Daniel 'Dan' S. Och is an American billionaire investor and the founder and former CEO of Och-Ziff Capital Management Group (now Sculptor Capital Management, NYSE: SCU), a major hedge fund specializing in alternative assets. His background is rooted in elite finance: he graduated with a degree in Economics from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.

Och began his career on Wall Street at Goldman Sachs in 1982, rising quickly through the ranks to become the head of the firm's powerful proprietary trading department and co-head of its U.S. Distressed Debt Business. This experience in high-risk, high-return trading and distressed asset management provided him with the financial discipline and deep market insight that would define his entrepreneurial venture in the hedge fund world.

Daniel Och founded Och-Ziff Capital Management Group in 1994 with financial backing from the Ziff family (publishing). His founding vision was to build a multi-strategy alternative asset manager focused on event-driven, risk-averse strategies that spanned distressed debt, real estate, and leveraged finance. Och-Ziff grew into one of the largest hedge funds in the world, managing over $40 billion in assets at its peak.

The later part of his career was dominated by a major FCPA (Foreign Corrupt Practices Act) controversy involving the firm's activities in Africa, which resulted in a massive $400 million settlement with the U.S. government in 2016. The controversy led to a massive outflow of client cash, forcing the firm to shrink its hedge fund product and eventually rebrand to Sculptor Capital Management in 2019. Och stepped down as CEO in 2018, securing his multi-billion dollar fortune, but his legacy remains complex, blending immense financial success with high-profile governance challenges.

Daniel Och is a dedicated philanthropist, focusing his giving on education, healthcare, and Jewish organizations. His personal philanthropy supports his alma mater, the Wharton School, and major health institutions.

His structural contribution is tied to his role as a hedge fund leader who influenced the structure and practice of alternative asset management globally. His later career highlights the significant corporate governance and ethical responsibilities that accompany global financial power.

Daniel Och maintains the highly professional, disciplined style of a senior hedge fund executive. His attire is consistently formal and high-quality, favoring tailored suits. His aesthetic is one of stability and focused competence, reflecting the high-stakes, quantitative world of hedge fund management.

Residing in New York City, his luxury is the immense security and financial reward derived from his multi-billion dollar fortune. His life is dedicated to the strategic management of capital, blending financial excellence with the navigation of complex global governance issues.