History of Bill Ackman in Timeline

Bill Ackman is an American billionaire hedge fund manager, and the founder and CEO of Pershing Square Capital Management. Known as an activist investor, Ackman's net worth is approximately $9.4 billion as of July 2025. He's a prominent figure in the world of finance.

Sections (5)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements Challenges & Struggles Controversies & Scandals

May 11, 1966: William Ackman's Birth

On May 11, 1966, William Albert Ackman was born. He later became a billionaire hedge fund manager and the founder and CEO of Pershing Square Capital Management.

Others born on this day/year

1985: Graduation from Horace Greeley High School

In 1985, Bill Ackman graduated from Horace Greeley High School.

1988: Graduation from Harvard College

In 1988, Bill Ackman graduated magna cum laude from Harvard College with a Bachelor of Arts degree in social studies. His thesis was titled "Scaling the Ivy Wall: The Jewish and Asian American Experience in Harvard Admissions".

1992: Founding of Gotham Partners

In 1992, Bill Ackman founded the investment firm Gotham Partners with David P. Berkowitz, focusing on small investments in public companies.

1992: Graduation from Harvard Business School

In 1992, Bill Ackman received a Master of Business Administration degree from Harvard Business School.

July 10, 1994: Marriage to Karen Ann Herskovitz

On July 10, 1994, Ackman married Karen Ann Herskovitz, a landscape architect.

1995: Partnership with Leucadia National for Rockefeller Center Bid

In 1995, Ackman partnered with Leucadia National to bid for Rockefeller Center, which, although unsuccessful, increased investor interest in Gotham Partners.

2002: Litigation Entanglement for Gotham Partners

By 2002, Gotham Partners was involved in litigation with external shareholders who had interests in the companies Gotham invested in.

2002: Ackman Challenges MBIA's Bond Rating

In 2002, Ackman researched MBIA to challenge Standard & Poor's AAA rating of its bonds, incurring over $100,000 in legal costs to copy 725,000 pages of statements. Ackman advocated for a division between MBIA's structured finance and municipal bond insurance businesses.

2003: Feud with Carl Icahn Begins

In 2003, a feud started between Ackman and Carl Icahn over an investment deal.

2004: Founding of Pershing Square Capital Management

In 2004, Bill Ackman founded Pershing Square Capital Management with $54 million from his personal funds and from Leucadia National.

2006: Founding of Pershing Square Foundation

In 2006, Bill Ackman and his then wife, Karen, founded the Pershing Square Foundation to fund innovative organizations focused on economic development, education, healthcare, human rights, arts, and urban development. The foundation has committed over $750 million in grants to more than 100 organizations since its inception.

2008: Profit from MBIA Credit Default Swaps

During the 2008 financial crisis, Ackman profited significantly by purchasing and selling credit default swaps against MBIA corporate debt.

2008: Shorting MBIA's Bonds

In 2008, one of Bill Ackman's notable market plays included shorting MBIA's bonds during the financial crisis.

January 16, 2009: Ackman Covers Short Position on MBIA

On January 16, 2009, Ackman reported covering his short position on MBIA, according to the 13D filed with the SEC.

2010: Pershing Square Buys J. C. Penney Shares

In 2010, Pershing Square began purchasing J. C. Penney shares, acquiring 39 million shares (18% of the company's stock) at an average price of $22 per share.

2011: Bill and Karen Ackman on Philanthropy 50 List

In 2011, Bill and Karen Ackman were included on The Chronicle of Philanthropy's "Philanthropy 50" list of the most generous donors.

2011: Icahn Pays Ackman $9 Million in Lawsuit

In 2011, Carl Icahn was forced to pay Bill Ackman $4.5 million plus 10% interest per year and legal fees, totaling $9 million, following a lawsuit.

December 2012: Ackman Announces Short Bet Against Herbalife

In December 2012, Bill Ackman announced that Pershing Square had made a $1 billion short bet against Herbalife, a weight-loss and vitamin supplement maker, labeling it a "pyramid scheme".

