Thomas Peterffy
Encyclopedia
Thomas Peterffy is the founder, Chairman of the Board, and Chief Executive Officer of Interactive Brokers
(Nasdaq: IBKR).
, Hungary
in 1944. He emigrated to the United States
in 1965. When he first moved to New York City
, he did not speak English.
He started his career as a computer programmer. In 1977, he bought his own seat on the American Stock Exchange
and began trading options
. In 1993, he founded Interactive Brokers
. He has talked to the United States Senate Banking Subcommittee on Securities, Insurance, and Investment
about adding banking regulations.
As of September 2011, he is worth US$5 billion. He is the 60th richest person in the United States, and the third richest in Connecticut
. He is divorced
with three children. He is an avid equestrian
. He lives in Greenwich, Connecticut
.
Interactive Brokers
Interactive Brokers Group, Inc. is an online discount brokerage firm in the United States. The company traces its origin to 1977 when Thomas Peterffy bought a seat on the American Stock Exchange as an individual market maker, and formed T.P. & Co. the following year...
(Nasdaq: IBKR).
Biography
Thomas Peterffy was born in BudapestBudapest
Budapest is the capital of Hungary. As the largest city of Hungary, it is the country's principal political, cultural, commercial, industrial, and transportation centre. In 2011, Budapest had 1,733,685 inhabitants, down from its 1989 peak of 2,113,645 due to suburbanization. The Budapest Commuter...
, Hungary
Hungary
Hungary , officially the Republic of Hungary , is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is situated in the Carpathian Basin and is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine and Romania to the east, Serbia and Croatia to the south, Slovenia to the southwest and Austria to the west. The...
in 1944. He emigrated to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
in 1965. When he first moved to New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, he did not speak English.
He started his career as a computer programmer. In 1977, he bought his own seat on the American Stock Exchange
American Stock Exchange
NYSE Amex Equities, formerly known as the American Stock Exchange is an American stock exchange situated in New York. AMEX was a mutual organization, owned by its members. Until 1953, it was known as the New York Curb Exchange. On January 17, 2008, NYSE Euronext announced it would acquire the...
and began trading options
Option (finance)
In finance, an option is a derivative financial instrument that specifies a contract between two parties for a future transaction on an asset at a reference price. The buyer of the option gains the right, but not the obligation, to engage in that transaction, while the seller incurs the...
. In 1993, he founded Interactive Brokers
Interactive Brokers
Interactive Brokers Group, Inc. is an online discount brokerage firm in the United States. The company traces its origin to 1977 when Thomas Peterffy bought a seat on the American Stock Exchange as an individual market maker, and formed T.P. & Co. the following year...
. He has talked to the United States Senate Banking Subcommittee on Securities, Insurance, and Investment
United States Senate Banking Subcommittee on Securities, Insurance, and Investment
The Senate Banking Subcommittee on Securities, Insurance, and Investment is one of five subcommittees within the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.-Jurisdiction:...
about adding banking regulations.
As of September 2011, he is worth US$5 billion. He is the 60th richest person in the United States, and the third richest in Connecticut
Connecticut
Connecticut is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, and the state of New York to the west and the south .Connecticut is named for the Connecticut River, the major U.S. river that approximately...
. He is divorced
Divorce
Divorce is the final termination of a marital union, canceling the legal duties and responsibilities of marriage and dissolving the bonds of matrimony between the parties...
with three children. He is an avid equestrian
Equestrianism
Equestrianism more often known as riding, horseback riding or horse riding refers to the skill of riding, driving, or vaulting with horses...
. He lives in Greenwich, Connecticut
Greenwich, Connecticut
Greenwich is a town in Fairfield County, Connecticut, United States. As of the 2010 census, the town had a total population of 61,171. It is home to many hedge funds and other financial service companies. Greenwich is the southernmost and westernmost municipality in Connecticut and is 38+ minutes ...
.