of his private investments and assets. 

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Michael Burry's Investment Portfolio

As of the fourth quarter of 2024, Michael Burry's Scion Asset Management reported a portfolio valued at approximately $77.4 million, comprising 13 distinct holdings. ​

Top Holdings:

• Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. (BABA): Representing 16.42% of the portfolio, Scion holds 150,000 shares of this Chinese e-commerce giant. ​
• Baidu Inc. (BIDU): Accounting for 13.61% of the portfolio, with 125,000 shares, reflects confidence in Baidu's advancements in artificial intelligence and search engine services. ​
• JD.com Inc. (JD): Comprising 13.43% of the portfolio, holding 150,000 shares, indicating a positive outlook on China's e-commerce sector. ​
• Estée Lauder Companies Inc. (EL): A new addition in Q4 2024, making up 9.68% of the portfolio, suggesting a strategic move into the consumer goods sector. ​
• Molina Healthcare Inc. (MOH): Holding 30,000 shares, representing 9.40% of the portfolio, highlighting an investment in the U.S. healthcare industry. ​

Strategic Adjustments:

• Increased Positions: Notable increases include a 50% boost in holdings of Shift4 Payments Inc. (FOUR) and a 67% increase in Molina Healthcare Inc. (MOH). ​
• New Investments: Initiated positions in Pinduoduo Inc. (PDD), HCA Healthcare Inc. (HCA), Bruker Corp. (BRKR), and VF Corp. (VFC). ​
• Reduced Positions: Decreased stakes in The RealReal Inc. (REAL) by 50% and American Coastal Insurance Corp. (ACIC) by 60%.
• Exited Positions: Scion Asset Management held approximately 5.3% of GameStop’s shares in 2021. However, he exited the position before the stock surged dramatically, netting around $100 million.
• In early 2022, he identified the Federal Reserve's inadequate response to inflation and invested $31 million in put options on Cathie Wood’s ARKK ETF. This move yielded over $100 million again, doubling his net worth.

His portfolio adjustments reflect a dynamic investment strategy, balancing between capitalizing on growth opportunities and mitigating risks, particularly within the Chinese technology sector.​

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Is Michael Burry Bullish on Bitcoin?

Michael Burry remains highly skeptical about Bitcoin. He sees it primarily as a speculative bubble, comparable to past financial bubbles like the dot-com and housing crashes. He states that Bitcoin's value depends solely on investor sentiment rather than intrinsic worth or tangible earnings.

He warns about risks from leverage within cryptocurrency markets, suggesting that many investors underestimate these dangers. Additionally, he highlights significant regulatory risks, pointing out that governments might restrict or regulate cryptocurrencies as they gain prominence.

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Final Thoughts

Michael Burry's investment journey exemplifies the power of independent analysis and strategic foresight. With an estimated net worth of approximately $300 million, he amassed his wealth through astute investments, notably by predicting the 2008 subprime mortgage crisis. His ability to identify market anomalies and act decisively offers valuable insights for investors.