Ken Griffin, founder and CEO of Citadel, spoke to the Economic Club of New York at The Plaza Hotel in New York, highlighting the firm’s performance in a volatile market. As a prominent figure in the investment world, Griffin’s insights are closely followed by industry experts and investors alike.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Brendan Mcdermid | Reuters<\/p>\n
Billionaire investor Ken Griffin’s flagship hedge fund at Citadel climbed double digits in 2025, navigating a volatile year marked by sharp market swings, trade tensions, and a late-year rebound in risk assets. Citadel’s flagship multistrategy Wellington fund, its largest, gained 10.2% in 2025, according to a person familiar with the firm’s returns who asked to remain anonymous as the information is private.<\/p>\n
The firm’s tactical trading fund, which blends equities with quantitative strategies, rose 18.6% in 2025, while its fundamental equity strategy returned 14.5%, and its global fixed income fund advanced 9.4%. These results demonstrate the firm’s ability to adapt to changing market conditions and generate returns for its investors.<\/p>\n
The S&P 500 locked in a 16.4% gain for the year, its third straight double-digit annual advance, marking an impressive recovery from the rout seen in early April following President Donald Trump’s sweeping tariffs announcement. At one point, the S&P 500 was even on the cusp of closing in bear market territory.<\/p>\n
Citadel declined to comment on its performance, but the hedge fund plans to return about $5 billion of profits earned this year to clients in an effort to limit capital growth, as previously reported by CNBC’s Leslie Picker. This move is expected to reduce assets under management to about $67 billion from roughly $72 billion.<\/p>\n
Wellington’s long-term track record remains strong, with the fund generating an annualized return of 19% since its inception in 1990, according to the person familiar with the firm’s returns. This demonstrates the firm’s consistency and ability to deliver returns over the long term.<\/p>\n