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In memoriam: investment pioneer and owner of 68m Archimedes James Simons dies

Award-winning mathematician, investor and owner of the 67.8-metre Archimedes James (Jim) Simons has died aged 86 (10 May 2024). 

Simons donated billions of dollars to philanthropic causes during his lifetime, particularly those supporting math and science research and education. He previously chaired the math department at Stony Brook University in New York and his breakthroughs during that time are now instrumental to fields such as string theory, topology and condensed matter physics.

In 1978, Jim founded what would become Renaissance Technologies, a hedge fund that pioneered quantitative trading and became one of the most profitable investment firms in history. He then turned his attention to philanthropic pursuits, launching the Simons Foundation alongside his wife Marilyn in 1994. The foundation's work has since "led to breakthroughs in our understanding of autism, the origins of the universe, cellular biology and computational science."

He also famously donated his superyacht to the charity SeaKeeper and was said to engage with ongoing missions himself, including beach clean-ups and accommodating scientists on board.

Delivered by Feadship in 2008, Archimedes is named after the Ancient Greek mathematician and physicist who discovered the law of buoyancy, also known as Archimedes' principle. She has since visited more than 80 countries, including an expedition through the Northwest Passage and a record-breaking 54 days in the High Arctic.

Her John Munford -designed interiors are also indicative of Simons' appreciation for antiquity, featuring mosaics of mythical and historical figures and artwork in the Ancient Greek, Egyptian and Roman style.

"Jim was an exceptional leader who did transformative work in mathematics and developed a world-leading investment company," said Simons Foundation president David Spergel. "Together with Marilyn Simons, the current Simons Foundation board chair, Jim created an organisation that has already had enormous impact in mathematics, basic science and our understanding of autism. The Simons Foundation, an in-perpetuity foundation, will carry their vision for philanthropy into the future."

James Simons is survived by his wife, three children, five grandchildren, a great-grandchild, and countless other family, friends and colleagues.

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Late hedge fund billionaire and philanthropist had a 222-foot yacht called Archimedes

James simons died last week at the age of 86.

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James Simons left behind a legacy in mathematics, finance and philanthropy, as well as a massive personal fortune and a yacht, when he passed away at age 86 last week.

The billionaire, who founded the extremely successful hedge fund Renaissance Technologies, built up a personal fortune worth $31.4 billion over the course of his lifetime and used billions of that money for charity, according to Forbes . His charitable organization, the Simons Foundation that he co-founded with wife Marilyn, provides funding for science, education, autism and other areas.

Marilyn Simons and Jim Simons attend the CSHL Double Helix Medals Dinner at the American Museum of Natural History on Nov. 15, 2023, in New York. (Patrick McMullan via / Getty Images)

At one point in the 2000s, Simons reportedly used some of his wealth to acquire a yacht for himself. Outlets like the BBC and CNN have identified him over the years as the owner of the Feadship-built Archimedes.

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The yacht, built in 2008, is about 222 feet long and can sail at speeds of up to 16 knots, per BOAT International. In 2018, it received a refit. 

The Plymouth Marine Laboratory said in mid-February that Simons and his wife were "support[ing] marine research in some of the most remote and least studied parts of the ocean" with the Archimedes. Scientists affixed a light-measuring instrument to the vessel to help with their research, according to the organization. 

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The yacht Archimedes sails in the Hudson River as storm clouds pass over midtown Manhattan in New York City on May 28, 2019. (Gary Hershorn / Getty Images)

In March, the yacht received a Science & Discovery award at the YCM Explorer Awards in Monaco for its contributions to ocean exploration and research, a Feadship press release said.

FOX Business reached out to the Simons Foundation for comment regarding the yacht.

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Simons and his wife together have dolled out charitable contributions totaling around $6 billion, Forbes reported. 

He left his role as chairman of Renaissance Technologies , which operates the Medallion Fund, back in 2021, over a decade after his retirement as the hedge fund’s CEO.

$100 million super yacht 'Archimedes' docked at Port of Pensacola

by WEAR staff

PENSACOLA, Fla. -- A super yacht reported to be worth $100,000,000 is currently docked at the Port of Pensacola.

"Archimedes" is owned by U.S. billionaire James Simons.

It was manufactured at The Feadship Royal Van Lent Shipyard in Netherlands in 2008, according to CharterWorld.com.

It is unclear how long the yacht will be docked in Downtown Pensacola.

Who owns that? $100M luxury yacht anchors in St. John's

The archimedes belongs to billionaire hedge fund manager, flies under bermuda flag.

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A luxury yacht is turning heads on the St. John's waterfront.

The Archimedes arrived in the city Thursday and is replenishing supplies.

