A rthur Levine is a co-founder of the hedge fund and private investment firm D. E. Shaw & Co., although he is not related to the firm's founder, David E. Shaw. Levine was one of the early key employees who helped build the firm into a powerhouse of quantitative investing. D. E. Shaw became famous for its use of complex mathematical models and algorithms to exploit inefficiencies in financial markets.

Levine's role at the firm was instrumental in its early success and growth. He retired from the firm in 1999 but retained a significant stake that has continued to grow in value, forming the basis of his considerable fortune. Since leaving the world of high-frequency trading, Levine has focused on philanthropy. He and his wife are major benefactors to educational and scientific research institutions, including a significant donation to Columbia University's Zuckerman Institute, which focuses on neuroscience.