Citadel CEO Ken Griffin speaks during the Semafor World Economy Summit 2025 at Conrad Washington on April 23, 2025 in Washington, DC.
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Billionaire investor Ken Griffin’s hedge funds at Citadel have all posted positive returns during a volatile 2025, led by tactical trading strategy.
Citadel’s multistrategy Wellington fund, its largest, gained 2.5% during the first half of the year, according to a person familiar with the firm’s returns who asked to remain anonymous as the information is private. Citadel’s tactical trading fund, which combines equities and quantitative strategies, rose 6.1% during the same time, the person said.
The fundamental equity fund returned 3.1% through the end of June, while its global fixed income strategy advanced 5%, the person said.
Citadel declined to comment. The hedge-fund giant had $66 billion in assets under management as of June 1.
The stock market has proven resilient in the face of President Donald Trump’s aggressive trade war and conflict in the Middle East. The S&P 500 has rebounded from a near 20% sell-off in April, going on to score a new record high on Friday and again on Monday. The equity benchmark is up more than 5% year to date.
Griffin has spoken been critical of Trump’s protectionist trade policy, calling tariffs a “painfully regressive tax” that hits working class Americans the hardest. The billionaire also said Trump’s global trade fight risks spoiling the U.S. “brand” as well as its government bond market.
Citadel’s flagship Wellington fund rose 15.1% last year. Since Citadel’s inception in 1990, the firm produced an annualized net return of 19.2% through the end of May.
