What is the biggest single trade profit in history?

Asked by: Mathilde Sanford  |  Last update: October 12, 2026
Score: 4.1/5 (18 votes)

The biggest single trade profit in history is generally considered to be John Paulson's bet against the subprime mortgage market in 2007, which generated approximately $15-$20 billion in profit for his firm and himself. Other notable massive, single-trade profits include George Soros's $1 billion gain shorting the British pound in 1992 and Bill Ackman's $2.6 billion profit from credit default swaps in March 2020.

What is the largest single trade in history?

Probably the greatest single trade in history occurred in the early 1990s when George Soros shorted the British Pound, making over $1 billion on the trade. Most of the greatest trades in history are highly leveraged, currency exploitation trades.

Who turned $13600 into $153 million?

Takashi Kotegawa, also known as BNF, is a legendary Japanese day trader who famously turned an initial capital of around $13,600 into an astounding $153 million in approximately eight years.

Can you make $500,000 a year day trading?

I just crossed + $500,000 in profits after 1 year of full time day trading. In that time, I have had a maximum cumulative drawdown of only — $6,419 with an average drawdown of -$1,000. This article is my holistic approach to risk management that any trader can apply to their own strategies.

What is the 90% rule in trading?

The "90-90-90 rule" in trading is a harsh reality check stating that 90% of new traders lose 90% of their money within the first 90 days, highlighting the high failure rate due to emotional decisions, poor risk management, and lack of education/strategy. It serves as a cautionary tale, emphasizing that success requires discipline, a solid trading plan, continuous learning, and strict risk control (like risking only 1-2% per trade) to avoid the common pitfalls that wipe out most beginners. 

Jesse Livermore | From Years of Failure to Consistent Profits (Truth About Profitable Trading)

27 related questions found

How much wealth was lost in 1929?

Stocks were valued at just 12 percent of what they had been worth in September 1929. Altogether, between September 1929 and June 1932, the nation's stock exchanges lost $179 billion in value. The great stock market crash of October 1929 brought the economic prosperity of the 1920s to a symbolic end.

Did a Japanese day trader make $34 million?

In the high-stakes world of trading, few stories are as captivating as that of the Japanese day trader known by the pseudonym "CIS." In August 2015, amid global market turmoil, CIS claimed to have made a staggering $34 million in a single day.

Has anyone made millions day trading?

Many people have made millions just by day trading. Some examples are Ross Cameron, Brett N. Steenbarger, etc. But the important thing about day trading is that only a few can make money out of day trading and the rest end up losing their entire capital in day trading.

Who owns 88% of the stock market?

A 2019 study by Harvard Business Review found either Vanguard, BlackRock or State Street is the largest listed owner of 88% of S&P 500 companies. There is a perception that a few select companies own a vast majority of the stock market.

What is the 1% rule in crypto?

The 1% rule in crypto trading is a risk management strategy where you never risk more than 1% of your total trading capital on a single trade, calculated by setting a stop-loss to limit potential losses, helping protect your overall portfolio from significant damage and reducing emotional trading. For example, with a $10,000 account, your maximum loss on any trade is $100, achieved by adjusting your position size based on where you set your stop-loss. 

Can I live off the interest of $900000?

With $900,000 saved, and factoring in an average annual rate of return between 10–12%, you'll have between $90,000 and $108,000 to live off of each year, not including your Social Security benefits.

Who made $8 million in 24 year old stock trader?

The "24-year-old trader making $8 million" refers primarily to Jack Kellogg, a successful day trader who reported over $8 million in gains from trading in 2020 and 2021, starting with just $7,500 and leveraging key indicators like VWAP, support/resistance, volume, and linear regression for simple, adaptable strategies. His story highlights achieving significant returns by weathering different market conditions, learning from losses, and sticking to core principles rather than overcomplicating things.
 

Is day trading illegal?

The current SEC Day Trading Rule allows the wealthy to Day Trade in the Stock Market on a daily basis while the smaller investor is not allowed to do so.

What is the $27.39 rule?

The "27.39 rule" (often rounded to $27.40) is a simple financial strategy to save $10,000 in one year by consistently setting aside $27.40 every single day, making it an achievable micro-saving habit to build wealth or an emergency fund. It turns the daunting goal of saving $10,000 into a manageable daily action, emphasizing consistency over large lump sums.

What is Warren Buffett's $10000 investment strategy?

If Warren Buffett had $10,000 today, he'd focus on finding overlooked, high-quality small companies (small-caps) at attractive prices, buying them as businesses, not just stock tickers, and letting compound interest work over a long period by starting early and reinvesting dividends, much like he did in his early days, emphasizing fundamental value over market hype.