Thomas Peterffy
Thomas Peterffy is the Founder and Chairman of Interactive Brokers, one of the world’s largest and most technologically advanced electronic brokerage firms serving active traders, sophisticated investors, and institutions. Widely recognized as a pioneer in modern electronic trading, Peterffy played a pivotal role in transforming global securities markets through the early adoption of computer-driven automation. He was among the first innovators to design and deploy computer systems capable of trading financial assets electronically without direct human intervention. His groundbreaking work in automated market making, digital order routing, and algorithmic execution helped shift financial markets from manual, floor-based trading to the electronic platforms that dominate today. Over the course of his career, Peterffy has been credited with driving major advancements in digital trading infrastructure, algorithmic trading models, and low-cost electronic brokerage solutions. His contributions have not only shaped Interactive Brokers into a global leader, but also helped define the technological standards and efficiencies that underpin modern financial market operations.
Thomas Peterffy Professional Experience / Academic History
Professional Experience
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Founder and Chairman
Academic History
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Drop Out
Interactive Brokers is one of the largest publicly traded electronic brokers, ranked among the top firms globally by market capitalization and daily average revenue trades (DARTs).
The company provides direct-access trade execution and clearing services for professional and institutional traders, offering a broad range of electronically traded products including stocks, options, futures, forex, bonds, CFDs, and funds.
Its platform connects clients to more than 135 trading venues across 27 currencies, delivering deep global market access and advanced trading tools.
Peterffy’s influence in modernizing derivatives markets earned him induction into the Futures Industry Association Hall of Fame, recognizing his groundbreaking contributions to market structure and electronic trading.
TRADING CAREER HIGHLIGHTS
Throughout his career, Thomas Peterffy has consistently championed the use of technology to replace manual trading workflows with faster, more precise automated systems.
His early formula for pricing contingent assets represented a precursor to what later became known as the Black-Scholes Options Pricing Model.
In 1977, after purchasing a seat on the American Stock Exchange and working as an individual market maker in equity options, he became the first to deploy a computerized mathematical model that generated continuous bid and ask prices.
He later built and operated one of the earliest automated trading systems for equity options, and in 1983, developed a tablet computer for use by his trading team on exchange floors.
By 1986, Peterffy had created a fully integrated, automated market-making system for stocks, options, and futures, setting the foundation for the digital trading infrastructure used across global markets today.
MEDIA PRESENCE
Peterffy is frequently featured or quoted in top financial media outlets including Forbes, Bloomberg, Markets Insider, CNBC, MarketWatch, Yahoo Finance, and the Financial Times.
He has also appeared as a guest on Real Vision, where he shares insights on technology, markets, and the future of electronic trading.