The so-called superyacht is a $100-million vessel owned by hedge fund manager James Simons, an American who went from being a math professor to the founder of Renaissance Technologies.

Online sources  describe the boat as 68 metres with room for a dozen guests in six cabins. There are 18 crew.

Simons, who also owns a private jet, had an estimated net worth of $18 billion U.S in 2017, according to Forbes.

He's also a philanthropist, donating money to scientific research and to improve math programs in public schools.

In 2014,  The New York Times  did a profile piece on the "billionaire mathematician," which stated the man leads a life of "ferocious curiosity."

It's not known if Simons, 79, is aboard the Archimedes, which is not believed to be available for charter. He shuns the limelight and rarely gives interviews.

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Everything we know about the owner of £75m superyacht in Bristol harbour

The owner was once named the ‘world’s smartest billionaire’ - and now his superyacht is in bristol.

• 20:05, 5 AUG 2018
• Updated 12:38, 6 AUG 2018

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A multi-million pound superyacht docked in Bristol over the weekend - much to the excitement and intrigue of the crowd gathered to watch it arrive.

Everybody who witnessed the vessel dock beside M-Shed on Sunday afternoon (August 5) had the same burning question in mind - who owns it?

It is believed the superyacht - which is worth an estimated £76million - is owned by US billionaire James ‘Jim’ Simons.

Here is a rundown of everything we know about Mr Simons...

He’s worth £16billion

Simons is 80-years-old, was born in Massachusetts, America, and previously worked as a maths teacher and Cold War code breaker.

According to Forbes, he is worth an estimated £16million and is the founder of New York City-based hedge fund firm Renaissance Technologies.

Simons founded the firm in 1982 and remained at the head of the company before announcing his retirement in January 2010.

Despite formally stepping down from his duties, Simons continues to hold the position of non-executive chairman.

Who is James 'Jim' Simons?

• James Simons is the founder of Renaissance Technologies, a legendary quantitative hedge fund firm that manages $50 billion.
• He founded Renaissance Technologies in 1982 and retired in 2010, but he still plays a role at Renaissance and benefits from its funds.
• Renaissance Technologies is famous for its Medallion Fund, a black box strategy that is now only open to Renaissance's owners and employees.

Source: Forbes

Prior to Renaissance Technologies, Simons worked for many years as a mathematics professor at Stony Brook University in New York.

He has a bachelor’s degree in mathematics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) - one of America’s most prestigious educational institutions - and a PhD in mathematics from the University of California.

‘World’s smartest billionaire’

In 2006, Financial Times described Simons as the “world’s smartest billionaire” after being named on the paper’s ‘alternative rich list’.

The article highlighted the 80-year-old’s commercial achievements alongside his academic contributions, including a paper he co-authored in 1974 which introduced a breakthrough theory to the world of geometry.

According to the paper, the theory has gained significant prestige since the 1980s for its use in topological quantum field theory.

Why is the yacht in Bristol?

Simons’ superyacht the Archimedes docked in Bristol on Sunday afternoon (August 5), having sailed via the Irish Sea.

The vessel is 68 metres long, staffed by 18 members of crew and is worth an estimated £76million.

It was built at the Dutch yacht builder Royal Van Lent and delivered to Simons in 2008.

It is not known if Simons is aboard the Archimedes, though the yacht is not believed to be available for charter, nor is it known how long it may remain in Bristol.

A series of stunning photographs, posted online by Bristol Harbour, documented the yacht’s arrival in to the city - sailing up Avon Gorge, underneath the Clifton Suspension Bridge, via Cumberland Basin and into the harbour.

A small crowd of people gathered by M-Shed to see the vessel arrive, with many of those stopping to take pictures.

‘Never seen anything as big’

A local resident, who was having lunch in Wapping Wharf at the time, told Bristol Live it was biggest and most expensive thing they had ever seen.

“I’ve been living at the harbourside for almost two years but I’ve never seen anything as big or expensive as the Archimedes go by,” the resident said.

“I was having lunch at Cargo with some friends as it sailed in and everyone turned to look at it open-mouthed, like that scene at the end of The Goonies.

“It’s definitely the most impressive vessel I’ve seen since I’ve lived here. There were people on both of the upper decks waving and taking pictures.

“It’s not something you see every day down here, and we get to see quite a lot of awesome boats most days.”

Simons shuns the limelight

According to reports online, Simons shuns the limelights and rarely gives interviews.

In an interview with Seed Magazine in 2006, he explained: “I was on Lou Dobbs for about a microsecond.

“He was doing a piece on teaching, and they interviewed a number of folks. But I’ve never been on TV in any meaningful way. And I don’t really have a desire for that.

