Who Is Bill Ackman? Age, Biography and Wiki
Bill Ackman, born on May 11, 1966, is a prominent American hedge fund manager and investor. As of 2025, he is 58 years old. Known for his persuasive investing style and strategy, Ackman founded the investment management firm Pershing Square Capital Management in 2004. His journey in the finance world has been marked by bold bets on various companies, earning him both acclaim and controversy in the industry. Throughout his career, he has made headlines for his philanthropic efforts as well.
Occupation | Billionaire |
---|---|
Date of Birth | May 11, 1966 |
Age | 59 Years |
Birth Place | Chappaqua, New York, U.S. |
Horoscope | Taurus |
Country | U.S |
Popularity
Bill Ackman's Popularity over time
Height, Weight & Measurements
Details about Bill Ackman's physical attributes in 2025 are as follows:
- Height: Approximately 6 feet (183 cm)
- Weight: Estimated around 190 lbs (86 kg)
- Body Measurements: While specific body stats aren't publicly available, Ackman maintains a professional appearance consistent with high-profile executives.
In November 2023, Ackman supported Elon Musk after he expressed support for antisemitic remarks made by an X user who falsely 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".
The same month, Ackman 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.
Family, Dating & Relationship Status
As of 2025, Bill Ackman continues to keep his personal life private. He was previously married to Karen Ann Herskovitz from 1994 until their divorce in 2009. He has three children from this marriage. He has been linked to various relationships over the years, but the details of his current dating status remain largely unreported. Ackman is known for being discrete about his personal affairs, focusing more on his business ventures.
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.
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".
Net Worth and Salary
Bill Ackman's net worth in 2025 is estimated to be around $2 billion. His wealth primarily stems from his successful investment career, particularly through his hedge fund, Pershing Square Capital Management. His salary varies significantly based on the performance of his investments, particularly during volatile market conditions. Ackman is known for his activist investing approach, which can lead to substantial earnings during successful campaigns.
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. His investment approach has made him an activist investor. As of May 2025, Ackman's net worth was estimated at $9.1 billion by Forbes.
Career, Business, and Investments
Ackman's career has been characterized by bold investment strategies and a keen eye for undervalued opportunities. Some of his notable investments include:
- Target Corporation: Early in his career, Ackman's investment in Target garnered significant media attention.
- Herbalife: Ackman famously took a short position against Herbalife, claiming it was a pyramid scheme, which sparked a public battle with other investors.
- Chipotle Mexican Grill: Ackman's investment in Chipotle has been a highlight of his portfolio as the company recovered from previous struggles and thrived post-pandemic.
Ackman was raised in Chappaqua, New York, the son of Ronnie I. (née Posner) and Lawrence David Ackman, the former chairman of a New York real estate financing firm, Ackman-Ziff Real Estate Group. He is of Ashkenazi Jewish descent.
Social Network
Bill Ackman is active on various social media platforms, leveraging them to share his insights and opinions on market trends. He primarily uses:
- Twitter: Ackman engages with followers, provides market commentary, and shares news related to his investments.
- LinkedIn: His professional profile showcases his career achievements and insights into the financial sector.
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 2014. 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. 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.
Ackman opened his testimony saying, "As a shareholder of Valeant, I recognize my investment was an... endorsement of Valeant's strategy." 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 Global Financial Products, was $4.6 billion, leading to a substantial loss.
Education
Ackman graduated from Harvard College in 1988 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Government. He later attended Harvard Business School, earning an MBA in 1992. His education played a crucial role in shaping his analytical skills and strategic thinking, which he employs in his investment career.