Michael Burry Net Worth in 2026: Estimated Wealth, Income Sources, and Investment History

Michael Burry's net worth is estimated at $300 million to $350 million as of 2026. That figure comes from industry analysis and SEC filing data, not a self-disclosed amount. Burry is a private individual and has never publicly confirmed his wealth.

Michael Burry Net Worth at a Glance (2026)

The table below summarises what is publicly known or credibly estimated. Reliable figures on his personal finances remain limited because Burry keeps a low public profile and his fund is not required to disclose earnings.

Why Michael Burry's Net Worth Is an Estimate

Before reviewing any figures, it helps to understand why no number here is definitive.

Burry runs Scion Asset Management as a private firm. It is not listed, does not file public earnings reports, and is not required to disclose revenue, management fees, or fund performance. The only window into Burry's portfolio is the SEC Form 13F, a quarterly filing that shows long U.S. equity positions above a minimum threshold.

What 13F filings do not show: short positions, options contracts, non-U.S. holdings, cash, bonds, or private investments. For an investor whose most famous trade was a short position, this is a significant gap. In practice, analysts who track private fund managers regularly note that 13F data captures only a fraction of total activity, which is why net worth estimates for Burry vary between $200 million and $350 million across different sources.

How Michael Burry Built His Wealth

Early Career: Medical Training and Self-Taught Investing

Burry studied economics at UCLA before completing his MD at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine. During his neurology residency at Stanford, he ran an investing blog that attracted attention from institutional investors. His medical career contributed modestly to his starting capital but was not a material source of accumulated wealth.

Scion Capital: Launch and Early Returns (2000 to 2004)

Burry founded Scion Capital in 2000 with roughly $1 million from family funds. In his first full calendar year, the fund returned approximately 55 percent while the S&P 500 fell around 12 percent.

According to The Motley Fool, Scion Capital outperformed the S&P 500 every year from 2001 through 2004 and grew to $600 million in assets under management. That track record established his reputation as a value investor willing to hold concentrated, contrarian positions.

The 2008 Housing Short: The Primary Wealth Event

Between 2005 and 2007, Burry identified weaknesses in subprime mortgage-backed securities and initiated credit default swap positions against them. As reported by Investopedia, the mechanics of that trade required Burry to persuade major investment banks to create a new financial instrument specifically to accommodate his short position.

When the housing market collapsed in 2007 and 2008, those positions paid off. Burry's personal gain is widely reported at approximately $100 million. The fund returned roughly 489 percent to investors over its full run from 2000 to 2008. This event accounts for the majority of his personal fortune.

Fund Closure and Private Management (2008 to 2013)

After closing Scion Capital to outside investors in 2008, Burry managed only his own capital. Almost no verified information exists about returns during this period. There is no public basis for a specific figure.

Scion Asset Management Relaunch (2013 to Present)

Burry relaunched as Scion Asset Management in 2013. The fund remains small by institutional standards. Known 13F positions over the years have included water-related equities, agricultural holdings, and select value stocks. He disclosed a GameStop position in 2019, well before the 2021 meme stock surge.

Michael Burry Net Worth Over Time: Estimated Timeline

All figures except the 2008 personal gain are third-party estimates based on available public information.

Is Michael Burry a Billionaire?

The short answer is no, based on available evidence.

Several sites have published figures ranging from $2.5 billion to $5 billion. None include sourcing or methodology. Credible estimates from analysts referencing SEC data consistently place him in the $300 million to $350 million range.

Part of the confusion comes from conflating assets under management with personal net worth. A fund manager can oversee hundreds of millions in client assets while holding a fraction of that personally. For comparison, John Paulson, who ran a similar housing short and kept his firm open, is reported to hold a net worth above $4 billion. The difference largely reflects fund scale and management fee accumulation over time.

What Michael Burry Invests in Today

Scion Asset Management's 13F filings remain the only public record of Burry's current activity. Recent filings have shown concentrated positions and put options on major indices. Specific positions change quarter to quarter and do not reflect a complete view of the portfolio.

Analysts who track Burry's quarterly filings generally treat disclosed positions as directional signals rather than a full picture. The 13F blind spots covered earlier apply here too.

Michael Burry vs. Other Big Short Investors

The table below puts Burry's estimated net worth in context alongside other investors associated with the 2008 housing trade.

Burry's figure sits in the middle of this group. His decision to close his fund early and limit outside capital constrained long-term fee income relative to those who continued managing large institutional pools.

Michael Burry's Lifestyle and Known Assets

Burry is widely noted for living modestly relative to his estimated net worth. His primary residence is in Saratoga, California. There is no credible public record of significant luxury asset purchases. Investors with comparable wealth in the hedge fund space often accumulate visible assets over time; Burry's profile is notable for the absence of that pattern. He maintains a low public presence and rarely gives interviews.

Conclusion

Michael Burry's net worth is credibly estimated at $300 million to $350 million as of 2026. His wealth rests on the 2008 housing short, ongoing Scion Asset Management returns, and personal investing. Every figure in circulation is an estimate; Burry has never confirmed his personal finances publicly.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Michael Burry's net worth in 2026?

Estimates place michael burry net worth at $300 million to $350 million as of 2026. This is based on SEC filings and analyst estimates. Burry has never confirmed his personal wealth publicly.

How much did Michael Burry make from the 2008 financial crisis?

Burry personally earned approximately $100 million from credit default swap positions against subprime mortgage securities. His fund, Scion Capital, returned approximately 489 percent to investors from 2000 to 2008.

Is Michael Burry a billionaire?

No. Credible estimates consistently place his net worth between $300 million and $350 million. Claims of $2.5 billion to $5 billion appear on low-quality sites with no sourcing or methodology.

Does Michael Burry still manage a fund?

Yes. Scion Asset Management remains active as of 2026. It operates as a small private fund, and its U.S. equity holdings are disclosed quarterly through SEC Form 13F filings.

Why do different sources show such different net worth figures for Michael Burry?

Burry is a private individual who does not disclose his wealth. Variation across sources reflects different methodologies and reference years. The 13F limitation means a complete portfolio picture is not publicly available.