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In addition to being a TV personality, Jim Cramer is also an author and an entrepreneur. He has written several books and he co-founded TheStreet, a popular financial news outlet aimed at helping retail investors navigate the complex world of investments.
In this article, we will tell you about Cramer’s diverse career path, as well as his impressive wealth accumulation over the years.
Jim Cramer’s net worth is estimated to be around $150 million. This figure is based on his career as a television personality, his hedge fund earnings, and his personal investments. Cramer has earned a significant portion of his wealth through his hedge fund, though he likely made most of his fortune at CNBC. He has also mentioned that he has earned significant profits trading crypto, though he hasn’t revealed many of the details.
Here is a breakdown of his major wealth sources and assets:
| Asset or Income Source | Contribution to Net Worth |
|---|---|
| Entry-level reporter salary | $15,000 |
| Hedge fund manager earnings | $300,000-$500,000 |
| TheStreet sale | ~6% stake worth $990,000 |
| CNBC compensation | $100 million ($5 million annually) |
| Personal investment portfolio | Undisclosed |
| Book royalties | Undisclosed |
| Other assets | Undisclosed |
| Total Net Worth | $150+ million |
Jim Cramer Net Worth: Early Life, Education, and Personal Life
Cramer was born James Joseph Cramer on February 10, 1955, in Wyndmoor, Pennsylvania. His parents, Louise A. Cramer, an artist, and N. Ken Cramer, owner of International Packaging Products, were Jewish.
Cramer spent his early years in Wyndmoor before the family relocated to Montgomery County, where he attended Springfield Township High School. There, he competed for the school’s track team and graduated in 1973.
After high school, Cramer enrolled at Harvard College to study for his bachelor’s degree in government. At Harvard, he was the editor-in-chief and president of The Harvard Crimson, the school’s newspaper. He was a National Merit Scholar and graduated magna cum laude in 1977.
In 1984, Cramer received his Juris Doctor degree from Harvard Law School. At this point, he was investing more heavily in the stock market, earning enough from trading to cover his tuition. He even started promoting his stock holdings by leaving stock picks on his answering machine.
While at Harvard University, Jim Cramer met Martin Peretz, the owner of the independent magazine The New Republic, through his fellow alumnus Michael Kinsley. Peretz subsequently contacted Cramer and asked him to write a book review. When he profited from the stock picks he heard on his answering machine, Peretz decided to give Cramer $500,000 to invest for him. In only two years, Cramer made $150,000 for Peretz.
In 1988, Cramer married Karen Backfisch, a former stock trader nicknamed the “Trading Goddess.” He has two children with her, but the two got divorced in 2009. In 2015, Cramer married Lisa Cadette Detwiler, general manager of The Longshoreman and a real estate broker.
Sweet! pic.twitter.com/iONy7xPWhb
— Jim Cramer (@jimcramer) February 10, 2025
Jim Cramer’s Early Career and Success as a Stock Picker
Even though Jim Cramer went to law school, his passion wasn’t practicing law. He was evidently more interested in trading and journalism, which is where he thrived. He was admitted to the bar by the New York State Bar Association in 1985 but never practiced law. His license was suspended in 2009 due to non-renewal.
Let’s see how Jim Cramer built his wealth in different industries.
Early Career Days and Trading Beginnings
Jim Cramer started showing an entrepreneurial spirit from an early age. In 1971, while still in high school, he sold Coca-Cola and ice cream at Veterans Stadium during Philadelphia Phillies baseball games. In the fourth grade, he started researching the stock market. By the time he was at university, he had mastered the stock market so well that he used the profits to pay his tuition – and even advised others on stock picks.
“I’d go to a ballgame. And it’d be like, ‘Oh, look at that, you know, there’s a Budweiser sign. Bud, you know 42 and three-quarters, having a hard time going past 43. And you know, people aren’t drinking beer over there. Take a look, it’ll be a hot dog company. I’ll be, like, Ballpark Franks, Sara Lee…’ And, you know, these are things in my head.” – Cramer told CBSNews about his early interest in the stock market.
