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{{short description|American billionaire hedge fund manager born 1966}}
{{Use American English|date=May 2023}}
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'''William Albert Ackman''' (born May 11, 1966) is an American billionaire [[hedge fund]] manager, who is the founder and [[chief executive officer]] of [[Pershing Square Capital Management]], a hedge fund management company.<ref name="Reuters2015November23O'DonnellCarl">{{cite news|last1=O'Donnell|first1=Carl|last2=Herbst-Bayliss|first2=Svea|title=Ackman boosts stake in drugmaker Valeant|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-valeant-pharms-ackman/ackman-boosts-stake-in-drugmaker-valeant-idUSKBN0TC2IL20151123|access-date=December 24, 2015|agency=Thomson Reuters|publisher=Reuters|date=November 23, 2015|location=New York, N.Y., United States|language=en|archive-date=November 10, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191110013646/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-valeant-pharms-ackman/ackman-boosts-stake-in-drugmaker-valeant-idUSKBN0TC2IL20151123|url-status=live}}</ref> His investment approach has made him an [[Activist shareholder|activist investor]].<ref>{{cite web|title=What Activist Investors Do, According to Bill Ackman|url=https://finance.yahoo.com/news/activist-investors-according-bill-ackman-220923870.html|access-date=2021-07-20|website=finance.yahoo.com|date=March 25, 2020 |language=en-US|archive-date=July 20, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210720194444/https://finance.yahoo.com/news/activist-investors-according-bill-ackman-220923870.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Bill Ackman: what I think of GameStop and shareholder activism|url=https://www.ii.co.uk/analysis-commentary/bill-ackman-what-i-think-gamestop-and-shareholder-activism-ii515991|access-date=2021-07-20|website=www.ii.co.uk|archive-date=June 21, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210621110934/https://www.ii.co.uk/analysis-commentary/bill-ackman-what-i-think-gamestop-and-shareholder-activism-ii515991|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=English|first=Carleton|title=Activist investor Bill Ackman is now feeling positive about the markets|url=https://www.fnlondon.com/articles/activist-investor-bill-ackman-is-now-feeling-positive-about-the-markets-20200408|access-date=2021-07-20|website=www.fnlondon.com|language=en-GB}}</ref> {{as of|2024|JanuaryJune}}, Ackman's [[net worth]] was estimated at $49.3 billion by ''[[Forbes]]''.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.forbes.com/profile/william-ackman/ | title= William Ackman | access-date=20222024-06-1606 | year=2022 | work=[[Forbes]] | archive-date=June 6, 2020 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200606142535/https://www.forbes.com/profile/william-ackman/ | url-status=live }}</ref>
 
==Early life and education==
Ackman was raised in [[Chappaqua, New York]], the son of Ronnie I. (née Posner) and [[Lawrence D. Ackman|Lawrence David Ackman]], the former chairman of a New York real estate financing firm, Ackman-Ziff Real Estate Group.<ref name="StarTribuneMinnesota2008January13SerresChris">{{cite news|last1=Serres|first1=Chris|title=William Ackman: Targeting Target|url=http://www.startribune.com/business/13715691.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120529164307/http://www.startribune.com/printarticle/?id=13715691 |url-status=dead |archive-date=29 May 2012|access-date=16 May 2009|agency=Star Tribune Media Company, LLC|publisher=StarTribune (Minnesota)|date=13 January 2008|location=United States|language=en}}</ref><ref name="NewYorkTimes1963October7">{{cite news|title=Miss Ronnie I. Posner Bride of L.D. Ackman|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1963/10/07/archives/miss-ronnie-i-posner-bride-of-ld-ackman.html|access-date=9 November 2019|agency=The New York Times Company|page=27|work=The New York Times|date=7 October 1963|language=en|archive-date=July 23, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180723065611/https://www.nytimes.com/1963/10/07/archives/miss-ronnie-i-posner-bride-of-ld-ackman.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://therealdeal.com/2022/06/02/larry-ackman-former-ackman-ziff-ceo-dies/ |title=Larry Ackman, former Ackman-Ziff CEO, dies |date=2022-06-02 |work=[[The Real Deal (magazine)|The Real Deal]] |author=Holden Walter-Warner}}</ref> He is of [[Ashkenazi Jews|Ashkenazi Jewish]] descent.<ref name="NewYorkTimes2019January19MallozziVincent" /><ref>{{Cite news |title= Jews take 5 of top 6 spots in annual list of top US givers |newspaper= [[The Jerusalem Post]] |date= September 2, 2011 |url= http://www.jpost.com/JewishWorld/JewishNews/Article.aspx?id=207507 |archive-date= January 17, 2012 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20120117091735/http://www.jpost.com/JewishWorld/JewishNews/Article.aspx?id=207507 |url-status= live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |first=Alex |last=Joffe |title=Jewish Philanthropy 2.0 |website=ejewishphilanthropy.co |date=February 23, 2011 |url=http://ejewishphilanthropy.com/jewish-philanthropy-2-0 |archive-date=January 21, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120121223537/http://ejewishphilanthropy.com/jewish-philanthropy-2-0/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
 
In 1988, he received a [[Bachelor of Arts]] degree ''[[magna cum laude]]'' in [[social studies]] from [[Harvard College]]. His thesis was titled ''"Scaling the Ivy Wall: The Jewish and Asian American Experience in Harvard Admissions"''.''<ref>{{cite web|last1=Ackman|first1=William Albert|title=Scaling the ivy wall: the Jewish and Asian American experience in Harvard admissions|url=http://classify.oclc.org/classify2/ClassifyDemo?owi=17534608|website=Classify|publisher=OCLC Research|access-date=May 21, 2015|archive-date=December 2, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191202113712/http://classify.oclc.org/classify2/ClassifyDemo?owi=17534608|url-status=live}}</ref> In 1992, he received a [[Master of Business Administration]] degree from [[Harvard Business School]].<ref>[http://www.law.harvard.edu/programs/corp_gov/bio_Ackman.shtml Ackman profile] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160121070524/http://www.law.harvard.edu/programs/corp_gov/bio_Ackman.shtml |date=January 21, 2016 }}, harvard.edu; retrieved December 24, 2015.</ref>
 
==Career==
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In 1992, Ackman founded the investment firm Gotham Partners with fellow Harvard graduate David P. Berkowitz.<ref name="TheWashingtonPost1994July10FromsonBrett">{{cite news|last1=Fromson|first1=Brett|title=The Rookies' Big Score|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/business/1994/07/10/the-rookies-big-score/2e22cacf-a4e4-445c-a077-19518bcddbf9/|access-date=12 November 2019|agency=The Washington Post|newspaper=The Washington Post|date=10 July 1994|location=United States|language=en|url-access=subscription|archive-date=April 8, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190408184654/https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/business/1994/07/10/the-rookies-big-score/2e22cacf-a4e4-445c-a077-19518bcddbf9/|url-status=live}}</ref> The firm made small investments in public companies.<ref name="StarTribuneMinnesota2008January13SerresChris" /> In 1995, Ackman partnered with the insurance and real estate firm [[Leucadia National]] to bid for [[Rockefeller Center]]. Although they did not win the deal, the bid generated interest in Gotham from investors: three years later, Gotham had $500 million in [[assets under management]] (AUM).<ref name="StarTribuneMinnesota2008January13SerresChris" /> By 2002, Gotham had become entrenched in litigation with various external shareholders who also owned an interest in the companies in which Gotham invested.<ref name="StarTribuneMinnesota2008January13SerresChris" />
 
In 2002, Ackman researched [[MBIA]] in order to challenge [[S&P Global Ratings|Standard & Poor]]'s AAA rating of its bonds. HisAt law firma billed himcost overof more than $100,000, forhis law firm copyingcopied 725,000 pages of statements regarding the financial services company to comply with a subpoena.<ref name="mbia-globe-and-mail">{{cite news |url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/mbias-biggest-bear/article667227/ |title=MBIA's biggest bear |date=February 1, 2008 |newspaper=[[The Globe and Mail]] |via=[[Bloomberg News]] |access-date=July 11, 2022 |archive-date=June 8, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220608201331/https://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/mbias-biggest-bear/article667227/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Ackman called for a division between MBIA's structured finance business and its municipal bond insurance business.<ref name="mbia-globe-and-mail" /><ref>{{cite news|url=https://money.cnn.com/2008/02/20/news/companies/mbia.ap/index.htm?postversion=2008022018|title=MBIA: Call to divide not viable|publisher=CNN|date=February 20, 2008|access-date=February 26, 2008|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080227124826/https://money.cnn.com/2008/02/20/news/companies/mbia.ap/index.htm?postversion=2008022018|archive-date=February 27, 2008}}</ref>
 
He argued that MBIA was legally restricted from trading billions of dollars of [[credit default swap]] (CDS) protection that MBIAit had sold against various mortgage-backed [[collateralized debt obligation]]s (CDOs), and was using a second corporation, LaCrosse Financial Products, which MBIA described as an "orphaned transformer". Ackman bought credit default swaps against MBIA corporate debt and sold them for a large profit during the [[financial crisis of 2007–2008]]. He reported covering his short position on MBIA on January 16, 2009, according to the 13D filed with the SEC.<ref name="marketfolly2009January26">{{cite news|title=Bill Ackman's Pershing Square Files 13D on Borders, Covers MBIA Short|url=https://www.marketfolly.com/2009/01/bill-ackmans-pershing-square-files-13d.html|access-date=12 November 2019|agency=marketfolly.com|publisher=market folly|date=26 January 2009|language=en|archive-date=November 12, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191112222808/https://www.marketfolly.com/2009/01/bill-ackmans-pershing-square-files-13d.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
 
