Brian Hunter
Amaranth Advisors
2006
Loss: $6.5 billion
As Amaranth Advisors' chief energy trader, Hunter led the hedge fund to lose $6.5 billion after a major bet on natural gas futures failed. In September, 2006, the company fell apart, marking the largest hedge fund collapse in history. The Commodity Futures Trading Commission filed a civil enforcement action in July, 2007, alleging that Amaranth and Hunter conspired to manipulate natural gas futures prices and cover up the scheme. In 2007, Hunter launched a new hedge fund, Solengo Capital Advisors. In April 2011, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission issued a $30 million civil penalty against him in connection with his alleged manipulation of natural gas prices.
Photographer: Getty Images
