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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
==Early life and education==
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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. At a billed cost of more than $100,000, his law firm copied 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]] protection that it had sold against various mortgage-backed [[collateralized debt obligation]]s, 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>
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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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====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
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|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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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
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=
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>
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 |first1=Lloyd |last1=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>
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 tweet |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://www.newsweek.com/naomi-biden-fact-checks-billionaire-slamming-joe-biden-1887648 |access-date=2024-07-30 |website=Newsweek |language=en |archive-date=June 5, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240605185351/https://www.newsweek.com/naomi-biden-fact-checks-billionaire-slamming-joe-biden-1887648 |url-status=live }}</ref> and that he was open to voting for former President Trump.<ref>{{Cite tweet |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 [[
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 |newspaper=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"/> 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]]. 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 ==
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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>
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]] |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>
==References==
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