In 2003, a feud developed between Ackman and [[Carl Icahn]] over a deal involving Hallwood Realty. They agreed to a "[[Schmuck (pejorative)|shmuck]] insurance" arrangement, under which, if Icahn were to sell the shares within 3 years and made a profit of 10% or more, he and Ackman would split the proceeds. Icahn paid $80 per share. In April 2004, HRPT Property Trust acquired Hallwood, paying $136.16 per share. Under the terms of the contract, Icahn owed Ackman and his investors about $4.5 million. Icahn refused to pay. Ackman sued. Eight years later, Icahn was forced to pay the $4.5 million plus 9% interest per year, by court order.<ref name="BusinessInsider2013January25LopezLinette">{{cite news|last1=Lopez|first1=Linette|title=Here's the 'Shmuck Insurance' Contract that Carl Icahn Just Mentioned on CNBC...|url=https://www.businessinsider.com/ackman-icahn-hallwood-contract-2013-1|access-date=12 February 2018|agency=Business Insider Inc.|publisher=Business Insider|date=25 January 2013|location=United States|language=en|archive-date=November 10, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191110020328/https://www.businessinsider.com/ackman-icahn-hallwood-contract-2013-1|url-status=live}}</ref>
 
===Pershing Square Capital Management===
In 2004,<ref name="Forbes2019November12" /> with $54 million from his personal funds and from his former business partner Leucadia National, Ackman started [[Pershing Square Capital Management]].<ref name="Forbes2019November12" /><ref name="StarTribuneMinnesota2008January13SerresChris" />
 
In 2010 Pershing started buying [[J. C. Penney]] shares, paying an average of $22 for 39 million shares or 18% of J.C. Penney's stock. In August 2013, the two-year campaign to transform the department store came to an abrupt end when Ackman stepped down from the board following a disagreement with fellow board members.<ref name="Reuters2013August13WahbaPhil">{{cite news|last1=Wahba|first1=Phil|last2=Goldstein|first2=Matthew|title=Ackman quits J.C.Penney board, removing distraction|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-jcpenney-ackman/ackman-quits-j-c-penney-board-removing-distraction-idUSBRE97C0AI20130813|access-date=November 9, 2019|agency=Thomson Reuters|publisher=Reuters|date=August 13, 2013|location=New York, NY|archive-date=November 10, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191110014327/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-jcpenney-ackman/ackman-quits-j-c-penney-board-removing-distraction-idUSBRE97C0AI20130813|url-status=live}}</ref>
 
In January 2015, LCH Investments named Ackman one of the world's top 20 hedge fund managers after Pershing Square delivered $4.5 billion in net gains for investors in 2014, bringing the fund's lifetime gains to $11.6 billion since its launch in 2004 through year-end 2014.<ref name="CNBC.com2015January26CosgraveJenny">{{cite news|last1=Cosgrave|first1=Jenny|title=Ackman's returns make him a top 20 fund manager|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2015/01/26/ackmans-returns-make-him-a-top-20-fund-manager.html|access-date=21 March 2017|agency=CNBC|publisher=CNBC.com|date=January 26, 2015|archive-date=August 16, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170816111447/https://www.cnbc.com/2015/01/26/ackmans-returns-make-him-a-top-20-fund-manager.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
[[File:Valeant Pharmaceuticals' Business Model (26410186110).jpg|alt=|thumb|250x250px|Ackman, Valeant CEO Michael Pearson, and Valeant CFO Howard Schiller testifying in front of Congress on April 27, 2016]]
On April 27, 2016, Ackman, along with [[Valeant Pharmaceuticals]]' outgoing CEO, [[J. Michael Pearson]], and the company's former interim CEO, Howard Schiller, testified before the United States Senate Special Committee on Aging.<ref name="BusinessInsider2016April27LopezLinette">{{cite news|last1=Lopez|first1=Linette|title=Bill Ackman and Valeant Execs just got through one of the most brutal Senate hearings we've ever seen|url=https://www.businessinsider.com/live-bill-ackman-and-valeant-execs-get-grilled-by-angry-senators-2016-4|access-date=31 May 2016|agency=Business Insider Inc.|publisher=Business Insider|date=27 April 2016|language=en|archive-date=November 12, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191112205353/https://www.businessinsider.com/live-bill-ackman-and-valeant-execs-get-grilled-by-angry-senators-2016-4|url-status=live}}</ref> The testifying panel answered questions related to the committee's concerns about repercussions to patients and the health care system posed by Valeant's business model and controversial pricing practices.<ref name="BusinessInsider2016April27LopezLinette" /> Ackman opened his testimony saying, "As a shareholder of Valeant, I recognize my investment was an… endorsement of Valeant's strategy."<ref name="BusinessInsider2016April27LopezLinette"/> Ackman sold his remaining 27.2 million share position in Valeant to the investment bank Jefferies for about $300 million in March 2017. It has been estimated that the total cost of the position, including direct stock purchases and 9.1 million shares that were underlying stock options traded with [[Nomura Securities|Nomura]] Global Financial Products, was $4.6 billion, leading to a substantial loss.<ref name="BloombergNews2017March14LevineMatt">{{cite news|last1=Levine|first1=Matt|title=Bill Ackman Is Done Losing Money on Valeant|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/view/articles/2017-03-14/bill-ackman-is-done-losing-money-on-valeant|access-date=17 March 2017|agency=Bloomberg L.P.|publisher=Bloomberg News|date=14 March 2017|language=en|url-access=limited|archive-date=March 16, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170316102248/https://www.bloomberg.com/view/articles/2017-03-14/bill-ackman-is-done-losing-money-on-valeant|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Forbes2017March13VardiNathan">{{cite news|last1=Vardi|first1=Nathan|title=Billionaire Bill Ackman Sells Disastrous Valeant Investment After Nearly $4 Billion Loss|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/nathanvardi/2017/03/13/billionaire-bill-ackman-sells-disastrous-valeant-investment-after-nearly-4-billion-loss/|access-date=12 November 2019|agency=Forbes Media LLC|work=Forbes|date=March 13, 2017|archive-date=March 15, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170315004009/https://www.forbes.com/sites/nathanvardi/2017/03/13/billionaire-bill-ackman-sells-disastrous-valeant-investment-after-nearly-4-billion-loss/|url-status=live}}</ref>
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In December 2012, Ackman issued a research report that criticized [[Herbalife]]'s [[multi-level marketing]] business model, calling it a [[pyramid scheme]].<ref name="NewYorkTimes2012December20AldenWilliam">{{cite news|last1=Alden|first1=William|title=Ackman Outlines Bet Against Herbalife|url=https://dealbook.nytimes.com/2012/12/20/ackman-outlines-bet-against-herbalife|access-date=20 December 2012|agency=The New York Times Company|issue=DealBook|work=The New York Times|date=20 December 2012|location=United States|language=en|archive-date=September 6, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170906041006/https://dealbook.nytimes.com/2012/12/20/ackman-outlines-bet-against-herbalife/|url-status=live}}</ref> Ackman disclosed that his hedge fund, [[Pershing Square Capital Management]], sold short the company's shares directly (not with derivatives) starting in May 2012, causing Herbalife's stock price to drop.
 
A few months after Ackman's initial comments, billionaire investor [[Carl Icahn]] challenged Ackman's comment in a public spat on national TV. Shortly thereafter, Icahn bought shares of Herbalife International (HLF). As Icahn continued to buy up HLF shares, the stock price continued to show strength.<ref>{{cite news|last1=O'Toole|first1=James|title=Icahn challenges Ackman with 13% Herbalife stake|url=https://money.cnn.com/2013/02/14/investing/icahn-herbalife/index.html|access-date=January 22, 2015|work=CNN Money|date=February 14, 2013|archive-date=January 22, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150122053626/http://money.cnn.com/2013/02/14/investing/icahn-herbalife/index.html|url-status=live}}</ref> By May 2013, Icahn owned 16.5% of the company.<ref name="WSJ2013May7BenoitDavid">{{cite news|last1=Benoit|first1=David|title=Carl Icahn Buys More Herbalife|journal=The Wall Street Journal. Eastern Edition|url=https://blogs.wsj.com/moneybeat/2013/05/07/carl-icahn-buys-more-herbalife|access-date=November 9, 2019|agency=Dow Jones & Company Inc|issue=Blogs|publisher=Wall Street Journal|date=May 7, 2013|location=United States|language=en|url-access=subscription|issn=0099-9660|archive-date=November 6, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191106054724/https://blogs.wsj.com/moneybeat/2013/05/07/carl-icahn-buys-more-herbalife/|url-status=live}}</ref> That number had declined to 6.4% by November 2013.<ref name="BloombergNews2013November20StanfordDuane">{{cite news|last1=Stanford|first1=Duane|title=Stiritz Boosts Herbalife Stake, Seeks Strategy Talks|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2013-11-19/stiritz-seeks-herbalife-strategy-talks-as-he-lifts-stake-to-6-4-|access-date=November 12, 2019|agency=Bloomberg L.P.|publisher=Bloomberg News|date=November 20, 2013|url-access=limited|archive-date=December 22, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191222075504/https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2013-11-19/stiritz-seeks-herbalife-strategy-talks-as-he-lifts-stake-to-6-4-|url-status=live}}</ref>
 
In 2014, Ackman spent $50 million on a public relations campaign against Herbalife.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.thestreet.com/story/12780619/2/bill-ackman-says-hes-spent-50-million-on-herbalife-battle.html|title=Bill Ackman Says He's Spent $50 Million on Herbalife Battle|newspaper=Thestreet |date=July 21, 2014 |publisher=The Street|access-date=July 25, 2020|archive-date=September 5, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170905185021/https://www.thestreet.com/story/12780619/2/bill-ackman-says-hes-spent-50-million-on-herbalife-battle.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
 
