Benjamin Graham was an American economist, investor, and professor who is widely recognized as the father of value investing. He was born on May 8, 1894, in London, England, and moved to the United States with his family when he was a child. Graham’s father died when he was young, and his mother struggled to make ends meet, which made Graham very frugal and cautious with money throughout his life.
Graham is best known for his investment philosophy, which emphasizes the importance of buying undervalued stocks and bonds and holding them for the long term. He developed this philosophy while working as a stock analyst and eventually founded the Graham-Newman Corporation, a highly successful investment firm.
Graham earned his Bachelor’s degree in economics from Columbia University in 1914 and later went on to earn his Master’s degree in economics from the same institution in 1915. After completing his studies, Graham worked for several financial institutions, including the Newburger, Henderson & Loeb investment bank and the Northern Pipeline Company. In 1928, he began teaching at Columbia University and would continue to do so for many years. It was during his time as a professor that he wrote several influential books on investing, including “Security Analysis” and “The Intelligent Investor.”
Graham’s net worth is difficult to estimate, as he passed away in 1976. However, at the time of his death, he was considered one of the most successful investors of his time. Graham’s most notable asset was his investment philosophy, which has continued to influence investors and traders around the world.
Facts:
- Graham was the mentor of the legendary investor Warren Buffett. Buffett has often credited Graham’s teachings as the foundation of his own investment approach, and Graham’s philosophy has been a significant influence on Buffett’s investment decisions.
- In addition to his work as an investor and professor, Graham was also an avid chess player. He was a close friend of the famous chess player Bobby Fischer, and the two often played games together. (Source: The New York Times)
- Graham was a strong proponent of diversification in investing, and he advised investors to hold a mix of stocks and bonds to reduce their overall risk. He also recommended that investors use a margin of safety when purchasing stocks, meaning they should only buy stocks that are trading at a significant discount to their intrinsic value.
Benjamin Graham is widely respected in the investment community, and his books are considered must-reads for anyone interested in value investing. Warren Buffett has called Graham’s “The Intelligent Investor” the best book on investing ever written, and many other successful investors have credited Graham’s teachings with their own success.
Benjamin Graham is the author of several influential books on investing, including “Security Analysis,” “The Intelligent Investor,” and “The Interpretation of Financial Statements.” These books are still widely read and respected by investors around the world.
There have been several books written about Benjamin Graham, including “The Rediscovered Benjamin Graham” by Janet Lowe and “Benjamin Graham: The Memoirs of the Dean of Wall Street” by Seymour Chatman. These books offer insights into Graham’s life and work and provide valuable context for his investment philosophy.
Benjamin Graham has been widely covered in the financial press, with articles about his life and work appearing in publications like The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, and Forbes. These articles typically highlight Graham’s contributions to the field of value investing and his ongoing influence on modern investment strategies.