John Paulson, Paulson & Co.
While the subprime mortgage market crash created a lot of stinkers, the winners came out smelling like a rose. And possibly the biggest bed of roses belongs to Paulson & Co. The hedge fund gave investors the heads up on the bursting of the housing bubble in mid-2006 and bet accordingly. And how those wagers have paid off: the firm's credit funds returned 330% through Oct. 31. With more than $7 billion in hedge fund money linked to mortgage credit, founder John Paulson is sitting pretty.
Mani Sabapathi, Prudential
Sabapathi was lauded for being a tireless and outspoken advocate for investor interests through the American Securitization Forum and other venues. A member of the ASF's board of directors, he has been very vocal on problems in the subprime industry, calling attention to the lack of origination standards back in early 2006. Working through the ASF he has also been important in drafting various standards as part of the ASF's subprime initiatives.
Sanjeev Handa, TIAA-CREF
Sanjeev Handa has been another investor who has been at the forefront of working for investor interests. He has also been outspoken about problems in the securitization markets. He was voted chair of the American Securitization Forum after serving as the forum's secretary for a number of years.