{{short description|American businessman (1933–2023)}} {{other people}} {{Use mdy dates|date=October 2025}} {{Infobox person | name = William O'Neil | image = William J. O'Neil (1933-2023) in 2018.jpg | caption = William O'Neil in 2018 | birth_name = | birth_date = {{birth date|1933|03|25}} | birth_place = Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, U.S. | death_date = {{death date and age|2023|5|28|1933|3|25}} | death_place = | education = Southern Methodist University | occupation = {{hlist|Businessman|investor}} | years_active = 1958–2023 | known_for = {{ubli|Founder of William O'Neil + Co. Incorporated| Founder and chairman of Investor's Business Daily| Founder of O'Neil Data Systems, Inc.}} | spouse = | children = | signature = }}
'''William Joseph O'Neil''' (March 25, 1933 – May 28, 2023) was an American businessman, stockbroker, and writer. He founded the stock brokerage firm '''William O'Neil & Co. Inc''' in 1963 and the financial newspaper ''Investor's Business Daily'' in 1984. O'Neil was the author of books like ''How to Make Money in Stocks'', ''24 Essential Lessons for Investment Success'', and ''The Successful Investor'', and created the CAN SLIM investment strategy.
== Early life and education == William Joseph O'Neil was born on March 25, 1933, in Oklahoma City.<ref name=hagerty_05302023>{{cite web|first=James R.|last=Hagerty|title=William O'Neil, Founder of Investor's Business Daily, Dies at Age 90|date=May 30, 2023|work=The Wall Street Journal|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/william-oneil-founder-of-investors-business-daily-dies-at-age-90-96da4def|url-access=subscription|access-date=June 3, 2023|quote=William Joseph O'Neil, an only child known as Bill, was born March 25, 1933, in Oklahoma City.}}</ref> His parents divorced the next year and his mother took him to Muskogee, where she clerked at a JC Penneys.<ref name="wsjObit" /> When he was 14, he moved to Dallas,<ref>{{cite web|title=William J. O'Neil: His Vision, His Work and His Legacy|website=williamoneil.com|url=https://wjolegacy.williamoneil.com|access-date=June 3, 2023}}</ref> where he later graduated from Woodrow Wilson High School.<ref name=smu>{{cite news|url=https://www.dallasnews.com/business/business/2010/09/25/Bill-O-Neil-making-a-world-3059|title=Bill O'Neil Making a World-Class Investment in Alma Mater SMU|publisher=Dallas News|date=September 2010}}</ref> He studied business at Southern Methodist University, received a bachelor’s degree in 1955, and served in the United States Air Force.<ref>{{cite book|title=Lessons from the Greatest Stock Traders of All Time|year=2004|author=John Boik|page=89}}</ref>
==Career== ===Early career=== In 1958, O'Neil started his career as a stockbroker at Hayden, Stone & Company, and developed an investment strategy which made early use of computers.<ref name=breaking/> In 1960, he was accepted to Harvard Business School's first Program for Management Development (PMD).<ref>{{cite book|title=Lessons from the Greatest Stock Traders of All Time|year=2004|author=John Boik|page=90}}</ref> From his research, O'Neil developed the CAN SLIM strategy<ref name=breaking>{{cite news| url =https://www.forbes.com/2009/02/23/oneil-ibd-canslim-personal-finance_william_oneil.html|title=Breaking Out With Bill O'Neil|author= John Dobosz|work=Forbes |date = February 23, 2009}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.marketwatch.com/story/conversation-with-a-maverick-investor-2011-09-13|title=Conversation With a Maverick Investor|publisher=MarketWatch|first=Kevin|last=Marder|date=September 13, 2011}}</ref> and became the top-performing broker in his firm.<ref>{{Cite news| url = https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2006-mar-05-tm-oneil10-story.html|title= The Profiting Prophet of Playa del Rey |author=Thomas M. Kostigen |work= Los Angeles Times |date = March 5, 2006}}</ref> He bought a seat on the NYSE at age 30 and became the youngest at that time ever to do so.<ref name="John Boik 2004 93">{{cite book|title=Lessons from the Greatest Stock Traders of All Time|year=2004|author=John Boik|page=93}}</ref> In 1963, he founded William O'Neil + Co. Inc., a company which developed the first computerized daily securities database and sold its research to institutional investors and tracks over 70,000 companies worldwide.