William Ackman

$9.01 B

Ranked #379 in World

About William Ackman

William Albert Ackman is a prominent figure in the finance industry. Born on May 11, 1966, in Chappaqua, New York, Ackman's career has been marked by numerous achievements and controversies.

In 1992, he co-founded Gotham Partners with David P. Berkowitz and made small investments in public companies. Ackman also partnered with Leucadia National to bid for Rockefeller Center in 1995. However, he faced litigation with external shareholders in 2002.

One of Ackman's notable endeavors was his research on MBIA and his challenge of Standard & Poor's AAA rating of its bonds. He advocated for a division between MBIA's structured finance and municipal bond insurance businesses. During the financial crisis of 2007-2008, Ackman bought and sold credit default swaps against MBIA corporate debt.

Furthermore, Ackman founded Pershing Square Capital Management in 2004. He bought J. C. Penney shares in 2010 but stepped down from the board in 2013 due to disagreements. In 2015, he was recognized as one of the world's top 20 hedge fund managers.

Ackman gained attention for his criticism of Herbalife's multi-level marketing business model, labeling it a pyramid scheme. This sparked a public spat with Carl Icahn, who bought Herbalife shares. Ackman spent $50 million on a public relations campaign against Herbalife and faced investigations into his use of public relations and regulatory pressure.

Ackman also made headlines during the COVID-19 pandemic. He hedged Pershing Square's portfolio ahead of the 2020 stock market crash and generated significant profits. He called for a "30-day shutdown" of the American economy to combat the spread of the virus.

Not only known for his investment style, Ackman is also involved in philanthropy. He is a signatory of The Giving Pledge and has supported various organizations, including the Center for Jewish History and Planned Parenthood. Ackman also founded the Pershing Square Foundation with his ex-wife Karen in 2006.

In terms of personal views, Ackman has expressed support for individuals facing allegations of sexual misconduct, defended controversial comments made by Elon Musk, and engaged in a campaign to remove Harvard's president.

Ackman's personal life has seen its share of ups and downs, including a separation from his first wife in 2016 and subsequent marriage to Neri Oxman in 2019.

With his eventful career and vibrant personal life, Ackman continues to be a prominent figure in the finance industry and beyond.

Born

May 11, 1966 in Chappaqua, New York, U.S.

Age

59 years

Source Of Wealth

Hedge Funds

Industries

Finance & Investments

Citizenship

United States

Residence

New York, New York

Education

Master of Business Administration, Harvard Business School; Bachelor of Arts/Science, Harvard University

Spouse

Karen Herskovitz (Married: 1994; Divorced: 2018), Neri Oxman (Married: 2019)

Children

Parent

Lawrence D. Ackman (father)

William Albert Ackman was born on May 11, 1966, in Chappaqua, New York. His parents are Ronnie I. (née Posner) and Lawrence David Ackman. Ackman is of Ashkenazi Jewish descent. He graduated from Harvard College with a Bachelor of Arts degree in social studies in 1988 and went on to receive a Master of Business Administration degree from Harvard Business School in 1992.

William Ackman: Family

Ackman was married to Karen Ann Herskovitz from 1994 to 2016. They had three children together. In 2018, he became engaged to Neri Oxman, and they married in 2019. They have one child together.

William Ackman: Career Highlights

Ackman co-founded Gotham Partners with David P. Berkowitz in 1992. In 2004, he founded Pershing Square Capital Management with personal funds and support from Leucadia National. Some of his notable career highlights include:

Partnered with Leucadia National to bid for Rockefeller Center in 1995.
Researched MBIA and challenged Standard & Poor's AAA rating of its bonds.
Bought and sold credit default swaps against MBIA corporate debt during the financial crisis of 2007-2008.
Feud with Carl Icahn over a deal involving Hallwood Realty.
Bought J. C. Penney shares in 2010, paying an average of $22 for 39 million shares (18% of JCP's stock).
Named one of the world's top 20 hedge fund managers by LCH Investments in 2015.
Testified before the United States Senate Special Committee on Aging regarding Valeant Pharmaceuticals' business model and pricing practices in 2016.
Issued a research report criticizing Herbalife's multi-level marketing business model in 2012, calling it a pyramid scheme.
Hedged Pershing Square's portfolio with credit protection ahead of the 2020 stock market crash.
Called for a "30-day shutdown" of the American economy to slow the spread of coronavirus in 2020.

William Ackman: Companies

Ackman has been involved with several companies throughout his career, including:

Gotham Partners
Pershing Square Capital Management
J.
C. Penney
Valeant Pharmaceuticals
Herbalife
Target Corporation
Canadian Pacific Railway
Chipotle Mexican Grill
Coupang

William Ackman: Major Achievements

Ackman has achieved significant success in his career, including:

Generating $2.6 billion in less than a month from hedging Pershing Square's portfolio during the 2020 stock market crash.
Being named one of the world's top 20 hedge fund managers by LCH Investments in 2015.
Successfully challenging Standard & Poor's AAA rating of MBIA's bonds.
Reaching a settlement agreement with the FTC in 2016, ending the agency's investigation into Herbalife.
Donating 26.5 million shares in Coupang, valued at $1.36 billion, to charitable entities in 2021.

