Portrait of Scott Bessent
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Scott Bessent on Jim Rogers

Former mentor/employer (strong)

TL;DR

Scott Bessent credits Jim Rogers, his former mentor and employer, for teaching him investment business fundamentals after Yale.

Key Points

  • Bessent interned with Jim Rogers after college, securing a place to stay on the office sofa.

  • He credits his time with Rogers for teaching him the investment business really well.

  • Rogers is noted as the famous co-founder of the Quantum Fund and George Soros' first partner.

Summary

Scott Bessent speaks of Jim Rogers as a formative influence and his first employer in the investment world after graduating from Yale University. Rogers, famous as George Soros' first partner, had just completed an around-the-world motorcycle trip and written a book when Bessent interned for him. Bessent described Rogers as a "fascinating guy" who taught him the investment business well, leading him to realize he enjoyed the quantitative yet narrative-driven nature of the work. This early experience with Rogers was instrumental in Bessent choosing a career in finance over considering journalism.

Bessent's relationship with Rogers dates back to his time as an intern, which he pursued after not securing the editor position at the Yale Daily News. The source material indicates that the internship provided Bessent with a place to stay on the office sofa, highlighting a hands-on, early mentorship. Bessent later went on to work at Soros Fund Management, where Rogers was a famous predecessor and partner to George Soros, solidifying the connection between Bessent’s career trajectory and the world defined by Rogers.

Key Quotes

His name is Jim Rogers. He's famous. He was George Soros' first partner.

He knew nothing about money… he had planned to be a journalist… and look at him now.

Frequently Asked Questions

Scott Bessent met Jim Rogers while at Yale University and pursued an internship with the investor. He sought the internship after not being selected as editor for the Yale Daily News. This internship provided Bessent with a foundation in the investment business.

Jim Rogers served as Scott Bessent's first employer in finance, teaching him the business fundamentals. Bessent considered Rogers a fascinating guy and stated that this early experience was key to his decision to enter the finance industry. Bessent later worked for Soros Fund Management, where Rogers was a famous former partner.

The provided sources indicate Bessent was an intern for Rogers early in his career. Bessent later worked at Soros Fund Management, where Rogers had been a prominent figure. One source notes that Bessent advocated for policies like revaluing gold reserves, which Rogers commented on in response to his former intern's current role.

Sources5

* This is not an exhaustive list of sources.