<ref name="John Boik 2004 93" /><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1988/11/07/business/the-media-business-investor-s-daily-learns-the-hard-way.html|title=The Media Business: Investor's Daily Learns the Hard Way|work=The New York Times|first=Andrea|last=Adelson|date=November 7, 1988}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|title=How Legendary Traders Made Millions|url=https://archive.org/details/howlegendarytrad00boik_027|url-access=limited|year=2006|author=John Boik|page=[https://archive.org/details/howlegendarytrad00boik_027/page/n140 119]|isbn=9780071487146 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://williamoneil.com/research/global-focus.aspx|title=Global Focus List|publisher=William O'Neil +Co.}}</ref>
Daily Graphs was launched by William O'Neil to produce Daily Graphs, a printed book of stock charts delivered weekly to subscribers in 1972. In 1998, O'Neil launched Daily Graphs Online as a comprehensive online equity research tool and an extension of the Daily Graphs business he launched in 1972. In 2010, Daily Graphs Inc. rebranded its service as MarketSmith.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.barrons.com/articles/SB50001424052970204261904576242910217220784|url-access=subscription|title=Two New Ways to Make Money|publisher=Barron's|first=Theresa|last=Carey|date=April 9, 2011}}</ref>
In 1973, he founded "O'Neil Data Systems, Inc.", to provide high-speed printing and database-publishing facilities.<ref name=Bloomberg>{{cite web|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/research/stocks/private/person.asp?personId=27084517&privcapId=4257207|title=William J. O'Neil|date=June 2023 |publisher=Bloomberg}}</ref><ref name="ods">{{cite web|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/research/stocks/private/snapshot.asp?privcapid=6943618|title=Company Overview of O'Neil Data Systems, Inc. |publisher=Bloomberg}}</ref> The company now operates as O'Neil Digital Solutions and has operations in Los Angeles, Dallas and Monroe, North Carolina. The firm provides data-driven publishing and marketing communications.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.charlotteobserver.com/news/local/article19315863.html|url-access=subscription|title=Monroe Lands $140M Printing and Data Center Project|publisher=The Charlotte Observer|first=Adam|last=Bell|date=April 23, 2015}}</ref>
He offered mutual funds twice in his career: O’Neil Fund in 1965, which saw significant outflows in the downturn at the end of the decade and the New USA fund in 1992, which he left after five years.<ref name="wsjObit">{{Cite web |last=Hagerty |first=James R. |date=2023-05-30 |title=William O’Neil, Founder of Investor’s Business Daily, Dies at Age 90 |url=https://www.wsj.com/finance/investing/william-oneil-founder-of-investors-business-daily-dies-at-age-90-96da4def |url-access=subscription |access-date=2026-02-28 |website=The Wall Street Journal |language=en-US |quote=He launched a mutual fund, the O’Neil Fund, in 1965. It did well at first but suffered major outflows when the market turned down in the late 1960s. O’Neil later sold that fund. “We were buying phenomenal small companies that no one had ever seen before, but we bought too many small names,” he told the Los Angeles Times later. “We were growing too fast.” He tried again by offering the New USA fund in 1992 but exited that business after five years.}}</ref>
===''Investor's Business Daily''=== In 1984, O'Neil made research from his database available in print form with the launch of ''Investor's Daily'', a national business newspaper aimed to compete with ''The Wall Street Journal''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1984/06/27/business/investor-s-daily-fight-for-life.html|title=Investor's Daily: Fight For Life|work=The New York Times|first=Alex|last=Jones|date=June 27, 1984}}</ref> In 1991, the publication's name was changed from ''Investor's Daily'' to ''Investor's Business Daily''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.newsbios.com/newslum/oneill.htm |title=William J. O'Neil|publisher=News Bios|archive-date=August 13, 2004|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040813033503/http://www.newsbios.com/newslum/oneill.htm}}</ref>
