Thomas Peterffy

Thomas Peterffy is a Hungarian-born American billionaire entrepreneur known for revolutionizing the financial industry through technological innovation. Born on September 30, 1944, in Budapest, Hungary, Peterffy grew up under communist rule before immigrating to the United States in 1965. Initially working as a draftsman and later as a computer programmer, he gained prominence for pioneering electronic trading in the financial markets. In 1978, Peterffy founded Interactive Brokers, a brokerage firm that introduced electronic trading platforms and automated market-making systems, significantly reducing trading costs and democratizing access to financial markets worldwide. His visionary leadership and contributions to electronic trading have earned him recognition as a transformative figure in finance and technology.

His journey from Budapest to becoming a prominent figure in the American financial industry reflects his entrepreneurial spirit and dedication to technological innovation.

• Born on September 30, 1944, in Budapest, Hungary.
• Grew up during communist rule in Hungary.
• Thomas Peterffy began his studies in engineering in Hungary. However, he left his studies to immigrate to the United States in 1965
• Immigrated to the United States in 1965, seeking political asylum.
• Upon arriving in the U.S., he attended New York University's School of Engineering before dropping out from there as well.
• Initially worked as a architectural draftsman working on highway projects for an engineering firm.
• Started his career as a computer programmer, gaining expertise in technology and finance.
• Founded Interactive Brokers in 1978, pioneering electronic trading platforms.
• Visionary in using technology to automate trading processes and reduce costs.
• Contributed significantly to advancing electronic trading systems in the financial industry.

Thomas Peterffy keeps his family life private, and there is limited publicly available information about his family members.

• Thomas Peterffy was previously married to Dale McDonald, with whom he has three children: two daughters and a son named William Peterffy. They later divorced.
• Outside of his professional endeavors, Peterffy is known for his passion for equestrian sports. He resides in Palm Beach, Florida.
• In 2020, Peterffy sold his 80-acre estate in Connecticut for $21 million. The property was originally listed for $65 million in 2015.