2012: Shorting Herbalife

From 2012, Ackman held a US$1 billion short against Herbalife, which he described as a pyramid scheme. His efforts were documented in the film "Betting on Zero".

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January 2013: Icahn Challenges Ackman's Herbalife Comment

In January 2013, Carl Icahn challenged Ackman's comment regarding Herbalife during a CNBC appearance, leading to a contentious exchange and Icahn announcing a stake in Herbalife to counter Ackman's short position.

August 2013: Ackman Steps Down from J. C. Penney Board

In August 2013, Bill Ackman stepped down from the J. C. Penney board following a disagreement with fellow board members, ending a two-year campaign to transform the department store.

April 2014: FBI Probes Herbalife

In April 2014, Reuters reported that the FBI conducted a probe into Herbalife and reviewed documents obtained from the company's former distributors.

2014: Pershing Square's Net Gains Reach $4.5 Billion

In 2014, Pershing Square delivered $4.5 billion in net gains for investors.

January 2015: Ackman Named Top Hedge Fund Manager

In January 2015, LCH Investments named Bill 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.

March 12, 2015: FBI and Federal Prosecutors Investigate Ackman's Actions Regarding Herbalife

On March 12, 2015, reports surfaced that federal prosecutors and the FBI were probing whether individuals hired by Ackman made false statements to encourage investigations and lower Herbalife's stock. Ackman affirmed his stance against Herbalife.

2015: Weak Performance of Pershing Square Begins

In 2015, Pershing Square faced a period of weak performance.

April 27, 2016: Testimony Before Senate Committee on Aging

On April 27, 2016, Ackman, J. Michael Pearson, and Howard Schiller testified before the United States Senate Special Committee on Aging regarding Valeant Pharmaceuticals' business model and pricing practices. Ackman acknowledged his investment as an endorsement of Valeant's strategy.

July 2016: Herbalife Settles with FTC for $200 Million

In July 2016, Herbalife settled with the Federal Trade Commission, agreeing to pay $200 million and restructure its business practices to avoid being labeled a pyramid scheme. The FTC found that Herbalife had "deceived consumers."

December 22, 2016: Separation from Karen Ann Herskovitz

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

2016: Voted for Trump in the 2016 election

In 2016, Ackman endorsed Michael Bloomberg as a prospective candidate for President of the United States in the 2016 presidential election, but he also voted for Donald Trump in the 2016 election.

March 2017: Ackman Sells Valeant Shares at a Substantial Loss

In March 2017, Ackman sold his remaining 27.2 million share position in Valeant to Jefferies for about $300 million, incurring an estimated $4.6 billion loss on the position. This included direct stock purchases and underlying stock options.

November 2017: Ackman Covers Herbalife Short Position

In November 2017, Ackman stated that he had covered his short-sell position against Herbalife, but would continue to bet against the company using put options.

2017: Ownership of Gulfstream G550 business jet

As of 2017, Ackman owned a Gulfstream G550 business jet.

February 28, 2018: Ackman Exits Herbalife Bet at a Loss

On February 28, 2018, Ackman exited his near billion-dollar bet against Herbalife at a loss.

2018: Engagement to Neri Oxman

In 2018, Ackman became engaged to Israeli-American designer Neri Oxman.

2018: Ackman's Short Against Herbalife Ends

In 2018, Ackman's US$1 billion short against Herbalife, a company he described as a pyramid scheme, came to an end.

2018: Weak Performance of Pershing Square Continues

In 2018, Pershing Square continued to experience weak performance.

January 2019: Marriage to Neri Oxman

In January 2019, Neri Oxman and Ackman married at the Central Synagogue in Manhattan.

2019: Herbalife Pays SEC $20 Million

In 2019, Herbalife paid the SEC $20 million to settle charges of making false and misleading statements about its business model in China.

