Business & Money • Investing

Scott Bessent

Scott Bessent is an American businessman, hedge fund manager, and government official who has served as the 79th U.S.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 26, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

Scott Bessent is an American businessman, hedge fund manager, and government official who has served as the 79th U.S. secretary of the treasury since 2025. He previously worked at Soros Fund Management and founded Key Square Group, a global macro investment firm. He was born in 1962 in Conway, South Carolina.

Early life and education

Scott Bessent was born in Conway, South Carolina, in 1962. Sources describe him as an American financier who later built a career in global investment management.

Finance career

Bessent worked at Soros Fund Management and later founded his own hedge funds, including Bessent Capital and Key Square Group. Key Square was launched in 2015 as a macro-focused investment firm.

Treasury secretary

Bessent became the 79th U.S. secretary of the treasury in 2025. In that role, he oversees the Treasury Department’s broad responsibilities for economic and fiscal policy.

Personal life

Bessent is married to John Freeman. Reports also state that the couple has two children.

Key facts

Bessent has served as U.S. secretary of the treasury since 2025.
He founded Key Square Group in 2015, a global macro hedge fund firm.
Before Key Square, he was chief investment officer at Soros Fund Management.
He was born on August 21, 1962, making him 63 years old as of July 23, 2026.
He is married to John Freeman and has two children.

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Canadian context

Scott Bessent is relevant to Canadian readers because the U.S. Treasury secretary helps shape U.S. economic and financial policy, which can affect Canadian trade, currency markets, and cross-border investment conditions.

Frequently asked questions

Who is Scott Bessent?

Scott Bessent is an American businessman, hedge fund manager, and government official who has served as U.S. secretary of the treasury since 2025.

What does Scott Bessent do?

He serves as the U.S. secretary of the treasury and previously worked as a hedge fund executive and founder.

How old is Scott Bessent?

He was born on August 21, 1962, so he is 63 years old as of July 23, 2026.

What is Scott Bessent's net worth?

Reliable, consistently updated public sources do not provide a single verified net worth figure here. He has been described by media as a hedge fund billionaire, but exact current net worth is not clearly established in the provided sources.

Is Scott Bessent married?

Yes. He is married to John Freeman.

What hedge fund does Scott Bessent run?

He founded Key Square Group, and sources identify him as the founder and former chief executive officer and chief investment officer of Key Square Capital Management.

References

Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scott_Bessent
Supports: Birth date, career overview, Key Square Group, prior role at Soros Fund Management
Millennium Challenge Corporation — https://www.mcc.gov/about/profile/bio-bessent-scott/
Supports: Current role as U.S. secretary of the treasury, previous role as CEO/CIO of Key Square Capital Management
Encyclopaedia Britannica — https://www.britannica.com/biography/Scott-Bessent
Supports: Biography, birth date, finance career, treasury secretary role
CNN — https://www.cnn.com/politics/scott-bessent-fast-facts
Supports: Birth date, spouse, children, career details, Key Square Capital Management
Reuters — https://www.reuters.com/world/us/scott-bessents-rise-through-finance-us-treasury-2024-11-22/
Supports: Key Square Group founding, macro hedge fund focus, funding and assets under management
PolitiFact — https://www.politifact.com/personalities/scott-bessent/
Supports: Treasury secretary role, founding of Key Square Capital Management, prior Soros Fund Management role