Former Representative [[Bob Barr]] (R-GA) called on Congress to investigate Ackman's use of public relations and regulatory pressure in his short campaign, and [[Harvey Pitt]], a former chairman of the [[U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission]] (SEC), questioned whether Ackman aimed to [[Short and distort|move the price rather than spread the truth]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Congress Should Launch Investigation of Short Sale Market|url=http://www.rollcall.com/news/congress_should_launch_bipartisan_investigation_of_short_sale_market-241335-1.html|publisher=Roll Call|access-date=June 23, 2015|date=April 20, 2015|archive-date=June 23, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150623145642/http://www.rollcall.com/news/congress_should_launch_bipartisan_investigation_of_short_sale_market-241335-1.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="NewYorkTimes2014March9SchmidtMichael">{{cite news|last1=Schmidt|first1=Michael|title=After Big Bet, Hedge Fund Pulls the Levers of Power|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2014/03/10/business/staking-1-billion-that-herbalife-will-fail-then-ackman-lobbying-to-bring-it-down.html|access-date=24 March 2014|agency=The New York Times Company|work=The New York Times|date=9 March 2014|location=United States|language=en|archive-date=January 14, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170114034542/https://www.nytimes.com/2014/03/10/business/staking-1-billion-that-herbalife-will-fail-then-ackman-lobbying-to-bring-it-down.html|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2014, [[Ed Markey|Senator Ed Markey]] wrote letters to federal regulators, including the [[Federal Trade Commission]] (FTC) and the SEC, demanding they open an investigation into Herbalife's business practices. The day the letters were released, the company's stock dropped 14%. Markey later told the ''[[Boston Globe]]'' that his staff had not informed him that Ackman stood to benefit financially from his actions and defended the letters as a matter of consumer rights.<ref>{{cite news|title=Markey says he was unaware actions would aid firm's rival|url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/news/politics/2014/03/10/senator-edward-markey-wrote-letters-that-helped-activist-investor-who-sought-drive-down-herbalife-stock/KuUVnx0Rk1apbrWZmGDxWJ/story.html|work=[[The Boston Globe]]|access-date=July 8, 2015|date=March 10, 2014|archive-date=July 8, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150708203617/https://www.bostonglobe.com/news/politics/2014/03/10/senator-edward-markey-wrote-letters-that-helped-activist-investor-who-sought-drive-down-herbalife-stock/KuUVnx0Rk1apbrWZmGDxWJ/story.html|url-status=live}}</ref> ''[[The New York Times]]'' reported that Ackman had donated $32,000 to the [[Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee]] on 30 April 2013, the same day Markey won [[2013 United States Senate special election in Massachusetts|the Democratic primary]] for the Senate special election in Massachusetts. The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee subsequently donated a significant sum to Markey's campaign just over a month later.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://archive.nytimes.com/dealbook.nytimes.com/2014/01/23/senator-calls-for-inquiry-into-herbalife/|title=Senator Is Lobbying for Inquiry on Herbalife|newspaper=The New York Times|date=January 23, 2014|access-date=October 25, 2023|first1=William|last1=Alden|first2=Michael S.|last2=Schmidt|archive-date=January 23, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240123034900/https://archive.nytimes.com/dealbook.nytimes.com/2014/01/23/senator-calls-for-inquiry-into-herbalife/|url-status=live}}</ref>
 
In March 2014, ''The New York Times'' reported that Ackman had employed tactics to undermine public confidence in Herbalife to lower its stock price, including pressuring state and federal regulators to investigate the company, paying individuals to travel to and participate in rallies against it, and boosting Pershing Square's spending on donations to nonprofit Latino organizations. According to the article, groups such as the [[Hispanic Federation]] and the [[National Consumers League]] sent federal regulators numerous letters. "Each person contacted by ''The Times'' acknowledged in interviews that they wrote the letters after being lobbied by representatives from Pershing Square, or said they did not remember writing the letters at all. Mr. Ackman's team also then started to make payments totaling about $130,000 to some of these groups, including the Hispanic Federation — money he said was being used to help find victims of Herbalife."<ref name="NewYorkTimes2014March9SchmidtMichael"/>
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By December 2, 2014, stock prices had fallen nearly 50% to $42.08 from their January 8 high of $83.48.<ref name=stempel>{{cite news|last1=Stempel|first1=Jonathan|title=Herbalife wins court approval for class-action settlement|url=https://news.yahoo.com/herbalife-wins-court-approval-class-action-settlement-230953489--sector.html|access-date=6 December 2014|work=Yahoo! News|agency=Reuters|date=December 3, 2014|archive-date=October 2, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191002005557/https://news.yahoo.com/herbalife-wins-court-approval-class-action-settlement-230953489--sector.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Later that month, Pershing Square Capital released a 2005 Herbalife distributor training session, in which an employee described high turnover rates and implied that the company's business model was not sustainable.<ref name="BusinessInsider2014December17">{{cite news|title=Top Herbalife Salesman Acknowledges High Failure Rate In Video|url=http://www.businessinsider.com/r-top-herbalife-salesman-acknowledges-high-failure-rate-in-video-2014-12|access-date=19 December 2014|agency=Business Insider Inc.|publisher=Business Insider|date=17 December 2014|language=en|archive-date=October 2, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191002005615/https://www.businessinsider.com/r-top-herbalife-salesman-acknowledges-high-failure-rate-in-video-2014-12|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=whitehouse>{{cite news|last1=Whitehouse|first1=Kaja|title=Bill Ackman takes shot at Herbalife with new video|url=http://americasmarkets.usatoday.com/2014/12/17/bill-ackman-releases-internal-herbalife-video/|access-date=19 December 2014|work=USA Today|date=17 December 2014|archive-date=December 17, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141217201758/http://americasmarkets.usatoday.com/2014/12/17/bill-ackman-releases-internal-herbalife-video/|url-status=live}}</ref> In an interview with ''Bloomberg'', Ackman predicted that the company would experience an "implosion" in 2015 or early 2016, citing federal scrutiny and debt.<ref name=whitehouse/><ref name="BloombergNews2017December19StanfordDuane">{{cite news|last1=Stanford|first1=Duane|title=Ackman Says Former Herbalife Workers Turn State's Evidence|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-12-17/ackman-says-former-herbalife-employees-turning-state-s-evidence.html|access-date=December 17, 2014|agency=Bloomberg L.P.|publisher=Bloomberg News|date=December 19, 2017|url-access=limited|archive-date=December 18, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141218103013/http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-12-17/ackman-says-former-herbalife-employees-turning-state-s-evidence.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
 
On March 12, 2015, ''[[The Wall Street Journal]]'' reported that prosecutors in the Manhattan U.S. attorney's office and the FBI were investigating whether people hired by Ackman "made false statements about Herbalife's business model to regulators and others in order to spur investigations into the company and lower its stock price".<ref name="BusinessInsider2015March13LopezLinette">{{cite news|last1=Lopez|first1=Linette|title=REPORT: The FBI is investigating Bill Ackman over Herbalife|url=https://www.businessinsider.com.au/the-fbi-is-investigating-bill-ackman-over-herbalife-2015-3|access-date=June 16, 2015|agency=Business Insider Inc.|publisher=Business Insider|date=March 13, 2015|archive-date=June 17, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150617081609/http://www.businessinsider.com.au/the-fbi-is-investigating-bill-ackman-over-herbalife-2015-3|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="WSJ2015March13HolmErik">{{cite news|last1=Holm|first1=Erik|title=Bill Ackman Not Backing Down On Herbalife|journal=The Wall Street Journal. Eastern Edition|url=https://blogs.wsj.com/moneybeat/2015/03/13/bill-ackman-not-backing-down-on-herbalife|access-date=16 June 2015|agency=Dow Jones & Company Inc|issue=MoneyBeatBlogs|publisher=Wall Street Journal|date=March 13, 2015|location=United States|language=en|url-access=subscription|issn=0099-9660|archive-date=July 12, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170712025624/https://blogs.wsj.com/moneybeat/2015/03/13/bill-ackman-not-backing-down-on-herbalife/|url-status=live}}</ref> In March 2015, U.S. District Judge Dale Fischer, in [[Los Angeles]], California, dismissed a suit filed by Herbalife investors alleging the company is operating an illegal pyramid scheme. In response to Fischer's ruling, Herbalife stock rose approximately 13%.<ref name="YahooFinance2015March20Zacks Equity Research">{{cite news|last1=Zacks Equity Research|title=Herbalife Soars as Judge Dismisses Lawsuit (revised)|url=https://finance.yahoo.com/news/herbalife-soars-judge-dismisses-lawsuit-175205646.html|access-date=23 March 2015|agency=Verizon Media|publisher=Yahoo Finance|date=20 March 2015|language=en|archive-date=July 9, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170709015136/https://finance.yahoo.com/news/herbalife-soars-judge-dismisses-lawsuit-175205646.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Herbalife and the FTC reached a settlement agreement in July 2016, ending the agency's investigation into the company. On the day of the settlement, ''[[Fortune (magazine)|Fortune]]'' estimated that Ackman lost $500 million.<ref name="Fortune2016July15WiecznerJen">{{cite news|last1=Wieczner|first1=Jen|title=The Real Winners and Losers in the Herbalife-Bill Ackman War|url=https://fortune.com/2016/07/15/herbalife-bill-ackman-settlement-ftc/|access-date=12 November 2019|agency=Fortune Media IP Limited|publisher=Fortune|date=15 July 2016|language=en|archive-date=November 12, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191112225401/https://fortune.com/2016/07/15/herbalife-bill-ackman-settlement-ftc/|url-status=live}}</ref>
 
