- Full Name: Thomas Peterffy
- Occupation: Digital Trading Pioneer, Entrepreneur
- Date of Birth: September 30, 1944
- Age: 78
- Net Worth: $28.1 billion
- Ranking: #53 in the world’s billionaires
- Wealth History: $25.3 billion
- Source of Wealth: Discount brokerage, Self Made
- Self-Made Score: 10 (According to Forbes)
- Philanthropy Score: 1
- Residence: Palm Beach, Florida, United States
- Citizenship: United States
- Marital Status: Divorced
- Children: 3
- Education: Dropout, New York University
Thomas Peterffy, born on September 30, 1944, is a digital trading pioneer and entrepreneur best known for founding Interactive Brokers, a leading discount brokerage and trading platform.
Peterffy’s journey into the financial world began after he arrived in the United States in 1965 as a 21-year-old. He was a penniless descendant of Hungarian aristocrats who had lost a substantial portion of their wealth to the Soviet regime. Despite his challenging circumstances, Peterffy’s determination and innovative spirit led him to make significant contributions to the finance and technology sectors.
In 1993, Peterffy founded Interactive Brokers, a brokerage firm that offers specialized trading platforms catering to sophisticated investors. Prior to founding Interactive Brokers, he was involved in market-making. The company gained prominence for its trading technology and competitive pricing, and by December 2019, he stepped down as CEO, handing over the leadership reins.
In the financial industry, Peterffy is recognized for his role in driving the adoption of electronic trading and automation. He played a crucial role in introducing electronic trading systems that transformed how securities are bought and sold.
Beyond his contributions to the financial sector, Thomas Peterffy is also known as a major landowner. He owns more than 560,000 acres of land, primarily located in Florida, his home state.
Despite his financial success, Peterffy’s education path took an unconventional route. He dropped out of New York University, where he was pursuing studies, to pursue his interests and entrepreneurial ventures.
While Thomas Peterffy’s self-made score is a perfect 10 according to Forbes, his philanthropy score is rated as 1, suggesting that he hasn’t been as publicly active in philanthropic efforts compared to other areas of his career and interests.
His life story, from arriving in the United States with little to founding a major brokerage firm and becoming a landowner, reflects his ingenuity, determination, and impact on the world of finance and technology.