After college, Cramer worked as an entry-level reporter, earning $15,000 a year. In March 1978, he started working for the Tallahassee Democrat publication in Florida. He was one of the first reporters to cover the Ted Bundy murders, living just a few blocks from the crime scenes.
Cramer later took a position at the Los Angeles Herald-Examiner, primarily writing obituaries. However, this period marked a major setback for him when his apartment was burglarized, leaving him with nothing. With no other options, he spent the next nine months living in his car, nearly penniless.
In addition to his early career in journalism, Jim Cramer also spent some time working under California Governor Jerry Brown. He eventually became one of the pioneering reporters for American Lawyer, a publication for legal news.
Becoming a Millionaire as a Hedge Fund Manager
After a stint in sales and trading at Goldman Sachs in 1984, Jim Cramer decided to make a bold bet and start his own firm. Cramer left Goldman Sachs and transitioned from investment banking to hedge fund management in 1987 when he launched Cramer & Co. – later renamed Cramer, Berkowitz & Co. He founded the company with backing from high-profile investors, including Steve Brill, Martin Peretz, and Eliot Spitzer.
Operating out of Michael Steinhardt’s offices, Cramer raised $450 million in $5 million increments. At the time, he was charging a 20% fee on profits. He has since claimed that he averaged a 24% annual return over 14 years while running his hedge fund Cramer, Berkowitz & Co. These are incredible results, rarely matched by even the most prestigious hedge funds.
If Cramer consistently managed $450 million through his hedge fund’s lifespan and achieved an annual return of 25%, then his total estimated earnings from performance fees would be $21.6 million a year – or $302.4 million in total.
However, as the hedge fund Cramer Berkowitz grew, it’s likely that he gained new investors and reinvested his profits, so his AUM may have increased over time. If the firm’s AUM grew by a moderate rate of 10%, his total estimated earnings over 14 years would be at least $500 million. Of course, this is all subject to speculation, especially since 1998 was a down year, so AUM might have dropped before it rebounded.
Cramer’s fund returned 47% in 1999 and 28% in 2000, likely boosting his earnings even further in the final years.
One of Cramer’s most notable claims is that he exited the stock market on the Friday before Black Monday in 1987, avoiding massive losses. He reported consistent gains through the stock market, with only one down year in 1998. Despite investor withdrawals that year, his fund rebounded and delivered a remarkable 47% return a year later, outperforming the S&P 500 by a massive margin.
In 2001, Cramer stepped away from hedge fund management, passing the reins to his former partner, Jeff Berkowitz.
Controversies
Cramer has been involved in several high-profile controversies throughout his career. His hedge fund activities in particular has raised ethical questions. In a 2006 interview, he described tactics that could be considered market manipulation, including spreading false rumors and engaging in short-selling to drive down stock values.
You can watch the full interview here:
His comments immediately sparked outrage and were discussed in the highly publicized debate with Jon Stewart in 2009 (on The Daily Show), when Stewart accused Cramer and CNBC of failing to hold companies accountable for their actions during the economic collapse.
Cramer’s controversial public statements also included criticizing President Obama’s economic policies and calling out the economics consultant Nouriel Roubini, leading to further media conflicts.
Cramer has stirred up debate over the years with his stances on various investment trends, including cryptocurrency and NFTs. His views have been controversial among investors for many years.
In 2022, Tuttle Capital Management launched the “Inverse Cramer” ETF (SJIM), a fund designed to bet against the stocks Cramer recommended, following years of social media jokes about his poor picks and advice. The fund tracks his stock recommendations from Mad Money and his X feed, signaling that many investors believe betting against him is a winning strategy.
Nevertheless, Cramer doesn’t seem to be too bothered by the fund, saying that it was “nothing new” in his career in a Tweet.
These will be my only comments about this "exciting" new way for a promoter to make money and i am sure it can be tricked to make me look bad. Again, nothing new in my career. And it won't be new long after the wagerers move on to CDs and cash.. Good luck…
— Jim Cramer (@jimcramer) October 7, 2022
SJIM started along with the Long Cramer Tracker (LJIM), which bet on the stocks that Cramer recommended. The lack of interest caused LJIM to shutter after only half a year since its debut. Five months later, SJIM met the same fate. While the fund is gone, the social media jokes live on.