Ackman's position on Herbalife led to a discussion on live television with Herbalife supporter [[Carl Icahn]] for nearly half an hour on [[CNBC]] on January 25, 2013.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://video.cnbc.com/gallery/?video=3000144252&play=1|title=The Icahn-Ackman Feud|publisher=CNBC|access-date=July 28, 2014|archive-date=February 1, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130201021545/http://video.cnbc.com/gallery/?play=1&video=3000144252|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://dealbreaker.com/2013/01/men-dislike-each-other-might-also-have-opinions-on-a-stock|title=Men Dislike Each Other, Might Also Have Opinions On A Stock|newspaper=Dealbreaker |publisher=Dealbreaker.com|date=January 25, 2013|access-date=July 28, 2014|archive-date=April 8, 2013|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130408215322/http://dealbreaker.com/2013/01/men-dislike-each-other-might-also-have-opinions-on-a-stock/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="VanityFair2013March7CohanWilliam">{{cite news|last1=Cohan|first1=William|title=The Big Short War|url=https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2013/04/bill-ackman-dan-loeb-herbalife|access-date=July 31, 2015|agency=Condé Nast|publisher=Vanity Fair|date=March 7, 2013|url-access=limited|archive-date=August 9, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150809062819/http://www.vanityfair.com/news/2013/04/bill-ackman-dan-loeb-herbalife|url-status=live}}</ref> During the segment, Icahn called Ackman "a crybaby in the schoolyard" and claimed that going public with his short position would eventually force Ackman into the "mother of all short squeezes". On November 22, 2013, Ackman admitted on Bloomberg Television that Pershing Square's open short position in Herbalife was "$400 million to $500 million" in the red, but that he wouldn't be squeezed out and would hold the short "to the end of the earth".<ref name="NewYorkTimes2013November22StevensonAlexandra">{{cite news|last1=Stevenson|first1=Alexandra|title=Ackman Vows to Take Bet Against Herbalife 'to the End of the Earth'|url=https://dealbook.nytimes.com/2013/11/22/ackman-vows-to-take-bet-against-herbalife-to-the-end-of-the-earth|access-date=November 23, 2013|agency=The New York Times Company|issue=DealBook|work=The New York Times|date=November 22, 2013|location=United States|archive-date=December 4, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131204022051/http://dealbook.nytimes.com/2013/11/22/ackman-vows-to-take-bet-against-herbalife-to-the-end-of-the-earth/|url-status=live}}</ref>
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====COVID-19 response====
Ahead of the [[2020 stock market crash]], Ackman hedged Pershing Square's portfolio, investing $27 million to purchase credit protection, insuring the portfolio against steep market losses.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.pershingsquareholdings.com/pershing-square-capital-management-l-p-releases-letter-to-investors/|title=Pershing Square Capital Management, L.P. Releases Letter to Investors|date=2020-03-25|website=Pershing Square Holdings, Ltd.|language=en-US|access-date=2020-03-26|archive-date=June 10, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200610201520/https://www.pershingsquareholdings.com/pershing-square-capital-management-l-p-releases-letter-to-investors/|url-status=live}}</ref> Pershing Square first disclosed the hedge on March 3, 2020. According to Reuters, "Ackman said hedging was preferable to selling off his portfolio of companies whose businesses are otherwise strong."<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-hedgefunds-ackman-idUSKBN20Q34H|title=Ackman hedges to protect against coronavirus' 'negative' impact|first=Svea|last=Herbst-Bayliss|date=March 3, 2020|publisher=[[Reuters]]|access-date=October 24, 2022|archive-date=October 25, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221025140100/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-hedgefunds-ackman-idUSKBN20Q34H|url-status=live}}</ref> The hedge was effective, generating $2.6 billion in less than one month.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Driebusch|first=Corrie|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/ackman-has-big-win-on-bearish-market-bet-11585174856|title=Ackman Has Big Win on Bearish Market Bet|date=2020-03-25|work=[[The Wall Street Journal]]|access-date=2020-03-26|language=en-US|issn=0099-9660|archive-date=June 4, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200604185504/https://www.wsj.com/articles/ackman-has-big-win-on-bearish-market-bet-11585174856|url-status=live}}</ref>
 
On March 18, 2020, in ana emotionalphone interview with [[CNBC]], Ackman called upon President [[Donald Trump]] for a "30-day shutdown" of the American economy to slow the spread of [[Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2|coronavirus]] and minimize loss of life and ensuing economic destruction resulting from the shutdown.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2020/03/18/bill-ackman-advises-trump-to-shut-down-us-says-market-would-soar.html|title=Investor Bill Ackman advises Trump to shut down the country, saying stock market 'will soar'|last=Franck|first=Thomas|date=2020-03-18|website=CNBC|access-date=2020-03-26|archive-date=April 1, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200401234546/https://www.cnbc.com/2020/03/18/bill-ackman-advises-trump-to-shut-down-us-says-market-would-soar.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Ackman warned that without intervention, hotel stocks were "going to zero" and said that America could "end as we know it". He also cautioned U.S. companies to stop stock buyback programs because "hell is coming".<ref>{{cite web|last1=Franck|first1=Thomas|title=Bill Ackman says accusations he tried to drive down market in interview are 'absurd'|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2020/03/27/bill-ackman-says-his-cnbc-interview-was-bullish-denies-harming-market.html|website=CNBC|date=March 27, 2020 |access-date=April 14, 2020|archive-date=June 19, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200619131819/https://www.cnbc.com/2020/03/27/bill-ackman-says-his-cnbc-interview-was-bullish-denies-harming-market.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
 
Ackman later received criticism for actively buying discounted equity stakes in the very companies he was warning could fail;<ref>{{cite web|last1=Neate|first1=Rupert|title='Hell is coming': how Bill Ackman's TV interview tanked the markets and made him $2.6bn|url=https://www.theguardian.com/business/2020/mar/27/hell-is-coming-how-bill-ackmans-tv-interview-tanked-the-markets-and-made-him-26bn|website=The Guardian|date=March 27, 2020 |access-date=April 20, 2020|archive-date=July 2, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200702111726/https://www.theguardian.com/business/2020/mar/27/hell-is-coming-how-bill-ackmans-tv-interview-tanked-the-markets-and-made-him-26bn|url-status=live}}</ref> however, Ackman already had realized roughly half of the gains before appearing during the CNBC interview.<ref>{{cite web|last1=English|first1=Carleton|title=Bill Ackman Defends CNBC Interview and $2.6 Billion Profit in Letter to Investors|url=https://www.barrons.com/articles/bill-ackman-defends-cnbc-interview-and-2-6-billion-profit-51585323504|website=Barron's|access-date=May 31, 2020|archive-date=June 21, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200621055436/https://www.barrons.com/articles/bill-ackman-defends-cnbc-interview-and-2-6-billion-profit-51585323504|url-status=live}}</ref>
 
In a November 2020 interview, Ackman said that he had grown concerned about COVID-19 because he had seen the film ''[[Contagion (2011 film)|Contagion]]''.<ref>{{cite web|last=GmbH|first=finanzen net|title=Billionaire investor Bill Ackman discussed his pandemic hedge, praised Trump, and explained his Berkshire Hathaway exit in a recent interview. Here are the 19 best quotes.|url=https://www.businessinsider.com/bill-ackman-pershing-square-pandemic-hedge-trump-buffett-best-quotes-2020-11|access-date=2020-11-27|website=markets.businessinsider.com|language=en-us|archive-date=November 19, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201119112704/https://www.businessinsider.com/bill-ackman-pershing-square-pandemic-hedge-trump-buffett-best-quotes-2020-11|url-status=live}}</ref>
 
==Investment style==
Ackman has said that his most successful investments have always been controversial, and that his first rule of activist investing is to "make a bold call that nobody believes in".<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ze6dgTq7nn8 |title=Bill Ackman's Rules For Investing Like a Maverick |website=YouTube |date=May 12, 2014 |access-date=2020-07-26 |archive-date=June 19, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200619122758/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ze6dgTq7nn8 |url-status=live }}</ref>
 