William Ackman: Awards & Achievements

Ackman has received numerous awards and recognitions for his achievements, including:

Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award in 2002.
Institutional Investor's Hedge Fund Manager of the Year Award in 2015.
CNBC's Disruptor 50 list in 2016.
Time magazine's 100 Most Influential People in the World list in 2018.

William Ackman: Personal Life & Legacy

Ackman is known for his bold and controversial investment calls, as well as his outspoken personality. He is a keen amateur tennis player and has made controversial comments about his playing abilities. Ackman is also a philanthropist and has supported various organizations, including the Center for Jewish History, Innocence Project, and Planned Parenthood. He is the founder of the Pershing Square Foundation, which focuses on economic development, education, healthcare, human rights, arts, and urban development.

William Ackman: Trivia

Ackman is a fan of the New York Yankees and the New York Knicks.
He has a collection of contemporary art, including works by Andy Warhol, Jean-Michel Basquiat, and Damien Hirst.
Ackman is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.
He has been featured in several documentaries and television shows, including "The Wall Street Journal: The Money Game" and "60 Minutes."

Wealth History

Timeline

May 11, 1966

William Albert Ackman is born in Chappaqua, New York.

1988

Graduates from Harvard College with a Bachelor of Arts degree in social studies.

1992

Receives a Master of Business Administration degree from Harvard Business School.

1992

Co-founds Gotham Partners with David P. Berkowitz.

1995

Partners with Leucadia National to bid for Rockefeller Center.

2002

Becomes entrenched in litigation with external shareholders.

2004

Founds Pershing Square Capital Management with personal funds and support from Leucadia National.

2007-2008

Buys and sells credit default swaps against MBIA corporate debt during the financial crisis.

2010

Buys J. C. Penney shares, paying an average of $22 for 39 million shares (18% of JCP's stock).

2012

Issues a research report criticizing Herbalife's multi-level marketing business model, calling it a pyramid scheme.

2013

Steps down from JCP's board following disagreements with fellow board members.

2014

Spends $50 million on a public relations campaign against Herbalife.

2015

Named one of the world's top 20 hedge fund managers by LCH Investments.

2016

Testifies before the United States Senate Special Committee on Aging regarding Valeant Pharmaceuticals' business model and pricing practices.

2016

Herbalife reaches a settlement agreement with the FTC, ending the agency's investigation.

2017

Sells remaining Valeant shares to Jefferies for about $300 million, incurring a substantial loss.

2018

Engaged to Neri Oxman.

2019

Marries Neri Oxman.

2020

Calls for a '30-day shutdown' of the American economy to slow the spread of coronavirus.

2021

Donates 26.5 million shares in Coupang, valued at $1.36 billion, to charitable entities.

2023

Calls for the publication of names of Harvard students who signed a letter condemning the Israeli state.

William Ackman : FAQs

What is William Ackman's current net worth?

William Ackman's current net worth is $9.01 billion.

What is William Ackman's current global rank among billionaires?

William Ackman holds the 379th position globally among billionaires.

What is William Ackman's current ranking within the United States?

William Ackman holds the 149th position in United States.

What was the change in William Ackman's net worth compared to the previous year?

William Ackman's net worth decreased by 364.73 million dollars compared to the previous year 2025, when his net worth was 9.37 billion dollars.

What is the recent change in William Ackman's net worth?

William Ackman's net worth increased by 58.15 million dollars recently, a 0.65% increase, with his net worth standing at 9.01 billion dollars.

What are William Ackman's main sources of wealth?

William Ackman's main source of income comes from Hedge Funds.

In which industry does William Ackman primarily operate?

William Ackman is primarily involved in the Finance & Investments industry.

What is William Ackman educational background?

William Ackman holds a Master of Business Administration from Harvard Business School and a Bachelor of Arts/Science from Harvard University.

How old is William Ackman?

William Ackman is 59 years old.

How many children does William Ackman have?

William Ackman has 3 children.

When and where was William Albert Ackman born?

William Albert Ackman was born on May 11, 1966, in Chappaqua, New York.

What are William Albert Ackman's educational qualifications?

William Albert Ackman graduated from Harvard College with a Bachelor of Arts degree in social studies in 1988. He also received a Master of Business Administration degree from Harvard Business School in 1992.

When and why did William Albert Ackman co-found Gotham Partners?

William Albert Ackman co-founded Gotham Partners with David P. Berkowitz in 1992. They made small investments in public companies.

What is Pershing Square Capital Management, and when was it founded?

Pershing Square Capital Management was founded by William Albert Ackman in 2004 with personal funds and support from Leucadia National.

What philanthropic activities has William Albert Ackman been involved in?

William Albert Ackman is a signatory of The Giving Pledge and has supported various organizations such as the Center for Jewish History, Innocence Project, and Planned Parenthood. He also founded the Pershing Square Foundation with his then-wife Karen in 2006.