2019: Pershing Square Returns 58.1%

In 2019, Pershing Square returned 58.1%, making it one of the world's best-performing hedge funds according to Reuters.

March 3, 2020: Pershing Square Discloses Hedge Against Market Losses

On March 3, 2020, Pershing Square disclosed a $27 million investment in credit protection to hedge its portfolio against steep market losses ahead of the 2020 stock market crash. The hedge generated $2.6 billion in less than a month.

March 18, 2020: Ackman Calls for Economic Shutdown

On March 18, 2020, Bill Ackman called for a "30-day shutdown" of the American economy to President Donald Trump during a CNBC interview to slow the spread of coronavirus and minimize loss of life and economic destruction. He also warned about the potential collapse of hotel stocks and urged U.S. companies to halt stock buybacks.

November 2020: Ackman's COVID-19 Concerns Influenced by Film

In a November 2020 interview, Bill Ackman stated that his concerns about COVID-19 were heightened after watching the film Contagion.

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2020: Herbalife Pays Over $122 Million for Corruption

In 2020, Herbalife paid over $122 million after the Department of Justice and SEC found that it falsified books and records and made corrupt payments to Chinese government officials to obtain and retain business in China.

2020: Assertion of athletic ability

In a Bloomberg News interview with David Rubenstein in 2020, Ackman asserted his athletic ability would allow him to play a close match against John McEnroe.

March 15, 2021: Donation of Coupang Shares

On March 15, 2021, Bill Ackman donated 26.5 million shares in South Korean e-commerce company Coupang, valued at $1.36 billion, to three entities, including his own foundation.

2021: Ackman and Oxman on Philanthropy 50 List

In 2021, Bill Ackman and Neri Oxman were featured on The Chronicle of Philanthropy's "Philanthropy 50" list of top donors.

March 1, 2022: Remarks about Sabatini's treatment

On March 1, 2022, Bill Ackman delivered remarks at a Pershing Square Foundation event about what he called biologist David M. Sabatini's unfair treatment, who was fired due to allegations of sexual misconduct.

December 2022: Charity Auction with David Lynch Foundation

In December 2022, Bill Ackman auctioned a lunch with himself for charity in partnership with the David Lynch Foundation, with proceeds benefiting frontline healthcare workers, police, and veterans battling mental health issues in New York. Ackman matched the winning bid to further support the foundation.

2022: Herbalife Pays $12.5 Million in RICO Case Settlement

In 2022, Herbalife settled a case of alleged RICO violations for $12.5 million.

February 2023: Funding for Sabatini's new research laboratory

In February 2023, Ackman announced that his foundation and an anonymous donor would jointly fund David Sabatini US$25 million over five years to establish and run a new research laboratory.

October 8, 2023: Ackman demands names of Harvard students

On October 8, 2023, in response to a letter from Harvard student groups condemning Israeli actions, Ackman demanded the publication of the names of all students involved, so that he could ensure his company and others do not "inadvertently hire" any of the signatories.

November 2023: Support for Elon Musk and campaign against Claudine Gay

In November 2023, Ackman supported Elon Musk after he expressed support for antisemitic remarks. That same month, Ackman engaged in a campaign to remove Claudine Gay from her position as Harvard's president.

2023: Support for RFK Jr's stance on vaccinations

In 2023, Ackman declared support for RFK Jr's stance on vaccinations, saying he raised important issues about vaccines and their safety.

2023: Involvement in professional tennis

In 2023, Ackman led a group of investors who were, at the time, seeking to take a leadership role in professional tennis through a discussed $150 million equity investment in the WTA Tour.

January 3, 2024: Business Insider publishes exposé on Neri Oxman

On January 3, 2024, Business Insider published an exposé detailing how Ackman's wife, Neri Oxman, plagiarized portions of her dissertation.

January 10, 2024: Ackman's spokesperson says he left WhatsApp group chat

On January 10, 2024, a spokesperson for Ackman said he had not participated in a WhatsApp group chat with Israeli military leaders and top US business leaders since this date.

