The Fund, by Rob Copeland, gives us an all-access look into Bridgewater Associates’ secretive culture and its daring, ironclad founder, Ray Dalio. Before reading this book, I was somewhat familiar with Dalio’s literary work—like Principles—and had seen his presence on stage at major global forums like the Finance Investment Institute Initiative. He stood confidently among world-renowned financial heavyweights like Jamie Dimon, CEO of JP Morgan Chase, and He Yasir Al-Rumayyan, the governor of Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund. From the outside looking in, Ray Dalio appeared to be the embodiment of visionary leadership: calculated, wise, and deeply principled.
Yet, while reading The Fund, I often found myself asking, “How can this be the same guy?” Rob Copeland pulls no punches in his reporting. He offers a sharply different perspective—one that is shaped by stories from former employees, internal documents, and firsthand accounts. What unfolds is a version of Bridgewater and its founder that starkly contrasts with the polished image so often presented to the world.
The book challenged my perception of what a well-run, forward-thinking company looks like. It raised serious questions about the gap between public reputation and internal reality. The Fund is more than an exposé—it’s a mirror, reminding us how easily we can be influenced by reputation, branding, and charisma.
For those curious about the inner workings of a major hedge fund or the personalities behind the power, The Fund offers an unfiltered, thought-provoking view. It shows the good, the bad, and the deeply uncomfortable truths that don’t always make it to the main stage.
In the world of high finance, not everything is as it seems—and this book proves it.
