Ken Griffin
Net worth: ~$11B (Forbes, Aug 2026 estimate)
Who they are
Ken Griffin founded Citadel in 1990 and has led it as CEO since. Citadel is one of the world's largest hedge funds, with roughly $60 billion of client assets under management, and in 2022 it completed a merger with its long-only investment arm, Citadel Advisors, to become a combined asset-management platform. He is a former bond trader and one of the most consistently profitable fund managers ever.
Why they matter
Griffin defines the top of the asset-management world: Citadel's record returns and its pivot into a broader asset-management firm make it a model for scale and adaptability. As the founder of the largest US hedge fund, he is also a central figure in debates about the economics of hedge-fund fees, talent, and the future of active management.
The AI angle
Citadel has publicly discussed using AI and machine learning extensively in its trading and research, and the firm is known for investing heavily in data and computing to support its quant process. For AI strategists, Citadel is a case study in how a top-tier fund embeds AI into core decision-making rather than treating it as a bolt-on.
More titans
- Steve Schwarzman · Co-founder and Chairman, Blackstone
- David Tepper · Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Appaloza Management
- Michael Klein · Co-founder and Managing Director, KKR
- Harold Hamm · Founder and Chairman, Continental Resources (listed in the core list as H.I.G. Capital)
- David Rubenstein · Co-founder and Co-Chairman of the Board, The Carlyle Group
- Leon Black · Co-founder, Apollo Global Management
- David Zander · Co-founder and Chairman of the Board, Silver Lake
- Jeff Smith · Co-founder and Managing Partner, Vista Equity Partners
- Jim Penrod · Co-founder and Managing Partner, Vista Equity Partners
- Chris Huizenga · Co-founder and Managing Partner, Thoma Bravo
Corrections or suggestions for the Titans page? Get in touch →