The five masters of the financial market you should know

George Soros, a name that resonates in the halls of global financial power. Not only did he “break” the Bank of England in 1992, but he also pocketed a billion with a single operation. His vision for spotting weaknesses in global markets seems almost supernatural to me, although some would say that his political connections give him advantages that the rest of us do not have.

Mark Minervini won the U.S. Traders Championship twice, the last time with an astonishing 334.8% return. His obsession with technical patterns borders on the unhealthy, but damn, it works! I wonder how many sleepless nights that performance has cost him.

Jim Simmons, that mathematician turned financial wizard, has maintained a 66% annualized return for four decades. Forty years! While we struggle to decipher charts, he created algorithms that practically print money. The gap between his genius and the average trader is simply demoralizing.

Ed Seykota revolutionized algorithmic trading when many of us didn't even have computers. His 60% annual return over 30 years makes my results look pathetic. His focus on risk management is legendary, although few can replicate his iron discipline.

Ray Dalio founded one of the largest hedge funds on the planet. While he donates millions to charitable causes, his long-term vision has allowed him to amass an obscene fortune. His strategies are brilliant, but I wonder if anyone should really have so much power over global markets.