Paul Singer — Person

The Hoopoe

Paul Singer

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Person·business·AI Enriched

Relationships:156

Events:3

Library:19

Confidence:

80%

Key Facts

Type

Person

Sector

business

Industry

finance, hedge funds

Status

Draft

Country

United States

Nationality

United States

Birth Date

10/22/1944

Death Date

Not specified

Sex

Male

Also Known As

Paul Elliott SingerPaul E. SingerPaul Singer

Career & Education

Positions

Founder and Co-Chief Executive Officer

Elliott Management Corporation

1977 - Present

Attorney

Various law firms

1969 - 1972

Investment Analyst

Small investment firms (e.g., Loeb Rhoades)

1972 - 1977

Education

Bachelor of Arts

University of Rochester

Psychology

1962 - 1966

Juris Doctor

Harvard Law School

Law

1966 - 1969

About

Paul Elliott Singer (born October 22, 1944, in New York City) is an American billionaire hedge fund manager, activist investor, philanthropist, and major conservative and pro-Israel Republican donor. He is the founder and co-CEO of Elliott Management Corporation, one of the world's largest activist hedge funds, managing over $65 billion in assets as of recent estimates. Singer earned a Bachelor of Arts in psychology from the University of Rochester in 1966 and a Juris Doctor from Harvard Law School in 1969. After initially practicing law, he transitioned to finance, working as an investment analyst at Loeb Rhoades and other firms before founding his own investment partnership in 1977, which evolved into Elliott Associates in 1986 and later Elliott Management in 1989.

Under his leadership, Elliott Management has pursued aggressive activist investment strategies targeting major companies such as AT&T, Hess Corporation, Twitter, and Samsung, as well as international entities including Argentina's sovereign debt. This has led to high-profile legal battles and substantial financial returns. Singer emphasizes value investing and shareholder activism, often engaging in proxy fights and legal maneuvers to influence corporate governance. Notably, during the Argentine debt crisis (2008–2016), Elliott sued for full repayment on defaulted bonds and secured a $2.4 billion court-ordered payout in 2016. The firm has faced controversy for its aggressive tactics and scrutiny related to investments in distressed assets and allegations of market manipulation, though no criminal convictions have been recorded.

Beyond finance, Singer is a prominent philanthropist and a top Republican donor. He is a major donor to Republican causes, pro-Israel organizations, and conservative political candidates including Mitt Romney and Marco Rubio. He has contributed hundreds of millions of dollars to support Israel, neoconservative foreign policies, and national security, including backing John Bolton's nomination as U.S. National Security Advisor. His philanthropy is primarily channeled through the Paul E. Singer Family Foundation, which funds Jewish education initiatives such as the Alexander Hamilton Institute for the Economics and Philosophy (AIEF), medical research, pro-Israel advocacy groups, and education reform. While he has supported organizations opposing same-sex marriage and abortion rights, he has also backed LGBTQ+ rights, including same-sex marriage.

Singer's personal life includes a 1996 divorce from his first wife, Mary Singer, with whom he has two sons, Andrew and William. Following the divorce, he came out as gay and married fashion designer Dao-Yi Chow in 2015. He resides in New York City and maintains a low public profile despite his significant influence in finance and politics. As of 2024, his net worth is estimated between $6 billion and $6.7 billion.

Key Relationships

John Bolton

funds

Paul Singer was a key financial backer of John Bolton's nomination as U.S. National Security Advisor in 2018. He contributed approximately $1.7 million to the 'John Bolton Super PAC,' which supported Bolton's potential 2018 presidential run and other initiatives to promote his appointment. The Super PAC spent millions on ads and lobbying efforts to secure Bolton's appointment, tying Bolton's ambitions to Singer's network of financial backers pushing neoconservative agendas. Singer leveraged his influence within the Trump administration, and his support was critical in overcoming resistance to Bolton's nomination due to his controversial and aggressive foreign policy stances. Bolton's subsequent policy positions, including his advocacy for a hardline approach to Iran and North Korea, aligned closely with Singer's neoconservative and pro-Israel views.

