Alex Gerko

Alexander Gerko
Born	(1979-12-03) December 3, 1979 Russia
Occupation(s)	Financial trader, businessman
Known for	Founder of XTX Markets
Notable work	Contributions to market timing strategies

Alexander Gerko (born 3 December 1979) is a Russian-born billionaire and financial trader who founded XTX Markets, a UK-based firm specializing in algorithmic trading. Holding a doctorate in mathematics, Gerko has contributed scholarly work on market timing strategies. By 2025, his fortune is valued at approximately US$15.0 billion according to Forbes and the Bloomberg Billionaires Index.

Career

Gerko was born into a Russian Jewish family and pursued extensive academic qualifications in mathematics and economics. He earned bachelor's, master's, and Ph.D. degrees in mathematics from Moscow State University, alongside master's degrees from both the New Economic School in economics and the Independent University of Moscow. His professional journey began in 2004 at Deutsche Bank, focusing initially on equity trading before transitioning to the foreign exchange market.

In 2009, he became part of the UK hedge fund GSA Capital, where he remained until 2015.

January 2015 marked the founding of XTX Markets by Gerko, a company concentrating on algorithmic trading that capitalizes on price discrepancies across various markets. He retains a 75% ownership share. The firm reported a 64% rise in profits, reaching £1.1 billion in 2022.

In 2024, Gerko launched Cromulon Capital, a family office dedicated to managing his investment portfolio and wealth.

Philanthropy

Since 2020, Gerko has contributed £25 million to support extracurricular mathematics clubs through Axiom Maths, a charity he established formerly known as Mathematics Education for Social Mobility and Excellence.

Personal life

Relocating to the United Kingdom in 2006, Gerko is married to Elena, an economist employed at the Bank of England. The couple resides with their three children in north London. After an extended legal process, Gerko renounced his Russian citizenship in 2022 and acquired British citizenship.

As of 2025, the Bloomberg Billionaires Index estimates his net worth at US$14.9 billion. In January 2024, the Sunday Times Rich List 2024 recognized him as the UK's highest taxpayer, with tax contributions totaling £664.5 million. The same list placed him 12th among the nation's wealthiest individuals, estimating his fortune at £12.055 billion.

In July 2024, Gerko's appeal against HM Revenue & Customs concerning taxation on a deferred compensation scheme from his tenure at GSA Capital (2010–2015) was dismissed by the Court of Appeal. The ruling mandated that he and fellow traders pay income tax on their trading earnings instead of the lower corporation tax rate they had contested.