By A new book by New York Times finance reporter Rob Copeland reveals an unusual incident involving billionaire hedge fund manager Ray Dalio. Known for his detailed employee standards outlined in “The Principles,” Dalio once ordered an investigation into a urine stain found on the men’s room floor at Bridgewater Associates.
Discovery and Reaction
In “The Fund: Ray Dalio, Bridgewater Associates, and the Unraveling of a Wall Street Legend,” Copeland recounts that Dalio left a meeting to use the restroom, only to discover urine on the floor. Frustrated by the lack of cleanliness, Dalio reportedly launched a thorough investigation.
Investigation Details
Copeland describes the investigation as a “true circus.” Dalio personally questioned the head of facilities about the issue. Numerous staff members were assigned to monitor the restroom in shifts, clean the floor after each use, and assess the cleanliness left by each employee. New urinals were installed, complete with stickers as targets to improve aim, and their placement was meticulously reviewed.
“If people can’t aim their fucking pee, they can’t work here,” Dalio is quoted as saying in the book.
Outcome and Company Response
The book does not specify the outcome of the investigation, but Copeland writes that the incident was thoroughly documented, filmed, and used as a learning case for the staff.
Dalio responded to the book’s claims in a LinkedIn statement, dismissing “The Fund” as “another one of those sensational and inaccurate tabloid books written to sell books to people who like gossip,” and asserting that “Bridgewater obviously is not and was not” as described by Copeland.
A Bridgewater spokesperson also denied the specifics of the incident, calling the account “exaggerated to a ridiculous degree and totally false.” The spokesperson acknowledged that Dalio once complained about restroom tidiness, which became a running joke, but insisted that the book’s detailed claims were untrue.
Depiction of Dalio in the Book
The anecdote is one of many in Copeland’s book that portrays Dalio as a demanding and ruthless leader. The book details Dalio’s strict enforcement of his 90-page “Principles” handout, which all new hires received and were tested on. Additionally, “The Fund” describes Dalio’s tendency to reprimand staff in front of their peers and share recordings of these sessions company-wide.