

Last Updated: 17 Sep, 2025 | Views: 240
Age: 59
Profession: CEO
Other Profession(s): Hedge Fund Manager
Famous For: CEO of Pershing Square Capital Management
Higher Education: Harvard University (BA, MBA)
Net Worth: 9.3 Billion USD (2025)
About (Profile/Biography):
Bill Ackman, often nicknamed “Bill” or “Ackman,” is a high-profile American hedge fund manager known for bold bets and outspoken views on Wall Street. Born in 1966, he founded Pershing Square Capital Management in 2004, growing it into a powerful activist hedge fund. With a sharp mind for finance and a taste for public battles, Bill has earned both praise and criticism. He’s famous for taking large stakes in companies and pushing for change, often through media appearances. While some of his investments have become textbook examples of smart finance, others have caused massive losses and public scrutiny. Beyond markets, Ackman is also a philanthropist, backing education, health, and social justice causes. His strategic thinking, charisma, and courage to challenge giants have made him a household name in the finance world.
Early Life and Education of Bill Ackman
• Bill was born in Chappaqua, New York, in 1966 to a successful real estate executive and a family with strong academic roots.
• Ackman graduated from Harvard College in 1988 and later earned his MBA from Harvard Business School in 1992.
• While at Harvard, he co-wrote a thesis on real estate finance, which sparked his passion for investment strategy.
Career Beginnings for Bill Ackman
• In 1992, Bill co-founded Gotham Partners, a small investment firm that laid the groundwork for his future success.
• Gotham initially grew fast but ran into legal and performance issues, which ultimately led to its closure in 2003.
• Despite Gotham’s failure, Bill used the lessons to launch Pershing Square Capital Management in 2004.
Rise to Fame of Bill Ackman
• Ackman gained national attention for his high-profile battle with MBIA, predicting its collapse before the 2008 crisis.
• He became known as a bold activist investor, using public pressure to push for corporate change.
• His confident media appearances and sharp financial insights made him a regular guest on CNBC and Bloomberg.
Major Investments
• Bill famously turned a $27 million bet into $2.6 billion by hedging COVID-19 market risk in early 2020.
• He’s known for investments in companies like Chipotle, Hilton, and Canadian Pacific, where he advocated for reforms.
• His long-term belief in The Howard Hughes Corporation transformed it into a signature holding of Pershing Square.
Controversy around Bill Ackman
• Ackman shorted Herbalife in 2012, calling it a “pyramid scheme,” and placed a $1 billion bet against it.
• The public feud with investor Carl Icahn turned into one of Wall Street’s most dramatic financial battles.
• After five years of losses and failed attempts to sink Herbalife, Bill quietly exited the position in 2018.
Awards and Recognitions received by Bill Ackman
• In 2011, The Economist named Bill among the most influential people in finance worldwide.
• He was listed in Forbes' "Hedge Fund 30" and consistently appears in financial power rankings.
• Ackman’s philanthropic work earned him the "Humanitarian Award" from the Robin Hood Foundation.
Philanthropy and Personal Life of Bill Ackman
• Bill and his family foundation have donated hundreds of millions to education, arts, and social causes.
• He married Neri Oxman, a scientist and designer, in 2019, after his first marriage ended in divorce.
• Ackman once publicly backed marriage equality, becoming one of the few hedge fund leaders to do so early on.
Lesser-Known Facts about Bill Ackman
• Bill once wrote a public letter to Harvard urging it to remove Jeffrey Epstein’s name from donations, sparking national debate.
• He plays piano and has an interest in architecture, especially modernist design and city planning.
• Ackman made headlines by livestreaming his thoughts during the early days of COVID-19, shocking markets temporarily.
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