Michael Burry

Investor, Hedge Fund Founder, First Predictor of The Suprime Crisis & The Inspiration for “The Big Short”

Michael Burry’s Biography:

Michael Burry is an American investor and hedge fund manager best known for being the first to predict the subprime mortgage crisis of 2007–2010, a move that positioned him as one of the most influential and unconventional thinkers in modern finance. As the founder of Scion Capital, he built a reputation for exceptional value-driven investing, consistently identifying overlooked opportunities through rigorous analysis and independent thinking. His prescient foresight was later dramatised in the 2015 film The Big Short, where he was portrayed by Christian Bale, cementing his status as one of the most compelling figures in contemporary financial history.

Burry began his academic career studying economics and pre-medicine at the University of California, Los Angeles, and later earned an MD from Vanderbilt University School of Medicine in 1997. Although originally trained as a physician, he shifted his focus entirely to finance after displaying extraordinary success as a value investor on early internet message boards such as Silicon Investor, where his analyses gained a devoted following. His investment philosophy, deeply rooted in Benjamin Graham and David Dodd’s principles in Security Analysis, emphasises intrinsic value and a strict margin of safety, an approach that continues to guide his decision-making today.

During the early 2000s, Burry analysed the American housing market and concluded that its underlying structure was unsustainable. By 2003–2004, he had correctly predicted that the real estate bubble would collapse by 2007. He worked with major Wall Street banks to create the credit-default swap instruments necessary to short the mortgage market, ultimately achieving one of the most profitable trades in financial history. His perspective on systemic risk later informed his writing, including a 2010 op-ed for The New York Times.

In 2013, Burry reopened his hedge fund under the name Scion Asset Management, continuing to pursue contrarian and research-heavy investment strategies. In 2025, his 13-F filings revealed substantial short positions against Nvidia and Palantir via put options, aligning with his public warnings about an emerging AI-driven market bubble. He recently launched Cassandra Unchained, a newsletter outlining his economic concerns — named after The Scions of Shannara, one of his favourite novels. Burry remains one of the most influential contrarian investors of his generation.

Why Hire Michael Burry?

Michael Burry offers unparalleled insight into financial risk, market psychology and the mechanisms that drive bubbles and crashes. As the first investor to recognise and act on the vulnerabilities that triggered the 2008 financial crisis, he brings unmatched credibility to discussions about forecasting, independent analysis and long-term value thinking. His contrarian approach challenges audiences to question assumptions, sharpen their critical judgement and recognise hidden risks. With a rare ability to simplify complex systems, Burry provides candid, data-driven perspectives on markets, technology, macroeconomics and the future of global finance, making him a powerful and thought-provoking speaker for financial institutions, policy leaders and business audiences.

Michael Burry’s Career Highlights:

Below showcases Michael Burry’s inspirational career throughout finance:

• 2025 – Took short positions in major AI-linked companies including Nvidia and Palantir, warning of an emerging AI bubble.
• 2025 – Launched Cassandra Unchained, a newsletter providing contrarian economic analysis and market commentary.
• 2015 – Portrayed by Christian Bale in the widely acclaimed film The Big Short, raising public awareness of his historic investment strategy.
• 2013 – Reopened his hedge fund as Scion Asset Management, returning to active fund management.
• 2010 – Published a New York Times op-ed discussing lessons from the financial crisis and risks of regulatory failure.
• 2007 – Successfully predicted and profited from the collapse of the subprime mortgage market.
• 2000 – Founded Scion Capital, named after a favourite Terry Brooks novel, The Scions of Shannara.
• 1996 – Gained recognition through detailed investment posts on Silicon Investor, establishing his reputation in value investing.