Jim Cramer has made quite the name for himself among the investment community. He is currently the host of CNBC's show Mad Money, where he analyzes the stock market to help investors make more informed decisions. He is widely known for his high energy level and crazy antics on his show, which helps investors become excited about learning to invest in the stock market.

Cramer graduated from Harvard College in 1977; and later went on to cofound a hedge fund called Cramer Berkowitz. While managing the hedge fund, he managed to earn a compounded rate of return of 24% after 15 years in the business. He retired in 2001, and finished with one of the best records in the business, and he had a 36% plus year in 2000.

In 1996 Cramer co-founded TheStreet.com with one of his original hedge fund clients. Cramer is currently a market commentator and advisor for the website, and is one of its largest shareholders. He also manages a charitable trust stock portfolio which is tied to the website through a subscription service called the Action Alerts PLUS Portfolio. He makes reference to this trust on his show almost daily, and it is clear he keeps a close eye on its performance.

In 2005, Mad Money first aired on CNBC, and Jim Cramer's face and name have become widely recognized by investors around the world. His buy and sell recommendations on the show actually have the power to move a stock's price. Despite this power, many investors criticize his stock picks and performance.

In an August 2007 cover story, Barron's reported that Jim Cramer's picks hadn't beaten the market over the preceding two years. CNBC disputed the findings however, many investors view him as a "talking head" for CNBC, and some even think he is a contrarian indicator for his stock calls.

In all fairness, his show has been on the air for 4 years, and even if his buy and sell recommendations are off a little, he offers great advice and insight for all levels of investors.