Daniel Och

Daniel Och
Daniel Och
Born	January 27, 1961 (age 65); United States
Occupation(s)	Hedge fund manager, philanthropist
Known for	Founder, chairman, and former CEO of Och-Ziff Capital Management

Daniel Och (born January 27, 1961) is an American billionaire known for his work as a hedge fund manager and philanthropist. He established, chaired, and formerly served as CEO of Och-Ziff Capital Management, a worldwide hedge fund and alternative asset management company. As reported by Forbes, his net worth was estimated at US$3.6 billion as of August 2021.

Early life and education

Och, who is of Jewish heritage, is the son of Golda and Dr. Michael Och. Raised in Maplewood, New Jersey, he attended the Solomon Schechter Day School of Essex and Union—now called Golda Och Academy in honor of his mother—a Jewish day school founded by his parents. In December 2010, he contributed $15 million to the institution, effectively doubling its endowment. He earned a bachelor's degree in economics with a focus on finance from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania.

Investment career

Och launched his professional journey in 1982 at Goldman Sachs, working in the Risk Arbitrage Department before advancing to lead proprietary trading within the Equities Division and co-managing U.S. Equities Trading. After eleven years, he departed to establish Och-Ziff Capital Management Group in 1994, backed by an initial $100 million investment from the Ziff brothers, heirs to publishing tycoon William Bernard Ziff, Jr.. The firm went public in 2007 on the New York Stock Exchange, with shares initially priced at $32; however, the stock suffered a significant decline, reaching a low of $3.29 in July 2016.

Forbes placed Och among the top 25 highest-paid hedge fund managers in 2013, ranking him 17th with earnings of $400 million.

In May 2015, activist group "Hedge Clippers" protested outside his residence in New York City.

In September 2016, U.S. authorities imposed fines totaling $2.2 million on Och personally and $413 million on Och-Ziff due to a bribery case involving payments exceeding $100 million to officials in Africa.

Robert Shafir succeeded Och as CEO in February 2018, while Och continued as chairman until March 2019. This leadership transition occurred following the bribery controversy and altered previous succession plans that had designated James Levin as Och’s replacement.

Currently, Daniel Och manages investments through his family office, Willoughby Capital, and oversees a $750 million SPAC named AJAX Holdings.

Philanthropy

Och holds a board position at Endeavor and serves as vice chair of the Robin Hood Foundation, an organization dedicated to alleviating poverty in New York City. Since 2005, he has been a trustee at New York-Presbyterian Hospital.

In October 2017, following a $25 million gift from Och and his wife, NewYork–Presbyterian’s Spine Hospital was named in their honor. Additionally, in 2014, the University of Michigan inaugurated The Och Initiative for Women in Finance, bearing the family name.

In May 2022, The Jane and Daniel Och Family Foundation pledged $50 million to New York-Presbyterian aimed at expanding the Och Spine program regionally by enhancing access to spinal care through new facilities and improved non-surgical services.

Political contributions

In 2008, Och made a donation of $28,500 to the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee.

Personal life

Och is married to Jane Och, and together they have three children. His hobbies encompass philanthropy, skiing, and an interest in history.

External links