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Simon Cawkwell

Evil Knievil - Britain's Most Famous Short Seller

Short Selling
$50+ Million
British
Simon Cawkwell

Simon Cawkwell

Short Selling

Key Stats

Net Worth

$50+ Million

Origin

British

Lifespan

Born 1946 (80 years old)

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Biography

Simon Cawkwell, known by his trading pseudonym "Evil Knievil," is Britain's most famous short seller. He has made millions by identifying overvalued and fraudulent companies, often facing legal threats and public criticism for his bearish calls.

The Evil Knievil Persona

Cawkwell adopted the "Evil Knievil" moniker as a play on the famous stuntman's name. The persona reflects his willingness to take dangerous positions against popular stocks and face the wrath of company management.

Famous Shorts

Cawkwell has successfully shorted numerous companies that later collapsed, including Northern Rock before the 2008 crisis. His research often uncovers accounting irregularities and business model flaws.

Controversial Figure

Short sellers are often vilified, and Cawkwell has faced his share of criticism. However, he argues that short sellers perform a valuable service by identifying overvalued and fraudulent companies.

Trading Philosophy

"The market is full of overvalued rubbish. My job is to find it and profit when reality catches up."

Famous Trades

2007 SHORT

Northern Rock

Shorted Northern Rock before its collapse and subsequent nationalization during the financial crisis.

Major Profit

Significant

Legendary Quotes

"The market is full of overvalued rubbish. My job is to find it and profit when reality catches up."
— Interview
"Short sellers are the market's immune system."
— Financial Times

Recommended Reading

Evil's Good: A Worse-Selling Book

His approach to short selling

2012