James ‘Jim’ Simons, the renowned mathematician and founder of Renaissance Technologies, has passed away at the age of 86. His death was announced by the Simons Foundation, with no specified cause provided. Simons, a transformative figure in mathematics and quantitative trading, transitioned from academia to finance, leaving a lasting legacy in both fields.
James “Jim” Simons, the celebrated mathematician and founder of Renaissance Technologies, passed away at the age of 86. His death was announced by the Simons Foundation, although no cause of death was specified. Simons, who died on Friday in New York, was widely respected for his transformative contributions to mathematics and as a pioneer in quantitative trading on Wall Street.
Born in Newton, Massachusetts, Simons displayed a strong aptitude for mathematics from an early age. He received his undergraduate degree from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1958 and earned his doctorate from the University of California, Berkeley, in 1961.
Throughout his career, Simons accumulated numerous accolades, including the American Mathematical Society’s Oswald Veblen Prize in Geometry in 1976. He transitioned from academia to finance in 1978, founding the investment firm that would become Renaissance Technologies, using mathematical models to inform investment decisions.
After retiring in 2010, Simons focused on philanthropic efforts, notably through a foundation he established with his wife, Marilyn, in 1994. The foundation supports scientific, mathematical, and educational research and initiatives. In 2023, the couple donated $500 million to the State University of New York at Stony Brook, marking one of the year’s largest charitable contributions.
James Simons is survived by his wife Marilyn, three children, five grandchildren, and a great-grandchild.