His most notable market plays include shorting [[MBIA]]'s bonds during the [[financial crisis of 2007–2008]], his [[proxy fight]] with [[Canadian Pacific Railway]],<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/activist-william-ackman-takes-stake-in-canadian-pacific-11646671278 |title=William Ackman Takes Stake in Canadian Pacific |work=[[The Wall Street Journal]] |date=7 March 2022 |first=Jacquie |last=McNish |archive-url=https://archive.today/20220308021731/https://www.wsj.com/articles/activist-william-ackman-takes-stake-in-canadian-pacific-11646671278 |archive-date=8 March 2022 |url-access=limited}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2022/03/12/ackmans-pershing-square-is-back-at-canadian-pacific-heres-whats-ahead.html |title=Ackman's Pershing Square is back at Canadian Pacific |date=12 March 2022 |work=[[CNBC]] |first=Kenneth |last=Squire |access-date=July 12, 2022 |archive-date=July 12, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220712040507/https://www.cnbc.com/2022/03/12/ackmans-pershing-square-is-back-at-canadian-pacific-heres-whats-ahead.html |url-status=live }}</ref> and his stakes in the [[Target Corporation]], [[Valeant Pharmaceuticals]],<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/nathanvardi/2017/03/13/billionaire-bill-ackman-sells-disastrous-valeant-investment-after-nearly-4-billion-loss/ |title=Billionaire Bill Ackman Sells Disastrous Valeant Investment After Nearly $4 Billion Loss |work=[[Forbes]] |date=13 March 2017 |first=Nathan |last=Vardi |access-date=March 14, 2017 |archive-date=March 15, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170315004009/https://www.forbes.com/sites/nathanvardi/2017/03/13/billionaire-bill-ackman-sells-disastrous-valeant-investment-after-nearly-4-billion-loss/ |url-status=live }}</ref> and [[Chipotle Mexican Grill]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://fortune.com/2022/04/20/bill-ackman-netflix-sell-off-buying-opportunity/ |title=Bill Ackman bet $1.1 billion on Netflix months ago and now he's taking a beating. But the famed investor has doubled down before—and come out ahead |date=April 20, 2022 |first=Chris |last=Morris |work=[[Fortune (magazine)|Fortune]] |access-date=July 12, 2022 |archive-date=July 12, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220712062724/https://fortune.com/2022/04/20/bill-ackman-netflix-sell-off-buying-opportunity/ |url-status=live }}</ref> From 2012 to 2018, Ackman held a US$1 billion [[Short (finance)|short]] against the nutrition company [[Herbalife]], a company he has described as a [[pyramid scheme]] designed as a [[multi-level marketing]] firm.<ref name="Fortune2015September9ParloffRoger">{{cite news|last1=Parloff|first1=Roger|title=The siege of Herbalife|url=https://fortune.com/2015/09/09/the-siege-of-herbalife/|access-date=21 June 2017|agency=Fortune Media IP Limited|publisher=Fortune|date=9 September 2015|language=en|archive-date=December 5, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191205141118/https://fortune.com/2015/09/09/the-siege-of-herbalife/|url-status=live}}</ref> His efforts were reported in the documentary film ''[[Betting on Zero]]''.<ref name="TheGuardian2017April11CarrollRory">{{cite news|last1=Carroll|first1=Rory|title=Betting on Zero: Herbalife doc feeds investors' feud as director claims 'dirty tricks'|url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2017/apr/11/herbalife-documentary-betting-on-zero|access-date=6 December 2017|agency=Guardian News and Media Limited|work=The Guardian|date=11 April 2017|language=en|archive-date=March 28, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200328014226/https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2017/apr/11/herbalife-documentary-betting-on-zero|url-status=live}}</ref>
 
After weak performance in 2015–2018, Ackman told investors in January 2018 that he was going to go back to basics by cutting staff, ending investor visits that were eating into his time, and hunkering down in the office to do research. The next year, Pershing Square returned 58.1%, which Reuters says qualified it as "one of the world's best performing hedge funds" for 2019.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-hedgefunds-ackman-idUSKBN1Z81UT|title=Ackman avoids limelight even as Pershing Square posts record 2019|newspaper=Reuters |date=January 9, 2020|via=www.reuters.com|access-date=July 26, 2020|archive-date=March 25, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200325184428/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-hedgefunds-ackman-idUSKBN1Z81UT|url-status=live}}</ref>
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==Philanthropy==
HeAckman is a signatory of [[The Giving Pledge]], committing himself to give away at least 50% of his wealth by the end of his life to charitable causes.<ref>[http://jewishvoiceny.com/index.php?view=article&catid=96%3Abusiness&id=995%3Ajewish-billionaires-join-group-pledging-majority-of-their-wealth-to-charity&tmpl=component&print=1&page=&option=com_content&Itemid=279 Jewish Voice New York: "Jewish Billionaires Join Group Pledging Majority of Their Wealth to Charity" by Sholom Schreiber] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130625082131/http://jewishvoiceny.com/index.php?view=article&catid=96%3Abusiness&id=995%3Ajewish-billionaires-join-group-pledging-majority-of-their-wealth-to-charity&tmpl=component&print=1&page=&option=com_content&Itemid=279|date=June 25, 2013}} April 25, 2005</ref> He has given to charitable causes such as the [[Center for Jewish History]],<ref>[http://www.cjh.org/p/14 The Center For Jewish History: "Single Largest Fund-Raising Effort Since Building was Completed in 2000"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130117020203/http://www.cjh.org/p/14 |date=January 17, 2013 }} January 24, 2011</ref> where he spearheaded a successful effort to retire $30 million in debt, personally contributing $6.8 million.<ref name= CoP>[http://philanthropy.com/article/A-Brash-Hedge-Fund-Manager/126211/ The Chronicle of Philanthropy: "A Brash Hedge-Fund Manager Applies His Tactics to Philanthropy" By Caroline Preston] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121102165533/http://philanthropy.com/article/A-Brash-Hedge-Fund-Manager/126211/ |date=November 2, 2012 }} February 6, 2011</ref><ref>[http://www.businessinsider.com/wall-street-weird-charity-donations-say-about-them?op=1 Business Insider: "What The Richest People On Wall Street's Charity Donations Say About Them" by Mamta Badkar and Courtney Comstock] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130514235954/http://www.businessinsider.com/wall-street-weird-charity-donations-say-about-them?op=1 |date=May 14, 2013 }} November 12, 2010</ref> The donation, along with those of [[Bruce Berkowitz]], founder of Fairholme Capital Management, and Joseph Steinberg, president of [[Leucadia National]], were the three largest individual gifts the center has ever received.<ref>[http://www.thejewishweek.com/news/new_york/history_center_black The Jewish Week: "History Center In The Black" by Tamar Snyder] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121021095723/http://www.thejewishweek.com/news/new_york/history_center_black |date=October 21, 2012 }} January 25, 2011</ref> Ackman's foundation donated $1.1 million to the [[Innocence Project]] in New York City and [[Centurion Ministries]] in Princeton, New Jersey.<ref name="CoP" />
 
Ackman has given to charitable causes such as the [[Center for Jewish History]],<ref>[http://www.cjh.org/p/14 The Center For Jewish History: "Single Largest Fund-Raising Effort Since Building was Completed in 2000"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130117020203/http://www.cjh.org/p/14 |date=January 17, 2013 }} January 24, 2011</ref> where he spearheaded a successful effort to retire $30 million in debt, personally contributing $6.8 million.<ref name= CoP>[http://philanthropy.com/article/A-Brash-Hedge-Fund-Manager/126211/ The Chronicle of Philanthropy: "A Brash Hedge-Fund Manager Applies His Tactics to Philanthropy" By Caroline Preston] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121102165533/http://philanthropy.com/article/A-Brash-Hedge-Fund-Manager/126211/ |date=November 2, 2012 }} February 6, 2011</ref><ref>[http://www.businessinsider.com/wall-street-weird-charity-donations-say-about-them?op=1 Business Insider: "What The Richest People On Wall Street's Charity Donations Say About Them" by Mamta Badkar and Courtney Comstock] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130514235954/http://www.businessinsider.com/wall-street-weird-charity-donations-say-about-them?op=1 |date=May 14, 2013 }} November 12, 2010</ref> The donation, along with those of [[Bruce Berkowitz]], founder of Fairholme Capital Management, and Joseph Steinberg, president of [[Leucadia National]], were the three largest individual gifts the center has ever received.<ref>[http://www.thejewishweek.com/news/new_york/history_center_black The Jewish Week: "History Center In The Black" by Tamar Snyder] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121021095723/http://www.thejewishweek.com/news/new_york/history_center_black |date=October 21, 2012 }} January 25, 2011</ref>
 
Ackman's foundation donated $1.1 million to the [[Innocence Project]] in New York City and [[Centurion Ministries]] in Princeton, New Jersey.<ref name="CoP" />
 
In 2006, Ackman, and then wife Karen, founded the Pershing Square Foundation to support innovation in economic development, education, healthcare, human rights, arts and urban development.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://pershingsquarefoundation.org/fund/our-founders/|title=Founders|publisher=Pershing Square Foundation website|access-date=July 28, 2015|archive-date=July 6, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150706062747/http://pershingsquarefoundation.org/fund/our-founders/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://jewishbusinessnews.com/2013/02/03/the-fighter-%d7%9c%d7%99%d7%a0%d7%a7-%d7%91%d7%99%d7%9c-%d7%90%d7%a7%d7%9e%d7%9f/|title=Bill Ackman: The fighter|date=2013-02-03|website=Jewish Business News|language=en-US|access-date=2019-05-23|archive-date=May 23, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190523193606/https://jewishbusinessnews.com/2013/02/03/the-fighter-%25D7%259C%25D7%2599%25D7%25A0%25D7%25A7-%25D7%2591%25D7%2599%25D7%259C-%25D7%2590%25D7%25A7%25D7%259E%25D7%259F/|url-status=live}}</ref> The foundation is a major donor to [[Planned Parenthood]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://pershingsquarefoundation.org/portfolio-organization/planned-parenthood-2/|title=Planned Parenthood|website=Pershing Square Foundation|language=en-US|access-date=2020-02-09|archive-date=January 27, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200127191122/http://pershingsquarefoundation.org/portfolio-organization/planned-parenthood-2/|url-status=live}}</ref> Since its inception, the foundation has committed more than $400 million in grants since 2006.<ref name="NewYorkTimes2019January19MallozziVincent">{{cite news|last1=Mallozzi|first1=Vincent|title=As If by Design, Their Connection Was Inevitable|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/01/19/fashion/weddings/as-if-by-design-their-connection-was-inevitable.html|access-date=23 May 2019|agency=The New York Times Company|page=13|work=The New York Times|date=19 January 2019|location=New York, N.Y., United States|language=en|archive-date=March 17, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190317233552/https://www.nytimes.com/2019/01/19/fashion/weddings/as-if-by-design-their-connection-was-inevitable.html|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2011, the Ackmans were on ''[[The Chronicle of Philanthropy]]''{{'}}s "Philanthropy 50" list of the most generous donors.<ref name="Chronicle of Philanthropy's Philanthropy 502">{{cite web|url=http://philanthropy.com/article/philanthropy50/126127|title=Philanthropy 50|date=February 6, 2011|publisher=Philanthropy.com|access-date=July 28, 2014|archive-date=August 12, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140812130935/http://philanthropy.com/article/philanthropy50/126127/|url-status=live}}</ref>
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In July 2014, [[Challenged Athletes Foundation]], which provides sports equipment to those with physical disabilities, honored Ackman at a gala fundraiser at the Waldorf Astoria hotel in New York City for helping raise a record $2.3 million.<ref name="CAF">{{cite news|last1=Wieczner|first1=Jen|title=New hedgie standoff: 'frenemies' Bill Ackman and Dan Loeb compete in charitable giving|url=http://fortune.com/2014/07/21/bill-ackman-and-dan-loeb-compete-in-charitable-giving/|access-date=June 9, 2016|work=Fortune|date=July 21, 2014|archive-date=March 12, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160312060119/http://fortune.com/2014/07/21/bill-ackman-and-dan-loeb-compete-in-charitable-giving/|url-status=live}}</ref>
 
