Crispin Odey, one of the most polarizing figures in the world of finance, is known for his bold market bets, unapologetic demeanor, and remarkable rise to wealth as the founder of Odey Asset Management. With a career spanning decades, Odey has earned a reputation for his aggressive investment strategies and headline-grabbing remarks, alongside a personal fortune that has fluctuated dramatically over the years.
A High-Stakes Career in Hedge Funds
Crispin Odey’s path to becoming one of the United Kingdom’s best-known fund managers has been marked by triumphs and controversies alike. Known for dismissing conventional wisdom around risk management, Odey famously scoffed at hedging strategies. During the height of the financial crisis, when a family office representative questioned his risk exposure, Odey curtly dismissed him as a “jerk” and a “crappy” investor. In a 2019 Bloomberg interview, he underlined his belief in taking bold risks by stating that hundreds of millions of dollars of his personal wealth were invested alongside client funds.
Odey’s most lucrative period came before and after the 2008 financial crash when he made enormous profits by shorting banking stocks, betting against major financial institutions. Between 2008 and 2011, his earnings reached an estimated £110 million ($210 million), catapulting him to the upper echelons of the hedge fund elite. During this time, his net worth reportedly peaked at over £800 million, making him one of the UK’s wealthiest financiers.
Political Influence and Public Persona
With significant wealth came significant influence. Odey became a notable political donor, contributing generously to the UK’s ruling Conservative Party and pro-Brexit campaigns. His financial backing helped to shape the UK’s political landscape during one of its most tumultuous modern periods.
Despite experiencing setbacks between 2015 and 2020 when his flagship fund underperformed, Odey rebounded in 2021. That year, the fund saw an astonishing 152 percent gain, marking it as one of his most successful years in decades. Over the past 30 years, Odey is believed to have received approximately £330 million in profits and dividends from his majority stake in Odey Asset Management, based on data compiled by Bloomberg.
Diversified Interests and Side Investments
Beyond hedge funds, Odey made a number of side bets that also contributed to his vast fortune. He was an early investor in Ruffer, a London-based asset management firm that now oversees roughly £25.2 billion on behalf of pension funds, charities, and high-net-worth families. Through an indirect minority stake in a holding entity for Ruffer’s founding investors, Odey collected a share of more than £50 million in dividends over two decades.
In 2006, he expanded his portfolio further by acquiring a stake in ICP, an investment fund focusing on the Lloyd’s of London insurance market. This investment yielded at least £1 million in dividends as ICP’s net assets grew by more than 50 percent between 2006 and 2021.
However, not all of Odey’s investments were as successful. He invested in Soultime Media, a Christian meditation app endorsed by the Archbishop of Canterbury. Despite the high-profile endorsement, the app reported cumulative losses of nearly £1 million by July 2022.
Personal Life and Legal Challenges
Odey’s personal life has been as complex as his professional one. Now in his mid-60s, Odey was briefly married to Rupert Murdoch’s eldest daughter, Prudence, in the 1980s. His second marriage to fellow financier Nichola Pease lasted over 30 years before ending in divorce in 2021. Pease, a highly respected figure in the City of London, retained the couple’s countryside estate in Gloucestershire, valued at £1.5 million, which gained tabloid notoriety for a lavish £130,000 chicken coop dubbed “Cluckingham Palace.”
In 2021, Odey faced and was acquitted of sexual assault charges, but further allegations emerged in 2023, leading to his resignation from multiple board positions, including Ruffer’s former controlling entity and ICP’s holding company. Odey Asset Management also revoked his regulatory approval to manage outside capital in June 2023.
The divorce also involved a transfer of wealth. In 2018, Odey and Pease transferred significant assets to their three adult children, including stakes in Ruffer and two private firms with combined net assets nearing £20 million as of early 2022. This strategic move could shield parts of his estate from inheritance tax under UK regulations if the assets remain outside his direct control for seven years.
Odey’s Net Worth Today
While once valued at more than £800 million, Crispin Odey’s net worth has declined due to market fluctuations, personal legal battles, and asset transfers following his divorce. As of 2025, financial analysts estimate Odey’s personal fortune to be in the range of £300 million to £400 million, though exact figures remain uncertain due to private holdings and recent changes to his investment portfolio.
Life After Hedge Fund Glory
Odey currently resides with his third wife, Diana, in a £4.5 million Chelsea townhouse located near some of London’s most exclusive establishments. While stepping back from his firm’s day-to-day operations, many believe the veteran investor is unlikely to disappear from financial circles entirely.
“Once a trader, always a trader,” remarked Bruno Schneller, managing director at INVICO Asset Management AG, reflecting a common sentiment among industry peers who expect Odey to re-emerge in some form, whether through private investments or a new venture.
Despite his recent setbacks, Crispin Odey’s storied career and headline-making bets continue to make him one of the most recognizable names in British finance, with a legacy as bold—and controversial—as the man himself.