From his years working for George Soros to his role as a key economic advisor to Trump, Bessent has extensive if contradictory Wall Street experience.

The hedge fund investor predicted last year that President-elect Donald J. Trump’s political fortunes were on the rise.

It was Scott Bessent’s job to lose—and he almost did.But after two weeks of uncertainty, Donald Trump selected Bessent, a longtime investor, as his next Treasury secretary. The pick capped a drawn-out,