Nancy Zimmerman

BIO:

Name: Nancy G. Zimmerman
Title/Position: Cofounder & Managing Partner, Bracebridge Capital
Industry: Hedge Fund / Asset Management
Location: Boston, Massachusetts, United States
Age: 61 (born 1963/64)
Net Worth: Approx. $800 million (as of June 2025, per Forbes)

Nancy Zimmerman on 100 Women in Finance’s Facebook

Nancy Zimmerman’s Story

Nancy Zimmerman’s journey from high-achieving Brown University student to the of richest female hedge fund founders in the U.S is inspiring. She co-founded and runs Bracebridge Capital, which has 12 billion under management.

Born and raised in Skokie, Illinois, she graduated from Brown University in 1985, where she earned dual degrees in economics and art, and was honored with the Alfred H. Joslin Award for service. Her summers were spent trading currency options at O’Connor & Associates on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange, laying the groundwork for her career.

Post-graduation, Nancy honed her skills at O’Connor, then joined Goldman Sachs, eventually leading their global interest rate options group under Jon Corzine’s leadership. In 1994, she dared to strike out independently, co‑founding Bracebridge Capital in Boston with Gabriel Sunshine.

They launched the firm with just $50 million, backed by Farallon Capital and Yale’s investment office. From day one, Nancy’s mission was clear: build a fund grounded in absolute-return strategies, diversified risk, and innovative and entrepreneurial thinking.

She weathered scrutiny in 1997 when her Russian investments drew attention amid a funding controversy at Harvard’s Institute for International Development, a moment of tension that she resolved through a $1.5 million settlement, without admitting wrongdoing. Undeterred, she returned stronger, driving Bracebridge to play a pivotal role in the 2016 restructuring of Argentina’s debt, securing roughly $1.1 billion in gains on a $120 million investment.

Today, Nancy is the one of the richest female hedge fund founder in the U.S and leading women in finance. She has built a powerhouse firm with her bold thinking and strategic moves.

Career Highlights

Key Milestones:

1985: Graduated from Brown University, awarded the Joslin Award for service
1994: Launched Bracebridge Capital with Gabriel Sunshine, backed by Farallon and Yale
1997: Resolved Harvard ILID grant dispute via settlement attached to investments
2016: Earned over $1.1 billion in profits from Argentina bond restructuring
2021: Elected to Brown University Corporation as Fellow and Chair of Carney Institute Advisory Council

Achievements:

Built Bracebridge into a firm managing over $12 billion in AUM.
Secured top ranking as the wealthiest female hedge fund founder in the U.S..
Led absolute-return strategy with 10% annual return from 1994–2016.
Philanthropy: major supporter of brain science and COVID‑19 research at Brown, Ragon Institute, MGH, and MIT.
Board service: Brown University Corporation Fellow, Chair of Carney Advisory, and board member of Social Finance US.

Nancy Zimmerman Net Worth

Nancy’s net worth is estimated by Forbes to be around $800 million in June 2025, reflecting her strategic leadership in hedge funds and philanthropic investments. Key drivers of her wealth include:

Hedge Fund Success: Co-founding and scaling Bracebridge Capital’s AUM to over $12 billion, generating consistent returns and management fees.
Debt Investing: The Argentina restructuring deal alone netted ~$1.1 billion in gains on a $120 million investment, significantly boosting her income.
Investment Management Fees & Carry: Earnings from managing high-profile institutional capital (Yale, Princeton, etc.).
Board Roles & Philanthropic Investments: Compensation and stewardship roles in nonprofit and academic organizations, complemented by charitable contributions in science and public health.

Nancy Zimmerman in the News

Forbes (June 2025) ranked Nancy #44 on its “America’s Richest Self-Made Women,” listing her net worth at around $800 million.
Sohn Montreal 2025 Conference (May 28, 2025): Featured Nancy as a keynote speaker, celebrating her leadership in finance, especially as one of the most successful female hedge fund founders in the U.S.
Brown University (2021) spotlighted her appointment to their Corporation and her launch of the Advisory Council at the Carney Institute, highlighting her philanthropic impact in science.

Quotes by Nancy Zimmerman

“Who wouldn’t be interested in brain health?” she said on a webinar with Brown University.

FAQs: Most Asked Questions About Nancy Zimmerman

Who is Nancy Zimmerman?

She’s the co-founder and managing partner of Bracebridge Capital, a Boston-based hedge fund launched in 1994, with over $12 billion in assets under management.

Who runs Bracebridge Capital?

Bracebridge is led by its co-founders, Nancy Zimmerman and Gabriel Sunshine, alongside an executive team including COO John Spinney and GC Kirstan Barnett.