Market wizard and financial author Jim Rogers sold his New York mansion and moved to Singapore in 2007. Later that same year Rogers detailed his thinking on how economic power in the 21st century would shift away from America and towards Asia in his book, “A Bull in China: Investing Profitably in the World’s Greatest Market”.
While you probably knew that already, here are 11 things you probably didn’t know:
- He retired at 37 after making millions from a profitable association with famed hedge fund trader George Soros. The two co-founded the Quantum Group of Funds.
- Rogers had his first child in 2003 at 60. The baby girl was christened “Happy.” He fathered a second child “Baby Bee” five years later.
- He ranks India as the top country to visit, describing it as a “constant sensory feast.” (London Real)
- Rogers, who continues to reside in Singapore, has mixed feelings about the city’s education system. He has praised it for having high standards while also criticizing what he sees as a lack of imaginative thinking in the way students are encouraged to tackle problems. (Family & Life)
- Rogers holds two citations in the Guinness Book of World Records. The “Most countries visited in a continuous journey by car” for his 1999-2002 tour covering 245,000 km (152,000 miles) in which he visited through 111 countries and three territories in a custom-built Mercedes and off-road trailer. His first Guinness record was for a world tour on a motorcycle in 1990 -1992. Rogers wrote about the experience in his 1995 book “Investment Biker: Around the World with Jim Rogers”.
- His most useful investment advice: “When you see several major companies losing money and capital expenditure coming to a stop, then look for an industry recovery!” (The Equity Desk)
- He advises making your investment mistakes while you’re young. That way, he says, you won’t lose too much money.
- Those who are thinking about putting their savings into risky investments should probably make sure they’ve done these three things first: 1) Bought a home, 2) seen to their children’s education, and 3) purchased insurance. (Yahoo Finance Singapore)
- Rogers tried living in Shanghai and Hong Kong before opting to make Singapore his home. Singapore’s cleaner air was a major factor in the decision. (Street Smarts: Adventures on the Road and in the Markets)
- Rogers’ net worth is $300 million. (The Famous People)
- He has been married three times. His spouse Paige is nearly three decades his junior.
Photo credit: Gage Skidmore via Flickr