Who is Mike Novogratz?

Michael Edward Novogratz, born on November 26, 1964, in Virginia, is an American investor known for bridging the worlds of traditional finance and cryptocurrencies. He is the Founder and CEO of Galaxy Digital, a diversified financial services firm specializing in digital assets and blockchain technology. ​

Education

He attended Fort Hunt High School, where he showcased his athletic prowess by captaining the wrestling team and achieving state runner-up status. He continued his wrestling career at Princeton University, serving as team captain, earning All-Ivy League honors in 1986 and 1987, and qualifying twice for the NCAA wrestling championships. He graduated with an A.B. in Economics. ​

Professional Life

Following his graduation, Mike served as a helicopter pilot in the U.S. Army, fulfilling his commitment through the Army ROTC program. ​He began his finance career at Goldman Sachs in 1989, starting as a short-term bond salesman and eventually serving as president of Goldman Sachs Latin America, heading fixed income, currencies, and commodities risk in Asia. ​

In 2002, he joined Fortress Investment Group as a principal and director of Fortress Credit Corporation and departed from Fortress in 2015. ​Shifting focus to cryptocurrency, Mike first purchased Bitcoin in 2013, demonstrating early confidence in digital assets. He founded Galaxy Digital Holdings, a crypto-focused firm publicly traded on the Toronto Stock Exchange. 

Under his leadership, Galaxy Digital has expanded its services to include trading, asset management, and advisory services related to blockchain and cryptocurrencies. ​Despite its significant influence, Galaxy Digital faced a $690 million loss, largely stemming from exposure to TerraUSD’s collapsed stablecoin, Luna, a venture famously marked by Mike’s Luna tattoo.

Mike Novogratz Net Worth in 2025

Michael Novogratz has experienced significant swings in his net worth over the years. As of 2025, Forbes estimates his net worth at $2.7 billion, positioning him at number 1,373 on their global list, a severe decline from his peak of $4.8 billion. ​Mike’s financial ascent began with his tenure at Goldman Sachs, where he became a partner in 1998. 

His wealth further expanded during his time at Fortress Investment Group. By 2007, following Fortress's initial public offering, his net worth was reported at $1.5 billion. ​His wealth has seen huge fluctuations, with a notable decline after the 2008 financial crisis, when his net worth dropped to $500 million. 

After departing from Fortress in 2015, Mike founded Galaxy Digital Holdings. He publicly acknowledged that in 2017, cryptocurrencies comprised approximately 20% of his net worth, profiting roughly $250 million from crypto investments between 2016 and 2017. In 2021, he reported that 85% of his net worth was made up of cryptocurrency, equating to $4.8 billion.

What Crypto Does Mike Novogratz Own?

Mike Novogratz has been a large proponent of Bitcoin and Ethereum. In a recent interview with the Wolf of All Streets, he mentioned that he currently has around two-thirds of his net worth invested in crypto assets. This includes the recent purchase of $82 million of Bitcoin during a dip, which has helped him retain his crypto billionaire status.

Given his ongoing leadership at Galaxy Digital, it's reasonable to infer that he maintains exposure to various digital assets in the Galaxy Ventures Portfolio, including Polygon, 1inch, EigenLayer, Ethena, Monad, Renzo and M^0. However, without explicit disclosures, the exact composition and extent of his holdings remain speculative.​

Mike Novogratz Investment Portfolio

Michael maintains a diversified personal investment portfolio spanning multiple sectors, reflecting his strategic approach as an angel investor. His investments include early-stage ventures and growth-stage companies across technology, lifestyle, biotechnology, and finance industries.

Notable investments within Mike Novogratz's portfolio are:

• Etched (Application Semiconductors): A technology-focused venture specializing in semiconductors, where he invested during its early-stage funding round in June 2024.
• Verandah (Clothing Industry): This lifestyle brand received an investment from Mike in September 2021, highlighting his interests beyond finance into consumer markets.
• Our Habitas (Hotels and Resorts): A hospitality company emphasizing unique experiences and sustainable travel, with him backing it in February 2020.
• DAO Labs (Consumer Non-Durables): An investment made in February 2019, reflecting his interest in emerging consumer-focused businesses.
• Whoop (Monitoring Equipment): In March 2018, he invested in Whoop, a firm providing advanced wearable health-monitoring devices, aligning with his broader interest in technology and personal wellness.
• Florence Capital (Financial Services): A fintech-focused investment from May 2017, illustrating Novogratz's continued engagement within the financial services landscape.

Additionally, he has actively invested in and supported 72 projects through Galaxy Digital, including Polygon's $450 million private sale, Bitfarms's $100 million Post-IPO Debt and Celestia's $55 million Series A & B rounds. His investment history demonstrates a clear pattern of backing innovative companies at critical growth stages.

What Controversies is Mike Novogratz Involved In?

​While marked by significant achievements, Mike's career has also encountered notable controversies.​ In 2020, Galaxy Digital invested in Terraform Labs' cryptocurrency, LUNA, acquiring over 18.5 million tokens at a discounted rate of $0.22 each, approximately 30% below the market price. 

Subsequently, he became a vocal proponent of LUNA. However, Galaxy Digital sold millions of LUNA tokens during this public endorsement period without disclosing these sales to the public. This lack of transparency led to allegations of market manipulation. In March 2025, Galaxy Digital agreed to a $200 million settlement with the New York Attorney General's Office to resolve these allegations. ​

He has also attracted attention for his public statements on political matters. In June 2022, following the U.S. Supreme Court's decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, he tweeted about the political implications of the ruling and stated, "Everything is political. Except $BTC." This attempt to link a significant political event to cryptocurrency was criticised, with many viewing it as tone-deaf.

Mike Novogratz's Philanthropic Efforts

Michael Novogratz actively supports various philanthropic initiatives focused primarily on criminal justice reform, youth development, education, and community projects. Through Galaxy Gives, the Novogratz family's foundation, he funds organizations dedicated to addressing inequality and promoting social justice.

He chairs The Bail Project, which provides bail assistance to low-income individuals to combat mass incarceration and co-founded the REFORM Alliance, advocating for probation and parole system reforms. His passion for wrestling led to founding Beat the Streets, supporting youth wrestling programs in New York City public schools, and helping students build leadership and life skills.

In education, he and his wife donated $4 million to Princeton University's Bridge Year Program, enabling students to engage in global community service before beginning their college studies.

Final Thoughts

Mike Novogratz's journey from Goldman Sachs partner to crypto-focused billionaire with a current net worth of $2.7 billion illustrates the dramatic highs and lows possible in finance and digital assets. 

His trajectory highlights the critical need for investors to balance ambition with caution, diversify holdings thoughtfully, and maintain transparency, especially when promoting emerging technologies.