By Dan Weil From Moneynews

While the hedge fund industry as a whole underperformed the stock market last year, hedge fund managers at the top of the totem pole made out quite well.

Indeed, six earned more than $1 billion, according to Forbes. Their names are familiar to many investors.

Heading the magazine’s list was George Soros of family office Soros Fund Management, with $4 billion. He was followed by David Tepper of hedge fund firm Appaloosa Management with $3.5 billion, and Steve Cohen, whose SAC Capital Advisors hedge fund firm will soon transform to a family office, with $2.3 billion.

Then came John Paulson of hedge fund firm Paulson & Co. with $1.9 billion, Carl Icahn of hedge fund firm Icahn Capital Management with $1.7 billion, and James Simons, the officially retired founder of hedge fund firm Renaissance Technologies, with $1.1 billion.

Simons continues to play a role at his firm, and so does Soros at his firm, though not in day-to-day operations.

The rest of the top 10 include Ray Dalio of Bridgewater Associates at $900 million, Ken Griffin of Citadel at $900 million, Larry Robbins of Glenview Capital Management at $750 million, and Leon Cooperman of Omega Advisors at $730 million.

Meanwhile, some heavyweight hedge fund managers discussed some of their top stock picks for 2014 at a conference earlier this month.

William Ackman of Pershing Square Capital Management chose Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, Clifton Robbins of Blue Harbour Group selected Tribune, and Frank Brosens of Taconic Capital Advisors opted for General Motors, The Wall Street Journal reports.

For more on this story go to: http://www.moneynews.com/StreetTalk/Hedge-fund-managers-billion/2014/02/26/id/555001#ixzz2udQHxEsE