Centaurus Energy: big hedge-fund firm run by billionaire natural-gas trader John Arnold

SAN FRANCISCO (Dow Jones)--Centaurus Energy, a big hedge-fund firm run by billionaire natural-gas trader John Arnold, may be on course for its first down year, Institutional Investor reported Monday.

Arnold's fund was down 2.7% through October, despite a 7.9% gain that month, Institutional Investor said, citing unidentified "knowledgeable sources."

The performance highlights what has been a tough year for commodities trading.

A representative at Centaurus Energy's Houston office didn't immediately respond to an email seeking comment.

Arnold has become one of the world's top energy traders since he started Centaurus Energy in 2002. In 2005 the firm generated a return of 160%, Institutional Investor noted. The year after that, Centaurus Energy returned about 200% as another hedge-fund firm, Amaranth Advisors, collapsed under the weight of massive natural-gas losses.

In 2007 and 2008, when the financial crisis left many hedge funds with record losses, Centaurus Energy returned roughly 50% a year. In 2009, the firm generated gains of 29.2%, according to Institutional Investor.

Those returns have made Arnold a billionaire. Earlier this year, he joined a group of America's richest people in publicly pledging to give at least half of their money to charity.

13 Comments
 

All I remember is reading his profile a few years back as one of the youngest multibillionaires in the world, and it made me hungry.

I am permanently behind on PMs, it's not personal.
 
WalkioDidn't he work at Enron before? I remember reading about him a while back.

Yes, Vandy undergrad, received the highest bonus Enron ever paid out (8 million).

"Greed, in all of its forms; greed for life, for money, for love, for knowledge has marked the upward surge of mankind. And greed, you mark my words, will not only save Teldar Paper, but that other malfunctioning corporation called the USA."
 
Gekko21
WalkioDidn't he work at Enron before? I remember reading about him a while back.

Yes, Vandy undergrad, received the highest bonus Enron ever paid out (8 million).

Bloody hell that's impressive.

 

Labore et et dolorum quia. Magnam eum cupiditate qui assumenda culpa. Adipisci consequuntur consequatur amet eos a sed.

Est impedit quia rerum sunt corrupti dolore. Quos consequuntur ipsa suscipit tempora. Quos nobis qui laudantium quasi et. Quo ut harum et. Quo reprehenderit assumenda vel voluptatem.

Dolore id enim eaque perspiciatis expedita eum. Nihil odit nobis et repellendus architecto. Qui consequatur nostrum tempora nihil veniam et. Necessitatibus similique eligendi corporis eum.

Fugit atque veniam velit libero dicta mollitia non. Voluptatem adipisci quam facere libero dolores quidem ipsa. Unde fugiat accusamus et expedita. Quam est aut porro numquam nihil nisi dolor sit.

Career Advancement Opportunities

July 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.4%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • JPMorgan 01 98.3%
  • Guggenheim Partners 01 97.7%
  • Morgan Stanley 07 97.1%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

July 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.4%
  • Evercore No 98.9%
  • Morgan Stanley 01 98.3%
  • BMO Capital Markets 13 97.7%
  • Banco Santander 01 97.1%

Professional Growth Opportunities

July 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.4%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • Morgan Stanley 06 98.3%
  • Goldman Sachs 01 97.7%
  • JPMorgan 01 97.1%

Total Avg Compensation

July 2026 Investment Banking

  • Vice President (16) $429
  • Associates (46) $258
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (8) $210
  • 2nd Year Analyst (22) $179
  • Intern/Summer Associate (14) $159
  • 1st Year Analyst (80) $150
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (73) $101
notes
16 IB Interviews Notes

“... there’s no excuse to not take advantage of the resources out there available to you. Best value for your $ are the...”

Leaderboard

1
redever's picture
redever
99.2
2
kanon's picture
kanon
99.0
3
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
4
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
5
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
6
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
98.9
7
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
8
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
9
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
10
Mimbs's picture
Mimbs
98.8
success
From 10 rejections to 1 dream investment banking internship

“... I believe it was the single biggest reason why I ended up with an offer...”