Net Worth
$2.2B
Global Rank
#115
Source
Oaktree Capital Management
Country
United States
$How Howard Marks Built Their Fortune
Howard Marks is the co-founder and co-chairman of Oaktree Capital Management, one of the world's largest and most successful distressed debt investment firms managing over $190 billion in assets. Born in New York City, Marks studied finance at the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania and earned his MBA from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business, where he was influenced by the efficient market theories that he would later spend his career challenging.
Marks began his career at Citicorp in 1969, eventually running the bank's high-yield bond and distressed debt investing operations. After a brief stint at Trust Company of the West, he co-founded Oaktree Capital in 1995 with Bruce Karsh and several colleagues, building it into the preeminent distressed debt investor in the world. Oaktree's philosophy is straightforward but extraordinarily difficult to execute: buy quality assets when others are forced to sell, and exercise caution when others are greedy.
What truly distinguishes Marks in the investment world is his writing. His investor memos, which he has published since 1990, are considered essential reading by investors worldwide — Warren Buffett has said "When I see memos from Howard Marks in my mail, they're the first thing I open and read." These memos, compiled into his bestselling books "The Most Important Thing" (2011) and "Mastering the Market Cycle" (2018), offer some of the most sophisticated thinking ever published on risk, market psychology, and the discipline required for superior long-term returns. Marks is widely regarded as one of the greatest investors and investment thinkers of his generation.
vs$2.2B in Perspective
To put Howard Marks's $2.2B fortune into context, here's what that wealth could buy:
Median U.S. household incomes
At $59,384/year
Median U.S. homes
At $420,000 each
Tesla Model 3s
At $38,990 each
Four-year college degrees
At $108,000 average
NFL franchises
At $4.7B average
Private islands
At $15,000,000 each
Key Wealth Milestones
1978
Pioneered high-yield bond investing at Citicorp, recognizing that the risk-return profile of below-investment-grade debt was systematically mispriced by institutional investors.
1990
Began writing his investor memos, creating a discipline of articulating investment philosophy in real time that would become his most enduring contribution to finance.
1995
Co-founded Oaktree Capital Management with Bruce Karsh and four other partners, establishing the firm's foundation on the principle that risk control is more important than return generation.
2008
Deployed $7.5 billion into distressed assets during the financial crisis in just 15 weeks, acting on decades of preparation for exactly such a moment of maximum fear and forced selling.
2011
Published 'The Most Important Thing,' distilling decades of investment wisdom into a framework that has influenced a generation of investors and become a cornerstone of investment education.
Where Howard Marks Ranks
Top 31% of the world's wealthiest · 167 tracked
Nearest by Rank
Richest People in United States
Howard Marks on Wealth & Success
“The biggest investing errors come not from factors that are informational or analytical, but from those that are psychological.”
“There are two kinds of people who lose money: those who know nothing and those who know everything.”
“Rule number one: most things will prove to be cyclical. Rule number two: some of the greatest opportunities for gain and loss come when other people forget rule number one.”
“Risk means more things can happen than will happen.”
“You can't predict. You can prepare.”
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Howard Marks's net worth in 2026?
How did Howard Marks make their money?
Where does Howard Marks rank among the world's richest?
What country is Howard Marks from?
How does Howard Marks's wealth compare to everyday life?
Get Glen's Musings
Occasional thoughts on AI, Claude, investing, and building things. Free. No spam.
Unsubscribe anytime. I respect your inbox more than Congress respects property rights.
Keep Exploring
AI-Generated Content — This profile was created using AI and publicly available sources. While we strive for accuracy, details may contain errors or be outdated. Quotes may be paraphrased or taken out of context. Achievements and figures are based on public reporting and may not be precise. This profile does not imply endorsement by the individual featured. Not financial advice.