Jim Cramer’s Media Ventures: From Print to Television
Cramer’s career in financial media spans various platforms – from print to television. He has held notable roles as a journalist, radio host, and television personality. Famous for his energetic style and distinctive approach to stock trading and analysis, Cramer has become one of the most recognized figures in financial journalism.
SmartMoney Magazine Controversy
In the mid-1990s, while Cramer was president of his hedge fund, he was also editor-at-large at SmartMoney, a personal finance news magazine affiliated with The Wall Street Journal. During his tenure, he faced criticism for purchasing stocks before recommending them in his articles (reportedly profiting by $2 million). This led to allegations of unethical behavior and prompted the magazine to implement stricter policies regarding conflicts of interest.
Under the new rules, contributors were no longer allowed to write about companies in which they owned more than 1% of the stock, and they could no longer cover companies with market capitalizations under $500 million. Still, the policy didn’t prevent contributors from buying stocks in the period between submitting their articles and publication.
There is little publicly available information on how long Jim Cramer remained at SmartMoney after the controversy. It appears that his tenure there was relatively short, and he continued to focus on his hedge fund. Cramer shifted his attention to other media ventures in the 1990s.
Founding TheStreet.com
In 1996, Cramer co-founded TheStreet.com with Martin Peretz, aiming to provide real-time financial news and analysis. The platform soon became a popular resource for investors seeking timely market insights.
In August 2019, TheStreet was acquired by a digital media company called TheMaven. The company paid $16.5 million in cash for the business. The deal paid between $6.19 and $6.47 per share to the shareholders.
In 2013, CNN Business’s report indicated that Jim Cramer had reduced his stake in TheStreet to approximately 1.3 million shares, representing about 4.3% of the company. His charitable trust, Cramer Partners, held around 556,000 shares at the time.
By 2015, ValueWalk reported that his ownership was 6% of TheStreet’s stock. The reason for this change was possibly due to stock buyback or dilution changes, or simply errors in reporting. Regardless, we don’t know what his stake in the business was in 2019 at the time of the sale.
If Cramer indeed owned 6% of the company in 2015, his earnings from TheStreet’s sale would be around $990,000. Despite the acquisition, Cramer and his team continued their involvement, collaborating with Maven’s team to develop new subscription products.
Cramer’s Transition to Television
Cramer’s television career began in the late 1990s, when he had frequent guest appearances on CNBC. After his appearances as a CNBC commentator, he co-hosted Kudlow & Cramer alongside Larry Kudlow from 2002 to 2005. On the show, the pair discussed financial and economic topics.
In 2005, Cramer launched his own show, Mad Money with Jim Cramer, on CNBC. To maintain journalistic integrity, CNBC prohibits Cramer from owning stocks that could be discussed on the show.
Good morning ! pic.twitter.com/Wd89q38Jhl
— Jim Cramer (@jimcramer) March 20, 2025
Cramer’s Mad Money program aims to educate and empower retail investors by providing insights into stock market dynamics and investment strategies.
As host of Mad Money, Jim Cramer reportedly earns an annual salary of $5 million from CNBC. This compensation reflects his role on Mad Money, as well as his contributions to other CNBC programs. If he has consistently earned $5 million a year since the show debuted, this adds up to an impressive $100 million in salary alone.
Other Media Appearances
Beyond his primary roles, Cramer has made numerous appearances across different media platforms, including:
Radio
In 2001, Cramer began hosting Real Money, a syndicated one-hour radio show that laid the groundwork for Mad Money. The radio show concluded in December 2006.
Television cameos
Cramer portrayed himself in two episodes of Arrested Development in 2005, where he humorously downgraded the main characters’ Bluth Company stock. He was also interviewed by Dan Rather on 60 Minutes, discussing his hedge fund company and his temper. Other appearances include Today, NBC Nightly News, Late Night with Conan O’Brien, and The Tonight Show with Jay Leno.
