David Einhorn and Carlos Tavares
One built a hedge fund from $900,000 and became famous for spotting trouble at Lehman Brothers before it collapsed. The other started as a test driver at Renault and rose to run Stellantis, the company behind Jeep, Ram, Peugeot, and Fiat. David Einhorn and Carlos Tavares both made their names by reading numbers better than most people around them.
There’s no known deal, partnership, or personal link between David Einhorn and Carlos Tavares. This is a comparison profile of two leaders from different worlds: an American value investor and a Portuguese car executive who loves racing.
Below you’ll find their ages, education, career timelines, biggest wins and setbacks, and where each stands in 2026.
David Einhorn and Carlos Tavares at a Glance
| David Einhorn | Carlos Tavares | |
|---|---|---|
| Full name | David Michael Einhorn | Carlos Antunes Tavares |
| Born | November 20, 1968 | August 14, 1958 |
| Age (October 2026) | 57 | 68 |
| Birthplace | New Jersey, USA | Lisbon, Portugal |
| Education | BA in government, Cornell University (1991) | Engineering degree, École Centrale Paris (1981) |
| Known for | Founding Greenlight Capital; shorting Lehman Brothers | Turning around PSA; first CEO of Stellantis |
| Field | Hedge funds and investing | Car manufacturing |
| Hobby | Poker | Motor racing |
Early Life and Education
David Einhorn and Carlos Tavares both showed strong academic talent early.
David Einhorn
David Einhorn was born in New Jersey in 1968 and grew up in Demarest before his family moved to Wisconsin when he was seven. He graduated from Nicolet High School in 1987.
He studied government at Cornell University and graduated summa cum laude in 1991. After college, he worked at the investment bank Donaldson, Lufkin and Jenrette and then at a hedge fund before starting his own firm.
Carlos Tavares
Carlos Tavares was born in Lisbon in 1958. He went to the Lycée français Charles-Lepierre in Lisbon, then moved to France for advanced math studies at the Lycée Pierre-de-Fermat in Toulouse.
He earned his engineering degree from École Centrale Paris, one of France’s top engineering schools, in 1981. He joined Renault the same year as a test driving engineer.
Career Timeline
David Einhorn’s Career
| Year | Milestone |
|---|---|
| 1996 | Founds Greenlight Capital with $900,000 |
| 2002 | Pitches a short of Allied Capital at a major investing conference |
| 2004 | Launches reinsurance company Greenlight Re |
| 2006 | Finishes 18th in the World Series of Poker Main Event and donates the winnings |
| 2008 | Publicly shorts Lehman Brothers months before its collapse |
| 2011 | Shorts Green Mountain Coffee Roasters |
| 2012 | Finishes third in poker’s Big One for One Drop and donates $4.35 million |
| 2013 | Named to the Time 100 |
| 2015 to 2022 | Greenlight faces a long stretch of weak returns |
| 2025 | Greenlight returns 9% net of fees |
| 2026 | Finishes third in a $250,000 World Series of Poker event |
Carlos Tavares’s Career
| Year | Milestone |
|---|---|
| 1981 | Joins Renault as a test driving engineer |
| 2004 | Moves to Nissan in a senior strategy role |
| 2009 | Leads Nissan’s operations in the Americas |
| 2011 | Becomes chief operating officer of Renault under Carlos Ghosn |
| 2013 | Leaves Renault after saying publicly he wants to be a CEO |
| 2014 | Becomes chief executive of PSA, maker of Peugeot and Citroën |
| 2017 | PSA buys Opel and Vauxhall from General Motors |
| 2021 | Becomes the first CEO of Stellantis after PSA merges with Fiat Chrysler |
| 2022 | His pay package draws criticism from French political leaders |
| 2024 | Resigns abruptly on December 1 as sales and profits fall |
| 2025 | Antonio Filosa is named Stellantis CEO |
| 2026 | Focuses on his farm, vineyard, and hotel interests in Portugal |
Their Biggest Wins
Einhorn’s big calls. Einhorn became famous as a short seller, someone who bets that a stock will fall. His most famous call came in 2008, when he said Lehman Brothers was hiding its true risk. Lehman filed for bankruptcy that September. His earlier fight with Allied Capital also ended in his favor when the SEC found that the company had broken securities laws. He told that story in his book Fooling Some of the People All of the Time.
Tavares’s turnarounds. Tavares made his name fixing struggling carmakers. When he took over PSA in 2014, the company was in trouble. He cut costs, simplified the lineup, and returned it to profit. He then turned Opel and Vauxhall profitable after years of losses under General Motors. Those wins helped him lead the 2021 merger that created Stellantis.
Their Biggest Setbacks
Einhorn’s dry spell. Greenlight posted strong returns for years, but from about 2015 to 2022 it lagged the market badly. Assets under management shrank from about $12 billion in 2014 to around $5.5 billion by 2018. Some of his famous shorts, including bets against Tesla, cost him money. He has since recovered with several good years.
