Noted Wall Street Strategist Byron Wien, Creator of the '10 Surprises' Column, Dies at 90

Byron Wien, renowned for his statistically improbable yet probable forecasts about economy and finance, dies aged 90; his bold insights maintained a substantial influence on Wall Street despite occasional mispredictions.

Byron Wien, renowned Wall Street strategist and creator of the widely followed '10 Surprises' column, has died at the age of 90. He served as a financial markets prognosticator at Blackstone Inc. and Morgan Stanley, influencing popular market strategies for over 38 years.
Wien's cornerstone concept, '10 Surprises', initiated in 1986, focused on low-probability outcomes in economy and finance that he believed had a better-than-50% likelihood of occurring. These included subjects like S&P 500 Index trends, China's economic growth, and U.S. presidential predictions.
Despite occasional mispredictions, such as his 2016 forecast of Hillary Clinton winning the presidential election, Wien's bold and controversial insights held substantial sway, moving financial markets. His influential power remained significant, even when his predictions did not align with reality.
Raised by his aunt after being orphaned as a teenager, Wien had a rags-to-riches journey. From being a 'nerdy middle-class Jewish kid' to becoming one of the most influential voices on Wall Street, he exemplified resilience and exceptional intellectual prowess.
Wien pursued exhaustive travel, reading, networking, and never believed in retiring, arguing for constant work as a mode towards longevity. His successor, Joe Zidle, has been collaborating with him on the '10 Surprises' since 2018, ensuring the continuation of the legacy.