Sir Issac Newton is one of the most well-known figures in human history, but what’s not well known is that the great scientist might have had one of the biggest losses in stock market history.
Newton, known for his contributions to physics and mathematics, was also an early investor in the South Sea Company, established in 1711 for trading with Spanish America.
In 1720, when the company secured a deal to manage British government debt, the stock price surged significantly. Newton sold his shares just before the crazy surge.
Succumbing to what today can be termed as FOMO, the scientist deviated from his customary rationality. On June 14, 1720, Newton invested £26,000 into South Sea shares at a price of approximately £700 per share