Tavares’s exit. At Stellantis, Tavares pushed hard on cost cutting and high profit margins. That worked at first, but sales in North America and Europe started to slip. In 2024, net profit fell about 70%, and the stock fell sharply. Dealers and unions criticized his strategy. He resigned on December 1, 2024, more than a year before his contract was due to end.
Leadership Styles Compared
| Trait | David Einhorn | Carlos Tavares |
|---|---|---|
| Role | Founder and portfolio manager | Corporate chief executive |
| Style | Patient, research driven, contrarian | Demanding, efficiency focused |
| Strength | Spotting weak companies | Cutting costs and fixing operations |
| Public voice | Investor letters and conference talks | Speeches and interviews about the car industry |
| Risk taking | Bets against popular stocks | Big mergers and tough restructuring |
Wealth and Pay
David Einhorn has a net worth estimated in the hundreds of millions to more than $1 billion, depending on the source. Forbes put it at about $700 million in 2019. His wealth depends heavily on Greenlight’s performance.
Carlos Tavares was one of Europe’s highest paid executives. In 2021, his total pay package was reported at more than €60 million when stock and long term pay were included. French President Emmanuel Macron called the package “shocking.”
Hobbies and Passions
Einhorn is a serious poker player. He has made deep runs at the World Series of Poker and donated large winnings to charity, including to the Michael J. Fox Foundation and City Year. In 2026, he finished third in a $250,000 Super High Roller event and won about $1.86 million.
Tavares is a real racing driver. He began racing as an amateur at 22, has competed in rallies and endurance races, and won his class at the Barcelona 24 Hours in 2014. He runs his own team, Clementeam Racing, and collects classic cars, including a 1966 Porsche 912.
Personal Lives
David Einhorn married Cheryl Strauss in 1993. They have three children and divorced in 2017. He lives in Westchester County, New York. He is a board member of the Robin Hood Foundation.
Carlos Tavares is married and has three daughters. He now lives on a farm in Santarém, Portugal, and makes port wine at a vineyard he owns in the Douro Valley.
Where Are They Now in 2026?
David Einhorn still runs Greenlight Capital. In 2025, the fund returned 9% after fees, with its macro bets driving the gains. In 2026, Greenlight has added to positions such as PayPal and Fortune Brands. He turns 58 on November 20, 2026.
Carlos Tavares has stepped away from the car industry’s front line. After leaving Stellantis, he has focused on his farm, his wine, and his hotel interests in Portugal. Stellantis is now led by Antonio Filosa. Tavares is 68.
Lessons From Their Careers
Comparing David Einhorn and Carlos Tavares offers a few useful lessons:
- Numbers tell the story. Einhorn found trouble by reading balance sheets. Tavares fixed companies by cutting waste.
- Success can fade. Both had long winning streaks followed by tough years.
- Timing matters. Einhorn’s Lehman short was famous because it came early. Tavares’s cost cuts worked until the market shifted.
- Passion outside work helps. Poker and racing both reward calm decisions under pressure.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are David Einhorn and Carlos Tavares connected? No. There is no known business or personal link between them.
How old is Carlos Tavares? He was born on August 14, 1958, so he is 68 as of October 2026.
How old is David Einhorn? He was born on November 20, 1968, so he is 57 and turns 58 in November 2026.
Why did Carlos Tavares leave Stellantis? He resigned in December 2024 after falling sales, lower profits, and disagreements over strategy.
Fun Facts
- David Einhorn and Carlos Tavares both love competition outside work: Einhorn at the poker table, Tavares on the racetrack.
- Einhorn started Greenlight with just $900,000, much of it from his parents.
- Tavares served on the judging panel of the Chantilly Arts and Elegance classic car show in 2017 and 2019.
- Einhorn donated his 2006 World Series of Poker winnings to the Michael J. Fox Foundation.
Why People Compare Them
David Einhorn and Carlos Tavares both built reputations as sharp, numbers driven leaders who weren’t afraid to go against the crowd. Their stories also show how fast praise can turn to criticism when results slip.
Key Takeaways
- David Einhorn and Carlos Tavares have no known business or personal connection, so this is a comparison profile.
- David Einhorn was born November 20, 1968, and is 57. He earned a government degree from Cornell and founded Greenlight Capital in 1996.
- Carlos Tavares was born August 14, 1958, in Lisbon, and is 68. He is an engineering graduate of École Centrale Paris.
- Einhorn is best known for shorting Lehman Brothers in 2008 and for his poker success.
- Tavares turned around PSA, led Stellantis from 2021, and resigned in December 2024.
- In 2026, Einhorn still runs Greenlight, while Tavares focuses on his farm, wine, and hotels in Portugal.
