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2024-09-22 08:21:10

Bill Ackman

American billionaire hedge fund manager
American billionaire hedge fund manager

William Albert Ackman, born on May 11, 1966, is the founder and CEO of Pershing Square Capital Management. Known for his activist investor approach, his net worth was $4 billion in January 2024.

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1966-05-11
Birth of Bill Ackman

William Albert Ackman, the son of a mortgage financier and a top New York executive, was born on May 11, 1966.

1980
Start of Career at Ackman Brothers & Singer, Inc.

Bill Ackman began his career in real estate investment banking at Ackman Brothers & Singer, Inc. in 1980.

1988
Graduation from Harvard

Bill Ackman graduated magna cum laude from Harvard University in 1988. He later pursued his MBA from Harvard as well.

1989
Bill Ackman predicts junk bond market collapse

Bill Ackman successfully predicted the collapse of the junk bond market in 1989 while working as an analyst, which later led to the founding of Gotham Partners in 1992.

1992
Bill Ackman Graduates with MBA

In 1992, Bill Ackman graduated with an MBA degree. He is a prominent figure in the business world known for his activism and investments.

1993
Co-founding of Gotham Partners Management Co., LLC

Before Pershing Square, Bill Ackman co-founded Gotham Partners Management Co., LLC in 1993. The investment adviser managed public and private equity hedge fund portfolios.

1994-07-10
Bill Ackman marries Karen Ann Herskovitz

Bill Ackman, the American investor, married landscape architect Karen Ann Herskovitz on July 10, 1994.

2000
Bill Ackman's Billion Dollar Moves

Bill Ackman has made moves in the financial market that have earned him a billion dollars, showcasing his skill as an investor.

2003
Founding of Pershing Square Capital Management LP

Pershing Square Capital Management LP (PSCM) is an independent investment advisor and hedge fund manager founded in 2003 by William Ackman and David Berkowitz.

2004
Foundation of Pershing Square Capital Management

In 2004, Bill Ackman founded Pershing Square Capital Management, a long/short value hedge fund with $54 million assets under management.

2006
Ackman's activist position in Borders Group

In 2006, Bill Ackman took an activist position in the now-defunct Borders Group by acquiring a stake in the bookseller and increasing his holdings in 2008. He entered into loan agreements as Borders attempted to find a buyer, but his $960 million financing pledge for Borders to acquire Barnes & Noble Inc. did not materialize. Borders eventually filed for bankruptcy in 2011, resulting in significant losses for Pershing Square.

2008-09
Ackman's successful bet against MBIA

In the fall of 2008, during the global financial crisis, Bill Ackman's persistent efforts to convince others about the vulnerability of MBIA, a bond insurer, finally paid off as the company spiraled downward. Ackman's bets against MBIA were vindicated, leading to his success.

2013-01-09
Bill Ackman's Massive Short on Herbalife

In 2013, activist investor Bill Ackman, the founder of Pershing Square Capital Management, made headlines for his significant short position on Herbalife, a company specializing in weight loss and nutritional supplements.

2014-04-14
The Pershing Square Foundation Awards $17M to Harvard

On April 14, 2014, The Pershing Square Foundation awarded $17 million to Harvard University. This generous donation was a significant contribution to the institution.

2014-12-02
Herbalife stock prices drop significantly

Herbalife's stock prices fell nearly 50% from their peak, following various controversies and investigations surrounding the company.

2015-03-12
Investigation into Ackman's tactics regarding Herbalife

Prosecutors and the FBI investigated whether individuals hired by Ackman made false statements to lower Herbalife's stock price.

2016-12-22
Bill Ackman and Karen Ann Herskovitz separate

On December 22, 2016, it was reported that Bill Ackman and Karen Ann Herskovitz had separated.

2017-03-13
Pershing Square sells entire position in Valeant

Pershing Square, led by Bill Ackman, sold its entire stake in troubled pharmaceutical company Valeant, incurring a loss of over $3 billion. This decision came after Valeant faced accusations of fraud and other challenges.

2018-02-28
Ackman's Exit from Short Bet on Herbalife

As of February 28, 2018, Bill Ackman reportedly closed his entire short bet on Herbalife, after facing significant borrowing fees and paper losses due to the company's resilience and rebound to pre-short levels.

2018-09-30
Pershing Square Holdings' underperformance

As of September 30, 2018, Pershing Square Holdings, led by Bill Ackman, posted a year-to-date return of 15.8%, showing a decline in performance due to various setbacks like the Valeant Pharmaceuticals and Herbalife controversies.

2019-06-25
Bill Ackman's Greatest Hits and Misses

Zaw Thiha Tun, an investment advisor for PI Financial Corp and a freelance financial writer, discusses Bill Ackman's greatest successes and failures in the financial world.

2020-03-18
Ackman calls for economic shutdown due to COVID-19

In an emotional interview, Ackman urged President Trump for a 30-day shutdown to combat the spread of coronavirus and its economic impact.

2021-03-15
Donation of shares to charity

Ackman donated 26.5 million shares in Coupang, valued at $1.36 billion, to charitable entities in March 2021.

2021-07-10
Bill Ackman's Biography Published

A biography of Bill Ackman, focusing on his investment style, was published on July 10, 2021 by journalist Edgar Mondragón Tenorio.

2022-05-11
Bill Ackman appointed as Director/Board Member of Universal Music Group N.V.

Bill Ackman takes on the role of Director/Board Member at Universal Music Group N.V., a major player in the music industry.

2022-08-19
Ryan Israel named as Pershing Square's investment chief by Bill Ackman

Bill Ackman appoints Ryan Israel as the investment chief at Pershing Square, a significant move in the investment management sector.

2023-08-10
Bill Ackman becomes Chairman of Howard Hughes Holdings Inc.

Bill Ackman assumes the role of Chairman at Howard Hughes Holdings Inc., a real estate development and management company.

2023-12-31
Formation of Pershing Square Capital Management, L.P.

William Ackman, co-investment manager for hedge-fund group Gotham Partners LP, established Pershing Square in November 2003 with initial funding of $54 million from three investors. Ackman transitioned from the real estate sector to finance before founding Gotham.

2024-01-03
Plagiarism allegations

Allegations of plagiarism surfaced regarding Ackman's wife's dissertation, leading to a pledge for a plagiarism review at MIT.

2024-02-14
Latest Portfolio Update of Pershing Square Capital Management, L.P.

Pershing Square Capital Management, L.P. disclosed 8 total holdings in their recent 13F filing with the SEC as of December 31, 2023. The portfolio's total value is reported at $10.40 billion with a turnover rate of 2%.

2024-02-26
Bill Ackman falls victim to an elaborate scam

Readers discuss the case of Bill Ackman, a financial-advice columnist who was deceived by a sophisticated scam.

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Bill Ackman
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