Related to this topicMarkets Intelligence Council

Jim Cramer Preaches Discipline, So Why Do ‘Inverse Cramer' Traders Doubt Him?

  • Jim Cramer's investing rules sound a lot like his own biggest mistakes.
  • A trader who bets against him gained 158% since 2023.
  • Wall Street built an ETF to short his calls. It didn't survive.
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Jim Cramer just laid out his personal rulebook for investing discipline. It is the same code of conduct that inspired an entire trading strategy built on wagering against him.

On Mad Money, Cramer told viewers to never buy a full position at once. He also said to keep cash on hand and never panic-sell in a downturn.

The Inverse Cramer Trade

Tuttle Capital Management launched the Inverse Cramer Tracker ETF (SJIM) in March 2023. The fund was built to short whatever stocks Cramer touted on Mad Money.

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Its bullish counterpart, the Long Cramer ETF (LJIM), shut down about five months earlier after attracting even less investor interest.

SJIM followed in February 2024, closing with just $2.4 million under management and a 15% loss since launch. The meme, however, outlived the fund.

In contrast, Autopilot cofounder Chris Josephs built a separate version of the same bet through his trading app. Users can mirror an Inverse Cramer portfolio that takes the opposite side of his calls.

Josephs said the portfolio has gained about 158% since its 2023 launch. The SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust rose roughly 68% over the same period, he said.

The Inverse Cramer portfolio held about $55 million in assets as of March 2026, according to Josephs.

Rules He Does Not Always Follow

The gap shows up in crypto too. Cramer sold his Bitcoin holdings over quantum-computing fears.

Meanwhile, he told a caller on the same show to buy the coin he had just dumped. That is the opposite of the panic-avoidance rule he now preaches.

BeInCrypto has tracked the pattern before. Traders have drawn similar comparisons using Arthur Hayes’ trading history as another case study in fading big names.

None of this proves today’s rules are wrong. But the overlap is notable. Never buy all at once, always keep cash, never panic. That reads like a checklist of the moves the Inverse Cramer crowd says he breaks himself.

Disclaimer

This Analysis reflects BeInCrypto's editorial interpretation of information and data available at publication and may become outdated. It is general and non-personalised, does not consider your circumstances, and is not investment research, financial, investment, legal or tax advice, an offer or a recommendation. Forecasts, targets, technical analysis and forward-looking statements are uncertain and may not materialise; past performance and indicators do not predict future results. References to assets, products or providers do not imply endorsement. Crypto-assets and financial products may result in total loss. Verify material information before acting.

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