Clifford 'Cliff' Scott Asness is an American billionaire investor, the founder, Managing Principal, and Chief Investment Officer (CIO) of AQR Capital Management, one of the world's largest quantitative hedge funds. His background is rooted in elite academia: he holds a PhD from the University of Chicago, where he studied under Nobel Laureates Eugene Fama and Kenneth French.

Asness is one of the most influential minds in modern quantitative finance, specializing in factor-based investing and momentum strategies. His career began with high-level research at Goldman Sachs, where he helped commercialize his academic work on momentum strategies. His philosophy is defined by a unique blend of academic rigor and irreverent wit, often using humor and contrarian takes to challenge conventional wisdom on Wall Street.

Clifford Asness co-founded AQR Capital Management (AQR) in 1998, after his successful tenure at Goldman Sachs. The founding vision was to create an investment firm that operated at the strict intersection of financial theory and practice, leveraging sophisticated quantitative models and large-scale data processing to exploit market inefficiencies.

As CIO, Asness guided AQR to manage over $100 billion in assets, becoming a global giant in quantitative and factor-based investing (Value, Momentum, Quality, and Low Volatility). His success is built on his willingness to take large, sometimes contrarian, positions rooted purely in his quantitative models, especially during periods of market stress when emotional human behavior creates opportunities. He famously advocates for the rational use of leverage and believes markets are becoming less efficient over time, providing continuous opportunities for specialized quants.

Clifford Asness is a dedicated philanthropist, focusing his giving on education, arts, and medical research. His structural social impact is linked to his role in improving market efficiency by acting as a rational, quantitative force that corrects mispricing caused by behavioral biases.

He is highly involved in academic finance, leveraging his position to serve on investment committees and contributing to research innovation. His personal philanthropy supports his alma mater, The University of Chicago, and organizations that promote the rigorous thought and intellectual discipline that define his career.

Clifford Asness maintains the highly intellectual, sharp, and often irreverent style of a quantitative finance genius. His attire is professional, favoring tailored suits and a classic aesthetic. His public persona is defined by his bold, sometimes comical, contrarian takes on traditional financial wisdom.

His luxury is the security of multi-billion dollar wealth and the intellectual autonomy to pursue his probabilistic investment strategy. His life is dedicated to the high-stakes world of quantitative trading, blending advanced financial theory with the practical execution of a disciplined, value-oriented approach.