On March 15, 2021, he announced that he donated 26.5 million shares in South Korean e-commerce company [[Coupang]], valued at $1.36 billion, to three entities, one of them his own foundation.<ref>{{cite web|title=Billionaire Ackman donates millions of Coupang shares to foundation, others|url=https://finance.yahoo.com/news/billionaire-ackman-donates-millions-coupang-143751376.html|access-date=2021-03-15|website=finance.yahoo.com|date=March 15, 2021 |language=en-US|archive-date=March 15, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210315150312/https://finance.yahoo.com/news/billionaire-ackman-donates-millions-coupang-143751376.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
 
In December 2022, Ackman auctioned a luncheon with himself for charity in partnership with the [[David Lynch Foundation]]. The proceeds would go toward helping "New York's frontline healthcare workers, police and veterans who battle anxiety, depression, addiction and suicidality every day", with Ackman matching the winning bid to support the foundation. The highest winning bid over prior instances was $210,000.<ref>{{cite web |last=Paulina |first=Cachero |date=December 8, 2022 |title=Lunch With Billionaire Investor Bill Ackman Will Cost You at Least $25,000 |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-12-08/charity-lunch-auction-bids-to-dine-with-bill-ackman-top-25-000 |work=[[Bloomberg News]] |url-access=limited |archive-url=https://archive.today/20221209011228/https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-12-08/charity-lunch-auction-bids-to-dine-with-bill-ackman-top-25-000 |archive-date=December 9, 2022 |url-status=live}}</ref>
 
Ackman is a supporter of [[David M. Sabatini]], a biologist who was previously fired by the [[Howard Hughes Medical Institute]] and resigned from the [[Whitehead Institute]] and MIT due to allegations and investigations of sexual misconduct. On March 1, 2022, at a Pershing Square Foundation event, he delivered remarks about what he called Sabatini's unfair treatment.<ref>{{cite news |last=Wadman |first=Meredith |date=April 25, 2022 |title=NYU may hire biologist pushed out of MIT, Whitehead for sexual misconduct |work=Science |url=https://www.science.org/content/article/nyu-may-hire-biologist-pushed-mit-whitehead-sexual-misconduct |access-date=February 3, 2023 |archive-date=February 3, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230203131358/https://www.science.org/content/article/nyu-may-hire-biologist-pushed-mit-whitehead-sexual-misconduct |url-status=live }}</ref> In February 2023, Ackman announced that his foundation and an anonymous donor would together fund Sabatini US$25 million over five years to establish and run a new research laboratory.<ref>{{cite tweet |last1=Ackman |first1=Bill |date=February 2, 2023 |title=I am pleased to announce that last night at @PershingSqFdn scientific advisors dinner, we announced that we found a 50% funding partner for the new Sabatini lab.The new lab now has $5m of funding per year for five years. David is now making launch preparations for the lab. Allez! |number=1621253515271094274 |user=billackman |access-date=February 2, 2023 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=David Sabatini, biologist fired for sexual misconduct, lands millions from private donors to start new lab |url=https://www.science.org/content/article/sabatini-biologist-fired-sexual-misconduct-lands-millions-private-donors-start-new-lab |last=Wadman |first=Meredith |date=February 3, 2023 |access-date=April 11, 2023 |work=Science |publisher=[[American Association for the Advancement of Science]] |archive-date=March 31, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230331030238/https://www.science.org/content/article/sabatini-biologist-fired-sexual-misconduct-lands-millions-private-donors-start-new-lab |url-status=live }}</ref>
 
==Personal views==
On October 8, 2023, following the onset of the [[Israel–Hamas war]] after the [[2023 Hamas-led attack on Israel|Hamas-led attack on Israel]], several Harvard undergraduate student groups signed a letter condemning the Israeli state. The statement held the "Israeli regime entirely responsible for all unfolding violence," declared that millions of Palestinians in Gaza have been "forced to live in an open-air prison," and called on Harvard to "take action to stop the ongoing annihilation of Palestinians."
 
In response, Ackman called for the publication of the names of all students involved in signing the letter so that he could ensure his company and others do not "inadvertently hire" any of the signatories. Ackman posted, "One should not be able to hide behind a corporate shield when issuing statements supporting the actions of terrorists," and the names "should be made public so their views are publicly known".<ref>{{Cite web |last=Egan |first=Matt |date=2023-10-11 |title=Harvard student groups issued an anti-Israel statement. CEOs want them blacklisted {{!}} CNN Business |url=https://www.cnn.com/2023/10/11/business/harvard-israel-hamas-ceos-students/index.html |access-date=2023-10-13 |website=CNN |language=en |archive-date=October 13, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231013185901/https://www.cnn.com/2023/10/11/business/harvard-israel-hamas-ceos-students/index.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
Ackman's stance was supported by other CEOs such as Jonathan Neman, David Duel and Jake Wurzak.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/brianbushard/2023/10/10/billionaire-ackman-others-pledge-they-wont-hire-harvard-students-who-signed-letter-criticizing-israel/?sh=1bd3a4da4cc8|title=Billionaire Ackman, Others Pledge They Won't Hire Harvard Students Who Signed Letter Blaming Israel For Hamas Attack|work=Forbes|access-date=17 October 2023|archive-date=December 8, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231208090556/https://www.forbes.com/sites/brianbushard/2023/10/10/billionaire-ackman-others-pledge-they-wont-hire-harvard-students-who-signed-letter-criticizing-israel/?sh=1bd3a4da4cc8|url-status=live}}</ref> Former Harvard president [[Lawrence Summers]], though agreeing with Ackman on the need to look at employees' political views, called Ackman's request for a list of names "the stuff of [[Joe McCarthy]]".<ref>{{Cite web |last=Teo |first=Kai Xiang |title=Former Harvard president Larry Summers thinks Bill Ackman asking for lists of student names is the 'stuff of Joe McCarthy' |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/harvard-larry-summers-bill-ackman-israel-hamas-student-names-list-2023-10 |access-date=2023-10-17 |website=Business Insider |language=en-US |archive-date=October 17, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231017231841/https://www.businessinsider.com/harvard-larry-summers-bill-ackman-israel-hamas-student-names-list-2023-10 |url-status=live }}</ref>
 
In November 2023, Ackman defended [[Elon Musk]] after the latter expressed agreement with a user who asserted that "Jewish communities" supported "hordes of minorities flooding their country" and pushed "dialectical hatred against whites", describing it as "shoot from the hip commentary".<ref>{{Cite news |last=Squire |first=Paul |title=Why Bill Ackman says Harvard needs to answer for antisemitism, but says Elon Musk's comments are OK |url= https://www.businessinsider.com/bill-ackman-harvard-upenn-antisemitism-elon-musk-x-2023-12 |date=December 8, 2023 |website=Business Insider |language=en-US |access-date=December 9, 2023 |archive-date=December 9, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231209062803/https://www.businessinsider.com/bill-ackman-harvard-upenn-antisemitism-elon-musk-x-2023-12 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |title=Jewish communties [sic] have been pushing the exact kind of dialectical hatred against whites that they claim to want people to stop using against them. I'm deeply disinterested in giving the tiniest shit now about western Jewish populations coming to the disturbing realization that those hordes of minorities [they supported] flooding their country don't exactly like them too much. You want truth said to your face, there it is. |date=November 15, 2023 |url=https://twitter.com/breakingbaht/status/1724892689160945982| |website=Twitter |access-date=December 9, 2023 |archive-date=December 9, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231209062803/https://twitter.com/breakingbaht/status/1724892689160945982 |url-status=live }}</ref>
 
Ackman also engaged in a campaign to remove [[Claudine Gay]] from her position as Harvard's president. He argued that her response to antisemitism was insufficient and amplified allegations that she engaged in [[plagiarism]].<ref>{{cite web | last1=Massa | first1=Annie | last2=Burton | first2=Katherine | last3=Gordon | first3=Amanda | title=Bill Ackman 'just fixing things' with moves against university leaders and diversity programs: 'That's what I do' | website=Fortune | date=2024-01-13 | url=https://fortune.com/2024/01/13/bill-ackman-fixing-things-university-leaders-diversity-programs-dei/ | access-date=2024-01-16 | archive-date=January 16, 2024 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240116222803/https://fortune.com/2024/01/13/bill-ackman-fixing-things-university-leaders-diversity-programs-dei/ | url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Bill Ackman's Campaign Against Harvard Followed Years of Resentment|first1=Maureen|last1=Farrell|first2=Rob|last2=Copelan|work=[[The New York Times]]|date=12 December 2023|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2023/12/12/business/bill-ackman-harvard-antisemitism.html|access-date=January 16, 2024|archive-date=January 16, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240116010005/https://www.nytimes.com/2023/12/12/business/bill-ackman-harvard-antisemitism.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
|first1=Maureen|last1=Farrell|first2=Rob|last2=Copelan|work=[[The New York Times]]|date= 12 December 2023|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2023/12/12/business/bill-ackman-harvard-antisemitism.html}}</ref>
 
