Cathie Wood

Cathie Wood founded ARK Invest in 2014 after a career at AllianceBernstein and other firms. ARK's actively managed ETFs focus on "disruptive innovation" — technologies including DNA sequencing, robotics, artificial intelligence, and cryptocurrency. The ARKK Innovation ETF became one of the best-performing funds in 2020, attracting massive retail investor interest and growing to over $60 billion in assets at peak. Wood became famous for bullish price targets on Tesla (targeting $3,000+ per share) and other technology companies. However, ARK's concentrated positions in high-growth, early-stage companies suffered dramatic declines in 2022 as interest rates rose. Her trajectory from celebrated innovator to controversial figure became a case study in concentration risk and investment style cycles.