Film
Cramer appeared in the 2008 film Iron Man, spoofing Stark Industries on his show Mad Money. He also consulted for the original Wall Street movie, advising on how to portray the interactions with a character like Gordon Gekko.
Authorship
Jim Cramer has written several books to date, including:
- Confessions of a Street Addict (2002)
- Jim Cramer’s You Got Screwed! Why Wall Street Tanked and How You Can Prosper (2002)
- Jim Cramer’s Real Money: Sane Investing in an Insane World (2005)
- Jim Cramer’s Mad Money: Watch TV, Get Rich (2006)
- Jim Cramer’s Stay Mad for Life (2007)
- Jim Cramer’s Getting Back to Even (2009)
- Jim Cramer’s Get Rich Carefully (2013)
Cramer’s Investments and Stance on Crypto and NFTs
Unlike many of his compatriots in financial news and reporting, Jim Cramer is a fan of cryptocurrencies and has invested in them for a while. He even shared that he bought a farm with his Bitcoin winnings and a boat with his Ethereum winnings.
As far as crypto, same: i bought a farm with my Bitcoin winnings, all announced, and i bought a boat with Ethereum. All announced. Everything disclosed. I WANT you to bet against me. You do not do this for 42 years and lose money evert year.
— Jim Cramer (@jimcramer) October 7, 2022
Cramer has openly discussed his investments in cryptocurrencies, mentioning that he has made profits in the past. On occasion, he has also expressed skepticism, especially regarding the volatility of the market. For instance, in the following tweet, Cramer spoke of his belief in the stability of traditional assets over digital currencies:
Remember this: gold held up a lot better than crypto…
— Jim Cramer (@jimcramer) August 5, 2024
In 2021, Cramer shared that he bought a sizable chunk of BTC when it was trading at $12,000. He then shared that he cleared his mortgage by selling half of his investment in Bitcoin.
“It was like, kind of, phony money paying for real money,” Cramer said. “I now own a house- lock, stock, and barrel- because I bought this currency. I think I won!”
It is unclear exactly how much cryptocurrency he holds, as he hasn’t disclosed specific figures regarding his crypto assets. In the following interview, he shared some details of his diversified investment portfolio, saying that he has gold and Bitcoin investments, albeit in relatively small amounts by his standards:
Assets and Other Businesses
Cramer reportedly lives in Summit, New Jersey. He owns a 65-acre estate in the New Jersey countryside and a summer house in Quogue in New York. In 2009, he partnered with four other investors to buy the DeBary Inn in Summit, New Jersey.
Cramer and his wife also own a restaurant and bar called Bar San Miguel, located in Carroll Gardens in Brooklyn. Specific values for these assets haven’t been disclosed.
What Can We Learn from Jim Cramer’s Career?
Jim Cramer’s story offers several valuable lessons. His entrepreneurial mindset was evident early on when he left stock picks on his answering machine. While running his hedge fund, Cramer navigated both high returns and setbacks, including a market crash. His ability to bounce back and deliver strong returns proves how valuable resilience is in the financial industry.
Cramer has also demonstrated an ability to transition from law to journalism to hedge fund management. He was able to learn enough transferable skills to enable his incredibly profitable career pivots. Cramer also clearly knows the value of diversification, spreading his investments across multiple industries and types of assets, including cryptos and gold.
While Cramer’s career has been a resounding success in many ways, it hasn’t been without controversy. From his actions at SmartMoney to his comments on market manipulation, his story is a reminder of the importance of maintaining ethical standards in business and the consequences of failing to do so.
FAQ
What is Jim Cramer's net worth in 2025?
Jim Cramer's net worth in 2025 is over $150 million, derived from his career in television, investing, and writing.
Is Jim Cramer still on CNBC?
Yes. Jim Cramer is still hosting his show on CNBC, providing investment advice.
Does Jim Cramer still have his hedge fund company?
No. Before his media career, Cramer managed a hedge fund called Cramer Berkowitz, but he retired in 2001.
How did Jim Cramer become a millionaire?
Jim Cramer initially made his millions through his hedge fund. He now earns money through his media career, books, and personal investments.
