Question 1

True or false: The investor Howard Marks once smuggled 30 tons of marijuana into the US using a fake film crew.

Accepted Answer

False. The drug smuggler Howard Marks (author of Mr. Nice) was known for using covers like film crews, but the investor Howard Marks has never been involved in smuggling. The statement is about the wrong Howard Marks.

Question 2

True or false: Warren Buffett has said he reads Howard Marks' investment memos regularly.

Accepted Answer

True. Warren Buffett publicly stated he reads Howard Marks' memos as soon as they arrive and always learns something, a widely cited endorsement.

Question 3

True or false: Howard Marks, the investor, began his career as a professional poker player.

Accepted Answer

False. Marks started at Citibank as an equity research analyst, later moving to junk bonds. No poker career—though he applies poker-like risk thinking to investing.

Question 4

True or false: Howard Marks wrote the book 'The Most Important Thing' about investing.

Accepted Answer

True. Marks, co-founder of Oaktree Capital, authored 'The Most Important Thing' in 2011, distilling his investment wisdom into key principles.

Question 5

True or false: Howard Marks was a British drug smuggler who later became a bestselling author.

Accepted Answer

True. Howard Marks was a Welsh cannabis smuggler who wrote the bestselling autobiography 'Mr. Nice' after serving prison time.

Question 6

True or false: Howard Marks’s net worth is estimated at over $2 billion from his distressed debt investing.

Accepted Answer

True. Forbes estimates his net worth around $2.2 billion, largely from Oaktree Capital’s success in distressed debt and high-yield bonds.

Question 7

True or false: Howard Marks predicted the 2008 financial crisis in a public memo six months before it hit.

Accepted Answer

False. He warned about excessive risk in 2007 memos but didn't precisely predict the crash timing. He is known for cycle awareness, not specific predictions.

Question 8

True or false: Howard Marks is the only investor to have a trading card issued by the Wall Street Journal.

Accepted Answer

False. False. The Wall Street Journal has issued trading cards for numerous investors, such as Carl Icahn and Bill Ackman, so Howard Marks is not the only one.

Howard Marks Trivia Questions