With a whole stable of hedge funds posting triple-digit returns last year, it’s no surprise to find that 2007’s most well-remunerated trader last year was John Paulson.

The Paulson & Co. chief, who correctly predicted the subprime meltdown and bet heavily against mortgages, took in a breathtaking, record-breaking $3 billion last year, according to Trader Monthly magazine. That payout was twice that of 2006’s top earner, John Arnold of hedge fund Centaurus Energy Advisors, who made $1.5 billion that year.

Taking second on the annual Trader 100 was Harbinger Capital Partners’ Phil Falcone, who earned between $1.5 billion and $2 billion. Last year’s number two, Renaissance Technologies’ James Simons, dropped into the third spot with $1.5 billion to $2 billion in earnings.

London-based hedgies also made a strong showing in this year’s list. Christopher Hohn of The Children’s Investment Fund placed sixth with between US$800 million and US$900 million. GLG Partners’ Noam Gottesman and Pierre Lagrange, and Brevan Howard’s Alan Howard, each took home between US$700 million and US$800 million last year.