Bridgewater's Pure Alpha Fund Rises 33% in 2025, Leading the Hedge Fund Sector

Nir Bar Dea, the Chief Executive Officer of Bridgewater Associates, is featured in this undated handout image obtained by Reuters on September 29, 2025. According to sources, the company's flagship Pure Alpha fund experienced an impressive 33% increase in 2025, reflecting a historic performance for Bridgewater Associates' macro funds within its 50-year timeline. This surge can be attributed to a strong year for major U.S. indexes, with Pure Alpha notably surpassing the S&P 500's 16.97% gain. Bridgewater’s All Weather fund saw a commendable 20.4% increase, while its Asia Total Return fund and China Total Return fund reported returns of 36.9% and 34.2%, respectively. Additionally, the company is exploring innovative strategies, including a new AI-focused fund that achieved an 11.9% return. As it adapts under the leadership of Bar Dea, who succeeded Ray Dalio in 2022, Bridgewater is embracing changes to optimize its investment strategies, including a shift towards enhancing employee ownership, slated to increase to over 60% in 2026.