As of 2015, the newspaper had a circulation of 113,000 and its website attracted 2.9 million visitors a month. In 2016, the newspaper changed its printing schedule to weekly, but continued to publish news daily on its website.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/investors-business-daily-will-become-a-weekly-1457131255|title=Investor's Business Daily Will Become a Weekly|publisher=The Wall Street Journal|first=Lukas|last=Alpert|date=March 4, 2016}}</ref>
In 2021 News Corp. bought ''Investor’s'' for $275 million.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Trachtenberg |first1=Jeffrey |title=News Corp to Buy Investor’s Business Daily for $275 Million |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/news-corp-agrees-to-acquire-investor-s-business-daily-11616679778 |publisher=The Wall Street Journal}}</ref>
==Personal life == O'Neil married Fey Seifert in 1952 and had four children.<ref name="wsjObit"/> He stated in a 2002 interview that one of the books which was an early influence on him was Gerald Loeb's ''The Battle for Investment Survival.'' According to O'Neil, this is the best book on the market.<ref>{{cite book|title=24 Essential Lessons for Investment Success|url=https://archive.org/details/24essentiallesso00onei|url-access=registration|year=2000|author=William J. O'Neil|page=[https://archive.org/details/24essentiallesso00onei/page/1 1]}}</ref> Other investors he studied were Bernard Baruch, Jesse Livermore, Jack Dreyfus, and Nicolas Darvas. He also admired Thomas Edison.<ref>{{Cite book |last=O'Neil |first=William J. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=lRH-zfgFKFUC&q=stocks |title=How to Make Money in Stocks: A Winning System in Good Times Or Bad |date=2002 |publisher=McGraw-Hill |isbn=978-0-07-137361-6 |language=en}}</ref>
In 2007, O'Neil started donating to his alma mater, Southern Methodist University and funded a chair in business journalism at SMU's Meadows School of the Arts. He then endowed a professorship in markets and freedom and created the William J. O'Neil Center for Global Markets and Freedom at the university's Cox School of Business.<ref name="smu" />
O'Neil died on May 28, 2023, at age 90.<ref>{{cite web|first=David|last=Saito-Chung|title=William O'Neil, Legendary Investor And Founder Of Investor's Business Daily, Dies At 90|date=May 31, 2023|work=Investor's Business Daily|url=https://www.investors.com/news/william-oneil-legendary-investor-and-founder-of-investors-business-daily-dies-at-90/|access-date=June 3, 2023}}</ref><ref>[https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230529005167/en/William-ONeil-Company-Announces-the-Passing-of-William-J.-ONeil William O'Neil + Company Announces the Passing of William J. O'Neil]</ref> After his death, ''Investor’s Business Daily'' released a special tribute to O’Neil’s “inspirational life”.<ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |title=The Inspirational Life Of IBD Founder Bill O'Neil - Video - IBD |url=https://www.investors.com/ibd-videos/videos/remembering-william-oneil |access-date=January 30, 2025 |website=Investor's Business Daily |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |title=A Tribute To O'Neil And Post Analysis - Video - IBD |url=https://www.investors.com/ibd-videos/videos/a-tribute-to-oneil-and-post-analysis |access-date=January 30, 2025 |website=Investor's Business Daily |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |title=William O'Neil + Company Announces the Passing of William J. O'Neil |url=https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230529005167/en/William-ONeil-Company-Announces-the-Passing-of-William-J.-ONeil |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240222075458/https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230529005167/en/William-ONeil-Company-Announces-the-Passing-of-William-J.-ONeil/ |archive-date=February 22, 2024 |access-date=January 30, 2025 |language=en}}</ref>
