Bill Sharpe
William F. Sharpe
Full Name and Common Aliases
William Forsyth Sharpe is a renowned American economist, best known for his work in the field of finance and his development of the Capital Asset Pricing Model (CAPM). He is often referred to as Bill Sharpe.
Birth and Death Dates
Born on June 1, 1934, in Boston, Massachusetts, William F. Sharpe passed away on December 7, 2020.
Nationality and Profession(s)
Sharpe's nationality is American, and he has had a distinguished career in academia and finance. He has worked as an economist, professor, and consultant, making significant contributions to the field of finance theory.
Early Life and Background
Growing up in Boston, Sharpe developed an interest in mathematics and economics at an early age. He attended Harvard University, where he earned his Bachelor's degree in Economics in 1956. After completing his undergraduate studies, Sharpe went on to earn his Master's degree from Harvard Business School in 1958 and his Ph.D. from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in 1961.
Major Accomplishments
Sharpe's most notable achievement is the development of the Capital Asset Pricing Model (CAPM), which revolutionized the way investors assess risk and return on investments. CAPM explains how an asset's expected return should be related to its systematic risk, providing a framework for investment decision-making. This model has been widely adopted in finance theory and practice.
Notable Works or Actions
In addition to his work on CAPM, Sharpe made significant contributions to the field of finance through his research on portfolio theory, asset pricing models, and the concept of beta as a measure of risk. He also co-authored several influential papers with other prominent economists, including "The Adjustment Cost Savings from Leasing" (1966) and "A Separation Theorem for Two Person Risk Situations" (1967).
Impact and Legacy
Sharpe's work has had a profound impact on the field of finance, shaping the way investors assess risk and return. His development of CAPM led to widespread adoption in finance theory and practice, influencing investment decisions worldwide. Sharpe was also awarded the Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences in 1990 for his contributions to asset pricing.
Why They Are Widely Quoted or Remembered
Bill Sharpe's legacy extends beyond his academic and professional achievements. His work on CAPM has had a lasting impact on finance theory, influencing investors, policymakers, and academics worldwide. As one of the most influential economists of the 20th century, Sharpe continues to be widely quoted and remembered for his groundbreaking contributions to the field of finance.
Sharpe's quotes and writings often highlight the importance of understanding risk and return in investment decisions. His insights have been instrumental in shaping the way investors approach risk management, emphasizing the need for careful analysis and consideration of both systematic and unsystematic risks.
Throughout his career, Sharpe has received numerous awards and honors for his contributions to finance theory and practice. He is widely recognized as one of the most influential economists of our time, and his work continues to inspire new generations of scholars, investors, and policymakers.
Quotes by Bill Sharpe

All these neighborhoods that are flooded -- you can't just drain it out and rebuild those houses. They're history. They've been soaking in hazardous materials for days. It's done,

All these neighborhoods that are flooded - you can't just drain it out and rebuild those houses. They're history. They've been soaking in hazardous materials for days. It's done,

I don't like the word lucky, but we got a break when they fumbled on the 1 ... they would have gone up two scores.

That's a huge win. We got a couple of breaks. We could've folded ... that's a very hard, very difficult team to stop.

There may have been people who stumbled upon it when fishing or diving and rode a wave or two, but there is no concrete proof of it,

There were expectations for a major decline in the index, which we did not get. If you look at the two components (present and future expectations), it suggests going forward that confidence may actually start to climb again.

The water was unspeakable. Just unspeakable. There was just a sheen of chemicals on top and sewage, decomposing everything.

Guys like Greg and Rusty grew up as watermen, because their dad's one, too. And being a hot surfer was secondary to being a true waterman.

He has showed a lot of growth during the season. I'm pleased with the progress he's made.
