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Renaissance Technologies Corp.
$125 Million
Henry Laufer’s brain is one of the big reasons behind Jim Simons’ astounding success at Renaissance Technologies Corp. Laufer, who has a Ph.D. in mathematics from Princeton University, joined the firm in 1991 and played an integral role in developing the mathematical programs that power its black-box trading. Laufer, 63, is credited in particular with building the short-term-trading system that has helped Renaissance’s Medallion Fund generate a more than 40 percent net annualized return since its inception in 1988. As a partner and chief scientist, Laufer owns at least 10 percent of the $20 billion East Setaucket, New York–based firm.
Simons, a former chairman of the mathematics department at nearby Stony Brook University, didn’t have to go far to find his right-hand man. Laufer is also a former Stony Brook math professor. The Renaissance ties to the school remain strong. Simons has given the university millions of dollars, and in December, Laufer and his wife, Marsha, a speech pathologist, donated $10 million to Stony Brook, most of which will be used to establish an interdisciplinary center for medical research.
