Daniel Morton Ziff is an American billionaire heir and investor. Born in 1973, he is the youngest son of the late media magnate William Bernard Ziff Jr., who built the colossal Ziff-Davis magazine empire (including titles like PC Magazine and Car and Driver). His maternal grandparents were honored as Righteous among the Nations for risking their lives to save Jews during World War II.

Daniel's intellectual background is rigorous; he graduated from the Trinity School in New York City and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Columbia University in 1996. The pivotal career decision came in 1994 when his father sold 95 percent of the publishing business to Forstmann Little for $1.4 billion, retiring after his sons expressed no interest in running the core business. Daniel and his two brothers, Dirk and Robert, inherited the family fortune, choosing to manage it through a sophisticated investment strategy rather than publishing.

Daniel Ziff and his brothers formed Ziff Brothers Investments in 1994, converting their publishing inheritance into a massive, diversified family office. Their investment strategy was global and complex, focusing on a broad portfolio spanning equities, debt, real estate, commodities, private equity, and hedge funds. They quickly established a formidable reputation on Wall Street and in London for their aggressive, successful investment strategies.

The family office ceased operations in 2014, at which point the brothers transitioned to investing with former employees of their highly profitable hedge funds. Daniel's success is a testament to the profitable pivot from a media legacy to the high-stakes world of alternative asset management. He continues to manage his inheritance, secured by the immense appreciation of their liquid capital.

Daniel Ziff's philanthropy and civic engagement have a strong focus on political advocacy and human rights. He is noted for his support of the Magnitsky Act, a U.S. law that provides for sanctions against foreign individuals responsible for human rights violations. This public policy focus reflects a commitment to leveraging financial influence for global political reform.

His personal philanthropy supports educational and cultural institutions, reflecting his academic background (Columbia). His structural contribution is the successful transformation of a media fortune into a disciplined financial powerhouse, demonstrating astute generational wealth management.

Daniel Ziff maintains the discreet, highly refined style of a New York hedge fund heir. His attire is consistently formal and high-quality, favoring tailored suits. His aesthetic is one of confident, unostentatious wealth, reflecting his aversion to the public spotlight.

Residing in New York, his luxury is the immense security and financial autonomy derived from his multi-billion dollar fortune. His life is defined by his commitment to financial stewardship and his family's high-level involvement in global politics and culture.