“There’s a wonderful quote in Animal Farm. The source of all wisdom in that book is Benjamin the donkey. He observes at one point that ‘God gave me a tail to keep off the flies. But I’d rather of had no tail and no flies.’ So, that’s kind of the way I feel about publicity.”

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Motor Yacht

In 2008, Feadship launched the stylish and understated superyacht Archimedes. This 67.75 metre (222’3”) motor yacht was designed by De Voogt Naval Architects and John Munford Designs and features proven high-end technologies that bring her from idyllic luxury yacht to global cruiser.

Rarely seen in the traditional superyacht destinations, her ice-strengthened Corinthian blue hull is often touring the world’s most far-flung locations. The desire to cruise the furthest reaches of the world introduced created a number of exterior areas for al fresco dining with a view.

On the large sundeck, guests can make the most of their time on board with a masterfully crafted marble mosaic Jacuzzi, bar and entertainment area, enclosed gym and lots of dining and social areas as you cruise the globe. The panoramic views are uninterrupted by tenders and toys on deck due to dedicated wells, lifts and large garage.

Her beam of 12 metres provides a large amount of space on board for a relaxed, yet sophisticated interior by John Munford Design. Battling the cavernous space on board, the interior remains welcoming with comfortable furniture and a grand piano in the main lounge. Archimedes is the first Feadship to feature a wood burning fireplace, reflecting the relaxed, stately nature of being on board.

The full-beam master bedroom is divided into various relaxation areas, consisting of large central bed and a lady’s writing desk which was handmade for the owner’s wife. The bathrooms draw inspiration from the titular Greek god and showcases artisan mosaic marble floors in all six ensuite staterooms, hosting space for eight guests on board.

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James Simons’ $100M Luxury Superyacht Spotted in St. John’s

Amazing 68m superyacht archimedes was spotted in st. johns waterfront last week..

This superyacht, which docked in St. John’s Thursday, is owned by an American billionaire. (Gary Locke/CBC)

Motor yacht Archimedes was built by Feadship in Netherlands at their De Kaag shipyard, she was delivered to her owner in 2008. John Munford Yacht Design is responsible for her beautiful exterior and interior design.

Archimedes can accommodate 16 guests in 8 cabins, comprising a master suite, 4 double cabins and 3 twin cabins. she is also capable of carrying up to 18 crew onboard to ensure a relaxed luxury yacht experience., powered by 2 caterpillar 1,998hp diesel engines and propelled by her twin screw propellers motor yacht archimedes is capable of a top speed of 16 knots, and comfortably cruises at 12 knots., archimedes  is named after the greek mathematician  archimedes  of syracuse ,  known as the leading  scientists and mathematician in the  classical antiquity., like her owner james harris “jim” simons, an award-winning mathematician. he is also a former cold war code breaker, which specialises in systematic trading using only quantitative models derived from mathematical and statistical analyses, who founded the hedge fund management company renaissance technologies in 1982.  renaissance is one of the first highly successful hedge funds using quantitative trading—known as “quant hedge funds”—that rely on powerful computers and sophisticated mathematics to guide investment strategies. , as reported by forbes, his net worth as of june 2017 is estimated to be $18 billion, while in the previous year, it was $15.5 billion., james harris “jim” simons is   also a very active philanthropist. he founded the simons foundation, a charitable organisation which supports projects related to education and health, in addition to scientific research. as reported, the billionaires have given away $2.1 billion to charity, chairs math for america, and supports autism research,   simons also owns a us$ 70 million g650 private jet with registration n773mj. the mj refers to marilyn and james. marilyn is james’ wife. the jet was built in 2013 and has a list price of us$ 70 million. .

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To boost ocean research, some scientists are turning to superyachts

For almost two years, Robert Brewin collected data from the bow of a superyacht as it sailed pristine waters from the Caribbean Sea to the Antarctic Ocean. 

The Archimedes, a 222-foot “adventure” yacht then owned by the late hedge funder James Simons, boasts a gym, a Jacuzzi and an elevator. But between 2018 and 2020, Brewin was concerned only with the boat’s Sea-Bird Scientific Solar Tracking Aiming System, installed to measure light reflecting off the water.

A senior lecturer at the U.K.’s University of Exeter, Brewin and his colleagues were analyzing microplankton — microscopic organisms at the base of the marine food chain — by studying the ocean’s color. The Sea-Bird’s readouts helped them verify satellite imagery. 

Brewin’s was not your typical superyacht itinerary, but he is one of hundreds of scientists to have used an adventure yacht — also known as expedition or explorer yachts — to conduct research on the ocean. In a paper published in January, Brewin and his co-authors touted the potential of “harnessing superyachts” for science, concluding that “reaching out to wealthy citizen scientists may help fill [research capability] gaps.” 