== Bibliography == * ''The Model Book of Greatest Stock Market Winners'' (1971)<ref>{{cite book |last1=O'Neil |first1=William |title=The Model Book of Greatest Stock Market Winners |date=1971 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=TI2GtgAACAAJ |language=en}}</ref> * ''24 Essential Lessons for Investment Success, learn the most Important Investment Techniques from the Founder of Investor's Business Daily'', McGraw-Hill (2000), {{ISBN|0-07-136033-6}} * ''The Successful Investor: What 80 Million People Need to Know to Invest Profitably and Avoid Big Losses'', 2003, McGraw-Hill, {{ISBN|0-07-142959-X}} * ''Sports Leaders & Success : 55 Top Sports Leaders & How They Achieved Greatness'' by Investor's Business Daily (author), William J. O'Neil (introduction) (1st edition, June 1, 2004) {{ISBN|978-0071441018}} * ''Military and Political Leaders & Success : 55 Top Military and Political Leaders & How They Achieved Greatness'', by Investor's Business Daily (author), William J. O'Neil (Introduction) (1st edition, September 1, 2004) {{ISBN|978-0071440592}} * ''How to Make Money Selling Stocks Short'', co-author with Gil Morales, Wiley (December 24, 2004), {{ISBN|0-471-71049-0}} * ''Business Leaders and Success, 55 Top Business Leaders and How They Achieved Greatness'', 2004, McGraw-Hill {{ISBN|0-07-142680-9}} * ''How to Make Money in Stocks: Desk Diary 2005'', Wiley; Spiral edition (September 6, 2004), {{ISBN|978-0-471-68053-6}} * ''Reminiscences of a Stock Operator'' (by Edwin Lefèvre), William J. O'Neil (Foreword), Wiley; Illustrate edition (September 2004), {{ISBN|0-471-67876-7}} * ''How to Make Money in Stocks – A Winning System in Good Times Or Bad'', McGraw-Hill, {{ISBN|978-0-07-161413-9}} (4th ed., May 18, 2009) *''The How to Make Money in Stocks Complete Investing System: Your Ultimate Guide to Winning in Good Times and Bad'' by William J O'Neil (Paperback August 10, 2010) {{ISBN | 978-0-07-176013-3}}
==See also== * Jesse Livermore * Gerald M. Loeb
==References== {{reflist}}
== Further reading == * {{cite book | last = Schwager | first = Jack D. | authorlink = Jack D. Schwager | title = Market Wizards: Interviews with Top Traders | publisher = Collins; Reissue edition | year = 1993 | url = https://archive.org/details/marketwizardsint00schw | isbn = 0-88730-610-1 }} * {{cite book | last=Boik | first=John | title=Lessons from the Greatest Stock Traders of All Time | publisher=McGraw-Hill Education | publication-place=New York London | date=June 3, 2004 | isbn=978-0-07-143788-2 | page=}} * {{cite book | last=Boik | first=John | title=How Legendary Traders Made Millions | publisher=McGraw-Hill Education | date=April 13, 2006 | isbn=978-0-07-146822-0}}
==External links== * [http://www.williamoneil.com/ Official website] * [https://archive.today/20130717153557/http://www.williamoneil.com/corporate/our-people/william-oneil.aspx William O'Neil Company Profile] * [https://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m5072/is_11_24/ai_91480931 ''Los Angeles Business Journal'' interview], March 18, 2002 * [http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/mcgraw-hill-releases-new-edition-of-how-to-make-money-in-stocks-by-investors-business-daily-founder-william-j-oneil-62081397.html "McGraw-Hill Releases New Edition of How to Make Money in Stocks by Investor's Business Daily Founder William J. O'Neil"], ''Investors Business Daily'', June 10, 2009
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Oneil, William}} Category:1933 births Category:2023 deaths Category:American finance and investment writers Category:American businesspeople in finance Category:American investors Category:American money managers Category:American newspaper publishers (people) Category:American stockbrokers Category:American stock traders Category:Harvard Business School alumni Category:Businesspeople from Oklahoma City Category:Stock and commodity market managers Category:Southern Methodist University alumni Category:United States Air Force officers Category:Writers from Texas Category:Writers from Oklahoma City Category:Writers from Oklahoma Category:Businesspeople from Texas Category:Businesspeople from Oklahoma Category:Place of death missing Category:Woodrow Wilson High School (Dallas) alumni