Money Maze Podcast

161: Who is Scott Bessent? Meet Trump's Incoming Treasury Secretary


Listen Later

Today’s guest is the new US Treasury Secretary, serving under Donald Trump. The role gives him immense responsibility for managing US obligations and finances, including circa. $7 trillion of annual US federal spending, the $35+ trillion fiscal debt pile and continued inflationary pressures on both US businesses and consumers.

Prior to this, Scott was a globally respected and market-moving hedge fund investor. He was key player on the George Soros's team, who in 1992 helped the Quantum Fund make $1bn, shorting sterling ahead of the UK’s withdrawal from the ERM.

Then, as Soros’s CIO, he was also dubbed ‘The Man Who Broke the Bank of Japan’ by the Wall Street Journal, making approximately $3.5bn on the Abenomics trade from 2012-2015!

Scott is widely acknowledged to be one of the world’s most highly respected macro hedge fund managers, and is the Founder of Key Square Capital Management. He has also taught financial history at Yale and is a prominent philanthropist.

In this episode, Scott explains the key ingredients in being a macro manager. He charts his journey, working with legendary investors such as Stan Druckenmiller and George Soros.

He opines on a range of key investment themes, including his thoughts on de-dollarisation, debt, commodities, the Ukraine rebuild, and AI. He also shares his analysis of the fast-evolving markets in both China and Japan.

Scott goes on to discuss risk, when and how he sizes positions, signposts that influence conviction, and dealing with information overload. A tour de force!

Interview originally recorded in September 2023.

​​The Money Maze Podcast is kindly sponsored by Schroders, IFM Investors, World Gold Council and LSEG.

Sign up to our Newsletter | Follow us on LinkedInWatch on YouTube
...more
View all episodesView all episodes
Download on the App Store

Money Maze PodcastBy Money Maze Podcast

  • 4.9
  • 4.9
  • 4.9
  • 4.9
  • 4.9

4.9

34 ratings


More shows like Money Maze Podcast

View all
Masters in Business by Bloomberg

Masters in Business

2,179 Listeners

Odd Lots by Bloomberg

Odd Lots

1,942 Listeners

The Meb Faber Show - Better Investing by The Idea Farm

The Meb Faber Show - Better Investing

939 Listeners

Capital Allocators – Inside the Institutional Investment Industry by Ted Seides – Allocator and Asset Management Expert

Capital Allocators – Inside the Institutional Investment Industry

801 Listeners

The Acquirers Podcast by Tobias Carlisle

The Acquirers Podcast

301 Listeners

Value Investing with Legends by Columbia Business School

Value Investing with Legends

212 Listeners

Dry Powder: The Private Equity Podcast by Hugh MacArthur, Bain & Company

Dry Powder: The Private Equity Podcast

144 Listeners

Macro Hive Conversations With Bilal Hafeez by Bilal Hafeez

Macro Hive Conversations With Bilal Hafeez

101 Listeners

The Memo by Howard Marks by Oaktree Capital Management

The Memo by Howard Marks

437 Listeners

Business Breakdowns by Colossus | Investing & Business Podcasts

Business Breakdowns

349 Listeners

Behind the Balance Sheet by Stephen Clapham's Podcast on Value Investing | Stockmarket Analysis | Equities

Behind the Balance Sheet

45 Listeners

In Good Company with Nicolai Tangen by Norges Bank Investment Management

In Good Company with Nicolai Tangen

185 Listeners

Joys of Compounding by Colossus | Investing & Business Podcasts

Joys of Compounding

97 Listeners

Merryn Talks Money by Bloomberg

Merryn Talks Money

52 Listeners

Unhedged by Financial Times & Pushkin Industries

Unhedged

180 Listeners

Money Maze Curated Podcasts by Curated Podcasts - With Simon Brewer

Money Maze Curated Podcasts

2 Listeners

Money Maze Multilingual by Money Maze International Podcasts - With Simon Brewer

Money Maze Multilingual

0 Listeners