George Soros, the billionaire philanthropist originally from Hungary, has delegated the responsibility of overseeing his $25 billion financial and charitable empire to his son, Alex Soros. In an interview with the Wall Street Journal, George Soros affirmed that his son had earned this role.
For several decades, the Soros family’s wealth has been dedicated to promoting democracy-building efforts in numerous countries. However, in recent years, the 92-year-old former hedge fund manager, George Soros, has been targeted by anti-Semitic conspiracies.
The details of the interview published on Sunday were confirmed by a spokesperson for George Soros to the BBC.
In addition to his financial and philanthropic endeavors, George Soros is known as one of the major contributors to the US Democratic Party. His son, Alex Soros, a 37-year-old history graduate, holds the position of the second-youngest among George Soros’ five children.
Within Soros Fund Management, Alex holds a unique position as the sole family member serving on the investment committee. The Wall Street Journal reports that this committee is responsible for managing the $25 billion belonging to the Soros family and their charitable foundation.
In December, Alex Soros took on the position of chairman at the Open Society Foundations (OSF).
Furthermore, he has taken charge of his father’s “super PAC,” a mechanism in the United States that enables the directed allocation of funds to political parties.
While Alex Soros and his father generally align in their political views, he expressed to the Wall Street Journal that he is personally “more political” than his father. Alex stated his intention to actively campaign against Donald Trump’s potential bid for a second term as the US president.
Alex Soros expressed his perspective on the involvement of money in politics, stating, “As much as I would love to see money removed from politics, as long as the opposing side continues to engage in it, we will have to do the same.”
In line with his father’s vision, Alex Soros emphasized that the Open Society Foundations will continue to champion the causes of free speech, criminal justice reform, minority and refugee rights, and support for liberal politicians. However, he intends to expand their initiatives to include voting rights, abortion rights, gender equity, and a stronger focus on domestic issues within the United States.
George Soros, the father of Alex Soros, experienced the traumatic period of the Nazi occupation in Hungary during 1944-45. As a child, George Soros and his family concealed their Jewish identity as a means of survival.
Following the war, George Soros departed Hungary for London and subsequently settled in New York. Through his successful hedge fund endeavors, he amassed billions of dollars. In the United Kingdom, he gained notoriety for accurately predicting the devaluation of the pound, a move that earned him a billion-dollar profit in 1992.
Following the fall of the Berlin Wall, which marked the transition to democratic governments in the former Soviet bloc, George Soros founded the Open Society Foundations (OSF) to aid in this process. Presently, the OSF allocates approximately $1.5 billion annually to support liberal causes, educational institutions, and human rights initiatives in over 120 countries.
The Open Society Foundations (OSF) has been involved in contentious issues that have sparked disapproval from right-wing factions, such as addressing racial bias within the US justice system.
The Open Society Foundations (OSF) moved its international operations office from Budapest to Berlin in 2018.
This decision was prompted by the Hungarian government, led by Viktor Orban, launching a targeted campaign against both George Soros and the foundation’s activities.
Alex Soros, an enthusiast of hip-hop music and a dedicated supporter of the New York Jets American football team, is recognized for his vibrant social life, often seen attending celebrity gatherings in prestigious locations like Cannes and the Hamptons. Despite his active participation in high-profile events, he has also ventured into remote regions of the Amazon and assumed a position on the board of Global Witness, a human rights campaign group.
In an interview, Alex Soros expressed the importance of his side demonstrating greater patriotism and inclusivity. He emphasized that voting for Trump does not automatically imply being lost or holding racist beliefs.
Source : bbc.com