Michael Burry Net Worth, Relationships, Age/Birthdate & Birthday

The Unlikely Path: From Medicine to Market Maverick

Michael James Burry was born on June 19, 1971 — his birthday — in San Jose, California.  What might have seemed like a destined career in medicine instead became the foundation for one of the most contrarian and celebrated investing stories in modern finance.

Burry studied economics and pre-med at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), then earned his M.D. from Vanderbilt University School of Medicine — later starting a neurology residency at Stanford University Medical Center. But as he juggled medical work and studying corporate filings at night, a different passion took hold: investing. His analytical mind and comfort with deep research would prove more valuable off Wall Street than on hospital rounds.

In 2000, Burry founded Scion Capital. Over the next several years, he quietly built a portfolio rooted in value and deep analysis — setting the stage for what was to come.

Seeing the Unseen: Betting Against the Housing Bubble

While many on Wall Street cheered the booming housing market in the early 2000s, Burry saw the cracks. Through meticulous examination of mortgage bond prospectuses, he realized that a growing portion of mortgage-backed securities were built on shaky foundations. Convinced of an impending collapse, he began placing credit default swaps (CDOs) against subprime mortgage bonds — effectively shorting the U.S. housing market long before anyone else did.

His conviction meant enduring intense pressure: investors balked as his fund hemorrhaged money while housing prices still rose. But by 2007–2008 — when the bubble burst — his bet paid off in a dramatic and historic way. Burry made roughly $100 million for himself and generated approximately $700 million for his investors.

That successful — and uncommon — foresight vaulted him into legend: his story later inspired the best-selling book The Big Short and the acclaimed film adaptation. 

In 2008, Burry shuttered Scion Capital — not out of failure, but to focus on his personal investments and his family.

Building (and Rebuilding) a Legacy: Scion Asset Management

After a few years away from fund management, Burry returned in 2013 with Scion Asset Management, a private firm under his direction.

For more than a decade, he kept a low public profile — making bold bets, often at odds with consensus opinion. As of early 2025, his personal net worth is commonly estimated at around US$300 million.

That said, some observers argue that such estimates may be conservative, given the opacity of private investments and illiquid holdings.

In November 2025, Burry made headlines again — this time not for striking gold, but for winding down Scion Asset Management. Regulatory filings show that the fund was deregistered, a move Burry hinted was a step toward “much better things.”

The Private Man Behind the Public Legend

Despite his fame in financial circles — and Hollywood depiction — Burry has guarded his private life. He has been married twice. Early sources suggest his first wife was of Korean descent; his second wife has been reported as Vietnamese-American.

Burry met his second wife via online dating, and together they have at least one son — sometimes identified as Nicolas.

His son was diagnosed with Asperger syndrome, and Burry later reflected that he recognized many of the same traits in himself.

Media reports suggest that during the intense years surrounding his subprime bet, his all-consuming focus on work may have placed strain on his marriage and family life — a trade-off many high-performance investors face.

Today, Burry resides in California.

What Net Worth Really Reflects — And What It Doesn’t

The widely cited $300 million net worth reflects a mix of known liquid holdings, historical profits, and plausible valuations of his private investments.

But such figures only offer a snapshot — they often omit illiquid assets, stakes in private companies or land, and long-term positions not publicly disclosed. Some speculative valuations suggest his fortune could be significantly higher, though none are verified.

Given how frequently Burry’s firm has shifted strategies and his recent decision to deregister his fund, any net worth estimate should be viewed as provisional.

The Man Who Reminds Wall Street: Independent Thinking Matters

In an era of trend-following ETFs and algorithmic trading, Michael Burry remains a rare reminder of what deep analysis, patience, and conviction can yield — for better or worse.

He carved his place in financial history not by riding the crowd, but by digging into piles of data no one else bothered to parse — and believing what he found.

His birthday, June 19, 1971, marks the beginning of a path that would transform from medicine to markets, from quiet study to blockbuster fame, and from a hedge-fund manager to a cautionary legend for investors.

Whether his legacy will be defined by past brilliance or future calls, one fact remains: few people changed the financial world the way Michael Burry did.