[8][9] As an undergraduate at Hunter College, Cooperman joined and was an active member of the fraternity Alpha Epsilon Pi.
In 1989, he became chairman and chief executive officer of Goldman Sachs Asset Management[13][14] and was chief investment officer of the equity product line including managing the GS Capital Growth Fund, an open-end mutual fund, for one and one-half years.
[15] While at Goldman Sachs, Cooperman was voted the number one portfolio strategist in the Institutional Investor "All-America Research Team" survey [12][16] for nine consecutive years.
[25][26][27] Cooperman faced criminal charges in a related parallel proceeding and has asserted his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination before a SEC hearing.
[4] In addition, Cooperman and Omega must submit monthly certifications that they were not aware of material nonpublic information prior to any securities trades.
[5][8][30] Since the late 1970s, Cooperman has been a resident of the Short Hills neighborhood of Millburn, New Jersey,[31] but he spends the majority of his time in Boca Raton, Florida.
[37] In an interview on CNBC, Cooperman criticized the potential Warren wealth tax and its implications on his billion dollar fortune.
During the January 2021 GameStop short squeeze, Cooperman appeared on CNBC to discuss the situation, angrily saying it was caused by "people sitting at home getting checks from the Government".
In October 2023, Cooperman decided to stop donating to Columbia University amid student's protests of Israel-Hamas war, “We have one reliable ally in the Middle East — that’s Israel.
[43] Cooperman also called for the firing of Professor Joseph Massad who described Hamas’ deadly attack on Israel as “awesome” and “astounding.”[44] He later said that "Columbia has been too slow to respond and to recognize these shitheads for what they are.
"[45] Signatories of The Giving Pledge,[46] Cooperman and his wife joined the cause in 2010, which is a commitment by the world's wealthiest individuals and families to dedicate the majority of their wealth to charitable efforts.
[47] Cooperman and his family committed $5 million in 2010 as a permanent fund intended to anchor activities supporting Jewish identity and continuity among young adults.
[10][56] Cooperman is also a charitable member of the Songs of Love Foundation, a 501(c)(3) organization that records personalized music for those facing chronic illness.