Chris Hohn is one of the best investors in the world. His hedge fund TCI made almost $20 billion (!) last year. Let’s teach you some key lessons from this amazing investor. Who is Chris Hohn?People call Chris Hohn ‘The Tollkeeper Investor’. Why? He only invests in businesses that control essential pieces of the economy. Think about crucial infrastructure , airports, railroads, … Chris Hohn was born in 1966 in England to a working-class family. His mother was a secretary and his father was a car mechanic. He studied accounting at the University of Southampton, then earned an MBA from Harvard Business School. An interesting story? In his third year at a New York hedge fund, Chris was awarded a bonus check of $10 million. Most people would think they are set for life. But Chris didn’t. He immediately set up a foundation and put the money into it. He said “I didn’t want it… This isn’t really something I should have.” In 2003, Chris founded The Children’s Investment Fund. As the name suggests, the fund donates a portion of its profits to charities for children. To date, the Children’s Investment Fund Foundation (CIFF) has donated over $2 billion to children’s causes, primarily in developing countries. In 2025 alone, the hedge fund TCI gave $797 million to charity. This kind of purpose-driven approach is rare in the hedge fund world. In 2014, Hohn received a knighthood in recognition of his charitable work. Investment PhilosophyThe Chris Hohn approach can be summarized as follows:
1. Manage risks first, returns secondMost investors ask: “How much money can I make?” Chris Hohn asks: “How much can I lose?” |