They are history’s geniuses. But were they any good at investing?

Does scientific, artistic or political brilliance translate into investing success? It’s a topical question with hedge funds today accused of sucking talent away from the rest of the economy. So, the FT’s Gillian Tett and Robin Wigglesworth sat down with reporter Toby Nangle, who has dug into the archives to assess the investment portfolios of Isaac Newton, Charles Darwin, Winston Churchill, John Maynard Keynes and other widely regarded geniuses of the past. What Toby found may surprise you, as will the historical wildcard he’s unearthed. To enjoy future episodes, be sure to

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They are history’s geniuses. But were they any good at investing? is an episode from Behind The Money with the Financial Times by Topher Forhecz.

This episode is 38:47 long.

This episode was published on Apr 22, 2026.

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