Since 2018

Mitt Romney

sponsored

Paul Singer was a major donor to Mitt Romney's 2012 presidential campaign, contributing millions through direct donations, affiliated Super PACs like Restore Our Future, and by hosting high-profile fundraisers that leveraged his network of wealthy donors. His financial support was pivotal in sustaining Romney's campaign, and Singer's influence was evident in Romney's adoption of pro-Israel and neoconservative foreign policy positions, reflecting Singer's impact on Republican stances regarding Israel and fiscal conservatism.

Since 2011

Marco Rubio

major_donor

Paul Singer has been one of Marco Rubio's most significant financial supporters, contributing millions of dollars to his campaigns through direct donations and super PACs, including 'Conservative Solutions PAC' during Rubio's 2016 presidential bid. This support positioned Singer as one of Rubio's largest individual backers and was instrumental in Rubio's early primary success. Singer has also funded ads supporting Rubio's Senate re-election campaigns. His financial backing has been linked to influencing Republican foreign policy stances, with Singer advocating for Rubio's positions on issues such as Israel and national security.

Since 2010

Mitt Romney

major_donor

Singer bundled and donated substantial sums exceeding $1 million to Mitt Romney's 2012 presidential campaign, including hosting high-profile fundraisers with other Wall Street elites.

Since 2011

Mitt Romney

endorsed

Paul Singer was a major financial backer of Mitt Romney's 2012 presidential campaign, donating millions through his hedge fund and personal contributions. He publicly endorsed Romney's bid and actively campaigned for him within financial and pro-Israel circles, aligning their shared neoconservative views on international interventions. Singer hosted high-profile fundraisers for Romney and was a key figure in the 'Romney Readiness Project,' a shadow transition team preparing for a potential Romney administration. His support was pivotal in Romney's primary victory and general election campaign.

Since 2012

Cristina Fernández de Kirchner

opposed

Paul Singer, through his hedge fund Elliott Management, led a high-stakes legal battle against the Argentine government under President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner's administration, most notably refusing debt restructuring and securing a $4.65 billion judgment in the 'NML Capital v. Argentina' case. While Kirchner was not a direct defendant, her administration was accused by Singer and Elliott of defying U.S. court orders and attempting to circumvent the fund's claims. She publicly denounced Singer's tactics as those of a 'vulture' fund. Beyond the sovereign debt litigation, Singer's fund also supported other legal actions and investigations in Argentina that targeted Kirchner's government, including allegations of corruption and mismanagement of debt restructuring.

Since 2008

Recent Events

Secret meeting: Paul Singer → Sheldon Adelson

Paul Singer and Sheldon Adelson held a secret meeting in 2018 with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and U.S. National Security Advisor John Bolton to discuss strategies for countering Iran and influencing U.S. foreign policy. The meeting, held at Adelson's private residence in Las Vegas, was not disclosed to the public until leaked to The Intercept in 2020. Attendees included key figures from the Foundation for Defense of Democracies and the Republican Jewish Coalition.

3/15/2018

Major donor: Paul Singer → Tom Cotton

Paul Singer has been a major financial backer of Tom Cotton's political career, including his 2014 Senate campaign and 2020 re-election bid, personally donating hundreds of thousands of dollars through direct contributions and his associated PACs. Singer's contributions have supported Cotton's advocacy for aggressive, hawkish foreign policies, particularly regarding Iran, Israel, and China. Singer's influence has helped shape Cotton's positions on national security and defense, aligning them with Singer's neoconservative agenda.

1/1/2014

Contracted: Sheldon Adelson → Paul Singer

Paul Singer and Sheldon Adelson collaborated closely on pro-Israel advocacy and political funding, particularly in support of Benjamin Netanyahu and U.S. policies aligned with Israeli government interests. They worked together on multiple occasions to fund Republican political campaigns and pro-Israel advocacy groups, co-funding the Republican Jewish Coalition and other such organizations. Both were major donors to the 2012 Mitt Romney presidential campaign, collectively contributing tens of millions of dollars. They coordinated their efforts to oppose the Iran nuclear deal and promote hawkish U.S. policies in the Middle East. Their financial partnership extended to supporting conservative think tanks and policy initiatives aligned with their shared interests, creating a powerful network of influence in Washington through their joint backing of political candidates and think tanks.

1/1/2010