Scott Bessent

**Scott Bessent**

Born August 21, 1962, Scott Kenneth Homer Bessent (pronounced BESS-ənt) is an American financier and public official who became the 79th United States Secretary of the Treasury in 2025. He earned a B.A. in political science from Yale University in 1984 before embarking on a career in finance.

Bessent joined Soros Fund Management in 1991 and later headed its London office. In September 1992, he played a key role in the firm's famous bet against the British pound during Black Wednesday, generating $1 billion in profit. He delivered another major win in 2013 by shorting the Japanese yen, adding $1.2 billion for the fund. After departing Soros in 2015, he launched Key Square Group, a global macro hedge fund.

Bessent backed Donald Trump's 2024 presidential campaign as an economic advisor, fundraiser, and significant donor. Trump announced his Treasury nomination on November 22, 2024, and the Senate confirmed him on January 27, 2025, by a vote of 68–29. He was sworn in the following day.

Bessent holds several historic distinctions: he is the first openly gay person to head the U.S. Treasury Department, the first openly gay Senate-confirmed Cabinet member in a Republican administration, and the second openly gay Senate-confirmed Cabinet secretary overall.