LEGEND
John
TEMPLETON
The 20th century ’ s greatest global stock picker
L iving through practically every major event of the last century , Sir John Marks Templeton ’ s financial and investment acumen made him both one of the world ’ s richest people and one of the most generous philanthropists in history .
Born in Winchester , Tennessee , Templeton attended Yale University – paying his way using poker winnings ( he was a skilled player ) – and graduated in 1934 near the top of his class . With the world still in the throes of the Great Depression , he travelled to the UK to attend Oxford University where he was a student of Benjamin Graham , later known as the ‘ father of value investing ’.
Templeton learned quickly ; in a masterful display of the ‘ buy low , sell high ’ ethos , he purchased 100 shares of each company on the NYSE valued at less than $ 1 . Reportedly , he did so at the dawn of World War II , which soon generated him a sizable profit as US industry subsequently began to accelerate .
Now a significantly wealthy man , Templeton reached billionaire status through his pioneering use of globally diversified mutual funds . Establishing his own Templeton Growth Fund in 1954 ( now part of Franklin Templeton ), he created specific industry funds for new sectors like nuclear power and electronics , as well investing in
20 May 2021
$ 1bn
Amount donated to charity
95yrs
1912 - 2008 emerging markets like Japan . In 1999 , Templeton was hailed as ‘ the 20th century ’ s greatest global stock picker ’, a reputation he earned not only for his results but also his perspective and attitude to investment . Usually only picking stocks that he considered undervalued or otherwise with solid long-term profitability , Templeton favoured fundamental analysis instead of technical , believed strongly in ‘ going against the grain ’ of public opinion , and even partially attributed his fortune to staying positive , relaxed and disciplined at all times .
Over the course of his life , Templeton donated over $ 1bn to charitable causes . In 1987 , he was made a Knight Bachelor in the UK for services to philanthropy . He also created the John Templeton Foundation , an inter-religious organisation dedicated to spiritual understanding through scientific research . It was for the latter that Time named him as one of the world ’ s ‘ 100 Most Influential People ’ in 2007 .
These achievements hint at Templeton ’ s contrarian character : despite being one of the world ’ s richest men , he spurned consumerism , lived frugally , and generally avoided luxury . Truly , Templeton was a skilled and complex individual , and a finance industry legend in every sense .