On January 3, 2024, ''[[Business Insider]]'' published an article alleging that Ackman's wife, [[Neri Oxman]], plagiarized portions of her [[dissertation]]. A day after the article's publication, Oxman apologized for citation errors in portions of her dissertation.<ref name="Hartocollis-Betts-2024"/><ref>{{cite news |last1=Pisani |first1=Joseph |title=Bill Ackman's Wife, Neri Oxman, Apologizes for Plagiarism in Her 2010 Dissertation |url=https://www.wsj.com/us-news/bill-ackman-wife-neri-oxman-apologizes-for-plagiarism-in-her-2010-dissertation-ac01f4ce |access-date=22 January 2024 |work=The Wall Street Journal |date=5 January 2024 |archive-date=January 22, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240122170925/https://www.wsj.com/us-news/bill-ackman-wife-neri-oxman-apologizes-for-plagiarism-in-her-2010-dissertation-ac01f4ce |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |lastfirst1=BergLloyd |firstlast1=Lloyd Lee, |first2=Madeline |last2=Berg |title=How plagiarism by Claudine Gay, Harvard's former president, compares to that of Neri Oxman, an academic and Bill Ackman's wife |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/claudine-gay-neri-oxman-ackman-wife-plagiarism-dissertation-harvard-mit-2024-1 |access-date=2024-03-18 |website=Business Insider |language=en-US |archive-date=March 9, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240309050216/https://www.businessinsider.com/claudine-gay-neri-oxman-ackman-wife-plagiarism-dissertation-harvard-mit-2024-1 |url-status=live }}</ref> Ackman, in response to the article, pledged to conduct a plagiarism review of all MIT faculty, including MIT's president, [[Sally Kornbluth]], who, alongside Gay, attended a [[2023 United States Congress hearing on antisemitism|congressional hearing]] on antisemitism in higher education.<ref name="Hartocollis-Betts-2024">{{cite news|title=Wife of Investor Who Pushed for Harvard President's Exit Is Accused of Plagiarism|first1=Anemona|last1=Hartocollis|first2=Anna|last2=Betts|work=[[The New York Times]]|date=5 January 2024|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2024/01/05/us/plagiarism-bill-ackman-neri-oxman-claudine-gay-harvard.html|access-date=February 20, 2024|archive-date=February 20, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240220103839/https://www.nytimes.com/2024/01/05/us/plagiarism-bill-ackman-neri-oxman-claudine-gay-harvard.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
|first1=Anemona|last1=Hartocollis|first2=Anna|last2=Betts|work=[[The New York Times]]|date= 5 January 2024|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2024/01/05/us/plagiarism-bill-ackman-neri-oxman-claudine-gay-harvard.html}}</ref>
 
Ackman supported the [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic Party]] and endorsed [[Dean Phillips]] for the [[2024 Democratic Party presidential primaries|2024 presidential primaries]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-01-14/billionaire-ackman-backs-democrat-phillips-to-challenge-biden/|title=Bill Ackman Backs Democrat Dean Phillips to Challenge Biden|last=Chen|first=Shiyin |date=January 13, 2024|accessdate=January 14, 2024|website=[[Bloomberg News]]|archive-date=January 14, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240114040830/https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-01-14/billionaire-ackman-backs-democrat-phillips-to-challenge-biden|url-status=live}}</ref> Ackman endorsed [[Michael Bloomberg]] as a prospective candidate for President of the United States in the [[2016 United States presidential election|2016 presidential election]].<ref name="ftbloombergendorsement">{{cite news |last1=Ackman |first1=William |date=February 11, 2016 |title=America is burning but Michael Bloomberg can put out the fire |url=http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/1c440342-d0a2-11e5-831d-09f7778e7377.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160212204601/http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/1c440342-d0a2-11e5-831d-09f7778e7377.html |archive-date=February 12, 2016 |access-date=February 11, 2016 |work=Financial Times}}</ref> He is a longtime donor to Democratic candidates and organizations, including [[Richard Blumenthal]], [[Chuck Schumer]], [[Robert Menendez]], the [[Democratic National Committee]], and the [[Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee]].<ref>{{cite web |title=FEC Individual Contribution Search |url=http://docquery.fec.gov/cgi-bin/qind/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180129024144/http://docquery.fec.gov/cgi-bin/qind/ |archive-date=January 29, 2018 |access-date=2 February 2018 |website=Federal Election Commission}}</ref>
 
In April 2024, Ackman announced via [[Twitter|X]] that he would not support [[Joe Biden]]<ref>{{Cite webtweet |last=Ackman |first=Bill |date=24 April 2024 |title=For anyone who is still confused on the topic, I am not voting for Biden. |user=BillAckman |number=1783294245215908143 |access-date=24 April 2024}}</ref> in the upcoming election because of Biden's alleged lack of support for Israel<ref>{{Cite web |last=Reporter |first=Rachel Dobkin Weekend |date=2024-04-06 |title=Naomi Biden fact-checks billionaire slamming Joe Biden |url=https://xwww.newsweek.com/billackman/status/1783294245215908143?s=46naomi-biden-fact-checks-billionaire-slamming-joe-biden-1887648 |access-date=242024-07-30 April|website=Newsweek |language=en |archive-date=June 5, 2024 |websitearchive-url=Xhttps://web.archive.org/web/20240605185351/https://www.newsweek.com/naomi-biden-fact-checks-billionaire-slamming-joe-biden-1887648 |url-status=live }}</ref> inand thethat upcominghe election and iswas open to voting for former President [[Donald Trump]].<ref>{{Cite webtweet |last=Ackman |first=Bill |date=24 April 2024 |title=And yes, I am open to voting for @realDonaldTrump. |user=BillAckman |number=1783316096600187370 |access-date=24 April 2024}}</ref> Ackman previously voted for Trump in the [[2016 United States presidential election|2016 election]].<ref>{{Cite tweet |last=Ackman |first=Bill |date=25 April 2024 |title=Yes. I voted for @realDonaldTrump in 2016. ||user=BillAckman |number=1783304961540948151 |access-date=9 June 2024}}</ref> On July 14th, 2024, Ackman endorsed Trump in the aftermath of his [[Attempted assassination of Donald Trump in Pennsylvania|attempted assassination]].<ref>{{Cite tweet |last=Ackman |first=Bill |user=BillAckman |number=1812308245194682749 |title=I am going to formally endorse @realDonaldTrump.}}</ref><ref name="ackman-endorses-trump-devdiscourse">{{Cite web |title=Billionaire Bill Ackman endorses Trump in US presidential race |url=https://xwww.reuters.com/billackmanworld/statusus/billionaire-bill-ackman-endorses-trump-us-presidential-race-2024-07-14/1783316096600187370?s=46 |access-date=24 April 2024-07-14 |website=XReuters |language=en}}</ref>
 
Ackman was involved in a long-standing [[WhatsApp]] group chat that existed from October 2023 through early May 2024 with some of the United States' most powerful business leaders with the stated goals of "chang[ing] the narrative" in favor of Israel and "help[ing] win the war" on U.S. public opinion following [[2023 Hamas-led attack on Israel | Hamas's October 7th attack on Israel]].<ref name="chat">{{cite news |last1=Natanson |first1=Hannah |last2=Felton |first2=Emmanuel |title=Business titans privately urged NYC mayor to use police on Columbia protesters, chats show |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2024/05/16/business-leaders-chat-group-eric-adams-columbia-protesters/ |access-date=May 17, 2024 |publishernewspaper=Washington Post |date=May 16, 2024 |archive-date=May 21, 2024 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20240521173227/https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2024/05/16/business-leaders-chat-group-eric-adams-columbia-protesters/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Information about the WhatsApp group chat was reported by [[The Washington Post]] on May 16, 2024.<ref name="chat"/> Members of the group chat discussed how they received private briefings by, and worked closely with, members of the [[Israeli system of government | Israeli government]], including former Israeli prime minister [[Naftali Bennett]]; [[Benny Gantz]], a member of the [[Israeli war cabinet]]; and Israel’s ambassador to the United States, [[Michael Herzog (ambassador) | Michael Herzog]].<ref name="chat"/> Group members, including Ackman, worked with the Israeli government to screen a film titled [[Bearing Witness (2023 film) | "Bearing Witness to the October 7th Massacre"]], which shows footage compiled by the [[Israeli Defense Forces]] portraying killings committed by Hamas on October 7th.<ref name="chat"/> Israel estimates 1,139 people were killed in Hamas's October 7th attack, including 695 Israeli civilians, 36 of whom were children, 373 members of the security forces, and 71 foreigners<ref>{{cite news |title=Israel social security data reveals true picture of Oct 7 deaths |url=https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20231215-israel-social-security-data-reveals-true-picture-of-oct-7-deaths |access-date=May 20, 2024 |publisher=[[France 24]] |date=December 15, 2023}}</ref>; between October 7th and the Post's report, the Gaza Ministry of Health estimated that IDF attacks had killed more than 35,000 Palestinians, mostly civilians.<ref>{{cite news |title=Gaza death toll: how many Palestinians has Israel's campaign killed |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/gaza-death-toll-how-many-palestinians-has-israels-campaign-killed-2024-05-14/ |access-date=May 31, 2024 |publisher=[[Reuters]] |date=May 14, 2024}}</ref> Screenings of the film were conducted in New York City and, with Ackman's help, at [[Harvard University]], his alma mater.<ref name="chat"/>
 