January 12, 2024: Ackman no longer wants to be associated with the Democratic Party

On January 12, 2024, in an interview with CNBC's Andrew Ross Sorkin on "Squawk Box", Ackman stated he no longer wants to be associated with the Democratic Party and stated he does not want to be part of a party.

January 15, 2024: Phillips floats Cabinet post for Ackman and Musk

On January 15, 2024, Dean Phillips floated a possible Cabinet post for Ackman and Elon Musk in a forum with them.

January 2024: Calls for resignation after Gay's resignation

In January 2024, after Claudine Gay resigned, Ackman called for the resignation of Harvard Board Chair Penny Pritzker and other members of the board and described the university's diversity, equity, and inclusion movement as the "root cause of antisemitism at Harvard" and "racism against white people".

April 2024: Ackman open to voting for Trump

In April 2024, Ackman announced via X that he would not support Joe Biden in the upcoming election because of Biden's alleged "lack of support" for Israel and that he was open to voting for former President Trump.

April 2024: WhatsApp group call with Mayor Eric Adams

In April 2024, members of a WhatsApp group chat held a video call with New York City Mayor Eric Adams to pressure Columbia's president and trustees to permit the mayor to send police to the campus to shut down protests.

May 16, 2024: Ackman's involvement in WhatsApp group reported

On May 16, 2024, The Washington Post reported that Ackman was involved in a WhatsApp group chat with Israeli military leaders and top US business leaders with the stated goal to "change the narrative" in favor of Israel by conveying "the atrocities committed by Hamas" and "help [Israel] win the war" on U.S. public opinion.

July 14, 2024: Ackman endorses Trump

On July 14, 2024, Ackman endorsed Donald Trump in the aftermath of his attempted assassination.

August 1, 2024: IPO Withdrawal and Restructuring Announcement

On August 1, 2024, after failing to secure the targeted $25 billion, Ackman withdrew Pershing Square's IPO and announced plans to relaunch the fund with a new "transaction structure".

2024: Oxman Co-Trustee of Pershing Square Foundation

As of 2024, Bill Ackman and his wife, Neri Oxman, serve as the co-trustees of the Pershing Square Foundation.

2024: Ackman Steps Down from Howard Hughes Holdings Board

In 2024, Ackman stepped down from the board of Howard Hughes Holdings, where he had served as chairman since 2010.

2024: Ackman Endorses Trump and Supports Israel

In 2024, Bill Ackman, a long-time donor to Democratic candidates and organizations, endorsed Donald Trump in the United States presidential election. He has also been an active supporter of Israel, especially following the October 7 attacks, and criticized the 2024 pro-Palestinian protests on university campuses.

May 18, 2025: Defense of Trump's defunding of science research

On May 18, 2025, Ackman defended President Trump's defunding of science research at Harvard on the grounds of antisemitism on campus during a panel at the Center for Jewish History.

June 14, 2025: Advocating for US to join Israel in war against Iran

On June 14, 2025, Ackman posted a tweet on Twitter advocating for the US to join Israel in its war against Iran.

July 2025: Playing the best tennis of his life

As of July 2025, according to Ackman, he was playing "the best tennis of my life".

July 2025: Ackman's Net Worth Estimated at $9.4 Billion

In July 2025, Forbes estimated Bill Ackman's net worth to be $9.4 billion.

July 2025: Tucker Carlson spoke about Ackman's contributions to society

In July 2025, former Fox News host Tucker Carlson spoke to Turning Point USA about Ackman's net worth and his contributions to society, and Ackman responded through multiple social media outlets about his upbringing and rise to wealth.

2025: Wild card berth at Hall of Fame Open

In 2025, Ackman received a wild card berth at the Hall of Fame Open at the age of 59, where he lost in a doubles match with Jack Sock to Omar Jasika and Bernard Tomic, leading to criticism and a declined endowment offer.