Bill Perkins, born William Osborne Perkins III on February 2, 1969, is an American hedge fund manager, film producer, and poker player. He is known as the "Natural Gas King" and "Cowboy of Wall Street" for his work in energy markets. Perkins is the founder, managing partner, and head trader of Skylar Capital, an energy trading hedge fund with approximately $500 million in assets under management as of 2023. He began his career in 1991 on the floor of the New York Mercantile Exchange. Perkins specializes in capitalizing on mispricing in natural gas markets through option structures based on his fundamental analysis. In 2020, he released his book, "Die with Zero," offering advice on maximizing life experiences regardless of income.
Beyond finance, Perkins is involved in various ventures, including film production and poker. He founded SkyFi, a provider of Earth observation data, and SynMax, a satellite data analytics company. As an amateur poker player, Perkins has participated in high-stakes events, with total live tournament winnings exceeding $5.4 million. While considering himself an amateur, he has played with notable figures like Dan Bilzerian in events like the World Series of Poker and Triton Poker Super High Roller Series. Perkins is also known for his charitable work, supporting organizations like the International Rescue Committee and providing aid to the Virgin Islands after the 2017 hurricanes.