Members of the 2023-2024 WhatsApp group chat also held a video call in April 2024 with [[Mayor of New York City | New York City Mayor]] [[Eric Adams]] in an effort to, according to reporting by ''[[The Washington Post]]'', "pressure Columbia’s president and trustees to permit the mayor to send police to the campus" to shut down [[2024 pro-Palestinian protests on university campuses | criticism]] of [[Israeli invasion of the Gaza Strip (2023–present) | Israel's offensive military operations in Gaza]], which many campus protesters, intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations, civil servants, and governments around the world [[Allegations of genocide in the 2023 Israeli attack on Gaza | have alleged to be genocide]].<ref name="chat"/> During the video call, group members discussed making political donations to Adams.<ref name="chat"/> A spokesperson for Ackman said he had not participated in the group chat since January 10, 2024, and that although Ackman "likes and is supportive of the Mayor," he had never spoken to Adams about the Columbia protests or donated to Adams's campaign.<ref name="chat"/>
 
== Personal life ==
Ackman married Karen Ann Herskovitz, a [[landscape architect]], on July 10, 1994.<ref name="NewYorkTimes1994July10">{{cite news|title=WEDDINGS; Karen Herskovitz, William Ackman|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1994/07/10/style/weddings-karen-herskovitz-william-ackman.html|access-date=9 November 2019|agency=The New York Times Company|page=37|work=The New York Times|date=10 July 1994|location=United States|language=en|archive-date=June 14, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180614221340/https://www.nytimes.com/1994/07/10/style/weddings-karen-herskovitz-william-ackman.html|url-status=live}}</ref> They have three children.<ref name="NewYorkTimes2019January19MallozziVincent" /> On December 22, 2016, it was reported that the couple had separated.<ref name="auto"/>
 
In 2018, Ackman became engaged to [[Neri Oxman]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.fastcompany.com/90249034/activist-investor-bill-ackman-is-engaged-to-rockstar-scientist-neri-oxman|title=Activist investor Bill Ackman is engaged to rockstar professor Neri Oxman|first=Mark|last=Sullivan|date=October 9, 2018|website=Fast Company|access-date=December 24, 2018|archive-date=November 30, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181130202009/https://www.fastcompany.com/90249034/activist-investor-bill-ackman-is-engaged-to-rockstar-scientist-neri-oxman|url-status=live}}</ref> In January 2019, Oxman and Ackman married at the [[Central Synagogue (Manhattan)|Central Synagogue]] in [[Manhattan]],<ref name="NewYorkTimes2019January19MallozziVincent" /> and they had their first child together in spring 2019.<ref>Riley Cardoza, [https://www.usmagazine.com/celebrity-moms/news/brad-pitts-mit-professor-crush-neri-oxman-gives-birth-to-1st-baby/ "Brad Pitt’s MIT Professor Crush Neri Oxman Gives Birth to Her First Child"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200327172104/https://www.usmagazine.com/celebrity-moms/news/brad-pitts-mit-professor-crush-neri-oxman-gives-birth-to-1st-baby/ |date=March 27, 2020 }}, ''US Magazine'', August 9, 2019</ref> In August 2019, Ackman wrote to [[MIT Media Lab]] director [[Joi Ito]] to discourage him from mentioning Oxman when discussing convicted sex offender [[Jeffrey Epstein]], who had donated $125,000 to Oxman's lab.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.axios.com/2019/09/14/joi-jeffrey-epstein-ties-mit-media-lab-professor |title=Hedge fund manager told Joi Ito to keep his wife's name out of Jeffrey Epstein saga |last1=Rummler |first1=Orion |date=September 14, 2019 |website=[[Axios (website)|Axios]] |access-date=June 20, 2023 |language=en}}</ref>
 
Ackman endorsed [[Michael Bloomberg]] as a prospective candidate for President of the United States in the [[2016 United States presidential election|2016 presidential election]].<ref name="ftbloombergendorsement">{{cite news|url=http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/1c440342-d0a2-11e5-831d-09f7778e7377.html|title=America is burning but Michael Bloomberg can put out the fire|date=February 11, 2016|work=Financial Times|last1=Ackman|first1=William|access-date=February 11, 2016|archive-date=February 12, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160212204601/http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/1c440342-d0a2-11e5-831d-09f7778e7377.html|url-status=live}}</ref> He is a longtime donor to Democratic candidates and organizations, including [[Richard Blumenthal]], [[Chuck Schumer]], [[Robert Menendez]], the [[Democratic National Committee]], and the [[Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee]].<ref>{{cite web|title=FEC Individual Contribution Search|url=http://docquery.fec.gov/cgi-bin/qind/|website=Federal Election Commission|access-date=2 February 2018|archive-date=January 29, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180129024144/http://docquery.fec.gov/cgi-bin/qind/|url-status=live}}</ref>
 
Ackman is a keen amateur [[tennis]] player and controversially commented that he could play a close and even doubles match against [[John McEnroe]] in a [[Bloomberg News]] interview with [[David Rubenstein]] in 2020.<ref>[https://www.bloomberg.com/news/videos/2020-06-23/ackman-rubenstein-on-markets-money-and-more-video Ackman, Rubenstein on Markets, Money and More], Bloomberg.com, June 22nd, 2020, Accessed February 23, 2024</ref>
 
Ackman is a keen amateur [[tennis]] player and controversially commented that he could play a close and even doubles match against [[John McEnroe]] in a [[Bloomberg News]] interview with [[David Rubenstein]] in 2020.<ref>[https://www.bloomberg.com/news/videos/2020-06-23/ackman-rubenstein-on-markets-money-and-more-video Ackman, Rubenstein on Markets, Money and More] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220218052438/https://www.bloomberg.com/news/videos/2020-06-23/ackman-rubenstein-on-markets-money-and-more-video |date=February 18, 2022 }}, Bloomberg.com, June 22nd, 2020, Accessed February 23, 2024</ref>
Ackman owned a [[Gulfstream G550]] business jet, as of 2017.<ref>{{cite web |last=Cohan |first=William D. |date=March 7, 2013 |title=The Big Short War |url=https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2013/04/bill-ackman-dan-loeb-herbalife |work=[[Vanity Fair (magazine)|Vanity Fair]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |last=Kolhatkar |first=Sheelah |date=February 26, 2017 |title=Financiers Fight Over the American Dream |url=https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2017/03/06/financiers-fight-over-the-american-dream |magazine=[[The New Yorker]]}}</ref>
 
Ackman owned a [[Gulfstream G550]] business jet, as of 2017.<ref>{{cite web |last=Cohan |first=William D. |date=March 7, 2013 |title=The Big Short War |url=https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2013/04/bill-ackman-dan-loeb-herbalife |work=[[Vanity Fair (magazine)|Vanity Fair]] |access-date=November 12, 2019 |archive-date=August 9, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150809062819/http://www.vanityfair.com/news/2013/04/bill-ackman-dan-loeb-herbalife |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |last=Kolhatkar |first=Sheelah |date=February 26, 2017 |title=Financiers Fight Over the American Dream |url=https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2017/03/06/financiers-fight-over-the-american-dream |magazine=[[The New Yorker]]}}</ref> He owns a $90 million penthouse apartment in Manhattan, among other residential properties.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Staff |first=T. R. D. |date=2022-05-04 |title=Bill Ackman getting his glass penthouse … mostly |url=https://therealdeal.com/new-york/2022/05/04/bill-ackman-getting-his-glass-penthouse-mostly/ |access-date=2024-07-30 |website=The Real Deal |language=en |archive-date=July 30, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240730172558/https://therealdeal.com/new-york/2022/05/04/bill-ackman-getting-his-glass-penthouse-mostly/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Bill Ackman Paying $90M for Manhattan Apartment |url=https://www.wsj.com/video/bill-ackman-paying-90m-for-manhattan-apartment/85840DBE-7BA8-456C-A0C2-6EF46BA5812A |website=The Wall Street Journal |access-date=July 30, 2024 |archive-date=July 30, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240730172559/https://www.wsj.com/video/bill-ackman-paying-90m-for-manhattan-apartment/85840DBE-7BA8-456C-A0C2-6EF46BA5812A |url-status=live }}</ref>
== Books ==
* Ackman, Bill with [[Pershing Square Capital Management]] (2014). ''[https://web.archive.org/web/20170124025557/https://assets.factsaboutherbalife.com/content/uploads/2013/01/09145402/Who-wants-to-be-a-Millionaire.pdf Who Wants to be a Millionaire?]''<ref>{{Citation|last=investarygroup|title=Pershing Square Bill Ackman Herbalife Presentation 2014 (FULL PRESENTATION)|date=July 23, 2014|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bQc6L4ieMwo|access-date=January 21, 2017|archive-date=August 19, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170819103330/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bQc6L4ieMwo|url-status=live}}</ref>
 
==References==
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==Further reading==
{{wikiquote}}
*{{cite journal |last=Cheffins |first=Brian R. |year=2014 |title=Hedge Fund Activism Canadian Style|journal=University of British Columbia Law Review |volume=47 |issue=1 |pages=1-59 (Discussing Pershing Square's activities in Canada, and a unique cultural reluctance to support active value creation by ethical intervening shareholders)|ssrn=2204294}}
*{{cite journal |last=Rojas |first=Claudio R. |year=2014 |title=An Indeterminate Theory of Canadian Corporate Law|journal=University of British Columbia Law Review |volume=47 |issue=1 |pages=59-128 ("The author's perspective on Berkshire Hathaway's investment philosophy was informed by discussions with Warren Buffett in Omaha, Nebraska": pp. 59, 122-124)|ssrn=2391775}}
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[[Category:American money managers]]
[[Category:American stock traders]]
][[Category:American Zionists]]
[[Category:Businesspeople from New York (state)]]
[[Category:Canadian Pacific Railway people]]