Who is George Soros? - BBC News

Summary

George Soros, a billionaire philanthropist and speculator, is known for his significant financial maneuvers, such as 'breaking' the Bank of England. He has donated to pro-remain groups in Brexit and supports various political figures like Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama. His charity, Open Society Foundations, has donated $32 billion to promote vibrant and tolerant democracies. Despite his philanthropy, he faces criticism and conspiracy theories, especially from his native Hungary's government, which has enacted 'Stop Soros' laws against him.

Takeaways

• 💵 George Soros amassed around a billion dollars, earning the title of 'the greatest speculator'.
• 🏦 He is famously known for 'breaking the Bank of England'.
• 🗳️ Soros has been a significant political donor, supporting figures like Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama.
• 💸 In the 1980s, he played a role in undermining Hungary's communist regime.
• 🌍 His charity, Open Society Foundations, has donated over 32 billion dollars towards building vibrant and tolerant democracies.
• 🚫 His support for refugees in Europe has been controversial, with his own Hungarian government showing hostility towards him.
• 💣 He was the first target in a mail bombing campaign aimed at opponents of President Trump.
• 📰 He is often at the center of conspiracy theories on social media, many of which are anti-Semitic.
• 👶 Born as Gog Schwartz, Soros grew up in a Jewish family in 1930s Budapest and learned survival skills from his father.
• 💼 His experiences during the Nazi occupation and fleeing communism influenced his later career as a fund manager.
• 📉 In 1992, Soros earned his reputation as a ruthless financier during the Black Wednesday crisis by short-selling the British pound.

Q & A

Who is George Soros?

George Soros is a billionaire investor, philanthropist, and known as 'the man who broke the Bank of England' due to his significant role in the 1992 Black Wednesday crisis.

What is George Soros known for in the financial world?

George Soros is renowned for short-selling the British pound during the 1992 Black Wednesday crisis, which resulted in him making about a billion dollars and the UK government losing approximately 5.5 billion dollars.

What is the name of George Soros' charity?

George Soros' charity is called the Open Society Foundations, which has donated 32 billion dollars towards building vibrant and tolerant democracies.

How much money has George Soros donated to pro-remain groups in the UK?

George Soros has donated about 800,000 pounds to pro-remain groups in the UK, specifically to Best for Britain, to help launch their campaign for a second EU referendum.

What is the Hungarian government's stance on George Soros?

The Hungarian government is openly hostile towards George Soros, having implemented legislation named 'Stop Soros' which requires organizations supporting illegal immigration to be registered.

What was George Soros' childhood like?

George Soros grew up in a Jewish family in 1930s Budapest, survived the Nazi occupation by posing as a relative of a government official, and later fled the communist regime in Hungary to England at the age of 17.

How did George Soros' childhood experiences influence his later life?

Soros learned survival skills from his father during his childhood, which he credits for his risk-taking and survival instincts as a fund manager.

What is the main goal of the Open Society Foundations?

The main goal of the Open Society Foundations is to support the building of vibrant and tolerant democracies around the world.

How does George Soros view his impact on the Bank of England during Black Wednesday?

George Soros states that his impact has been overstated, and he did not break the Bank of England. He claims it was the market that broke it, and he was just leading the charge.

What is the 'Stop Soros' legislation?

The 'Stop Soros' legislation is a Hungarian law that targets organizations supporting illegal immigration by requiring them to be registered.

Why is George Soros a controversial figure?

George Soros is a controversial figure due to his significant financial dealings, political donations, and philanthropic efforts, which have led to him being both admired and criticized, and often the subject of conspiracy theories.