It’s a view shared — and being pushed — by the Yacht Club of Monaco and the Explorers Club, a New York City-based organization focused on exploration and science. In March, the groups co-hosted an environmental symposium that included an awards ceremony for yacht owners who “stand out for their commitment to protecting the marine environment.” The Archimedes won a “Science & Discovery” award. 

“If a yacht is operating 365 days a year, rather than having it sit idle it’d be much better for it to contribute a positive return through science and conservation,” says Rob McCallum, an Explorers Club fellow and founder of U.S.-based EYOS Expeditions, which runs adventure yacht voyages. 

EYOS charters yachts from private owners for its excursions, and is a founding member of Yachts for Science, a 4-year-old organization that matches privately owned yachts with scientists who need time at sea. Yachts for Science will enable about $1 million worth of donated yacht time this year, McCallum says, a figure he expects to hit $15 million by 2029. 

“There’s a personal satisfaction that we are contributing to something that is bigger than us,” says Tom Peterson, who co-owns an insurance underwriting company in California and has what he jokingly refers to as a “mini superyacht.”

Every year for the past decade, Peterson has donated about 15 to 20 days of time and fuel on the 79-foot Valkyrie to scientists, who he takes out himself as a licensed captain and former scuba dive operator. He often works with the Shark Lab at California State University, Long Beach, and allows researchers to stay aboard for days at a time instead of having to constantly make the 1.5-hour trip to and from shore. 

To link up with scientists, Peterson works with the International SeaKeepers Society, a Florida-based nonprofit that engages the yachting community to support ocean conservation and research. “The more we understand things about the ocean in general, the better we all are in the long run,” he says. 

When “superyacht” and “the environment” appear in the same sentence, it’s usually in a different context.

In 2019, one study estimated that a single 233-foot superyacht has the same carbon footprint as about 200 cars. In 2021, another paper found that superyachts were the single greatest contributor to the carbon footprint of 20 of the world’s most prominent billionaires, accounting for 64% of their combined emissions.

“If you really want to respect the environment, you can just go surf,” says Grégory Salle, a senior researcher at the French National Centre for Scientific Research and author of the book “Superyachts: Luxury, Tranquility and Ecocide.” Salle is open to the idea that superyachts could be used to advance scientific research, but says it’s contradictory for anyone to buy a superyacht and claim to be truly concerned about the environment.

McCallum says people who own adventure yachts tend to be younger than your standard superyacht owner, and have a particular interest in remote and pristine places.

“They’re not the sort of people that are content to just hang out in the Mediterranean or the Caribbean,” he says. “Antarctica, the Arctic, the remote Indian Ocean, the remote Pacific Ocean, the subantarctic islands … that’s where you’re going to find us delivering our services.”

Explorer yachts aren’t the only way scientists can reach those destinations, but demand for dedicated research vessels does outstrip available supply.

The US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, arguably the world’s greatest collector of oceanographic data, has a fleet of 15 research and survey vessels for the use of its scientists. Academic researchers can also apply to use the fleet, often at a subsidized rate. But scientists request roughly 15,000 to 20,000 days of boat time every year. In 2019, NOAA was able to fill just 2,300 of them, according to an internal study.

That gap is particularly problematic as the planet warms. Oceans provide services that scientists call “existentially important,” producing more than half of the oxygen we breathe and serving as the world’s largest carbon sink. They also absorb 30% of our carbon emissions and 90% of the excess heat generated by them.

G. Mark Miller, a retired NOAA Corps officer who was in charge of several of the agency’s research vessels, has a different solution in mind when it comes to bolstering ocean research: smaller boats, fit for purpose. Superyachts can cost north of $500 million, he says; “why don’t we build 100 $5 million vessels and flood the ocean science community?” 

After leaving NOAA, Miller in 2021 launched Virginia-based Greenwater Marine Sciences Offshore with a vision of building a global fleet of research vessels and offering their use at affordable prices. He says hiring a NOAA boat can cost scientists between $20,000 and $100,000 per day. GMSO plans to charge less than $10,000 a day for most missions. The company says it’s close to acquiring its first three vessels.

Miller hopes his business model will help scientists conduct the work they need to — particularly in underserved regions like the Asia Pacific — without worrying about getting a luxury yacht covered in “muddy worms, plankton goo, dead fish [and] whale snot.” He describes yacht owners donating boat time to scientists as “better than nothing,” and says it can help get regular people interested in science and exploration. 

Christopher Walsh, captain of the Archimedes, says he and his crew love taking part in science initiatives, especially when there’s an educational component.

“I get a real thrill when we can stream to the classrooms — you can’t imagine the enthusiasm the kids display,” Walsh says. “That gives me a lot of hope for the future.”

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