Who is Bill Ackman, the billionaire hedge fund investor who campaigned against Harvard University over alleged “anti-Semitism”? After feud with Herbalife and donations to Democrats, he resigns to Joe Biden until prompted

Bill Ackman’s campaign against his alma mater, Harvard University

Mr. Ackman led Corporate America in condemning what he said was a rise in anti-Semitism on campuses and the failure of America’s elite Ivy League universities to address what he said was a rise in anti-Semitism on campus. At the start of the Israel-Gaza war last year, Ackman posted on X, which now has more than 1.2 million followers, targeting university presidents who he claimed were not doing enough to support Jewish students.

Who are the top 10 richest billionaires in Singapore? Net worth, ranked

He took particular aim at his alma mater, Harvard University, and demanded the resignations of the presidents of MIT and the University of Pennsylvania.

Harvard University President Claudine Gay, University of Pennsylvania President Liz McGill, and MIT President Sally Kornbluth all testified on Capitol Hill during a December 5, 2023, Congressional hearing. The presidents were asked whether “calling for the genocide of Jews” violated the university’s rules on bullying and harassment.

“When speech turns into action, it can be harassment,” McGill said, a sentiment echoed by other presidents, according to the Associated Press.

Since the start of the Israel-Gaza war, pro-Palestinian protests have spread to universities in the United States and other universities around the world. According to the Associated Press, the three university presidents have previously commented on the difficulty of allowing protests and free speech while ensuring that student actions do not veer toward anti-Semitism.

Following their statements, Ackman accused the three of “grave moral failure” against X. McGill immediately resigned. Gay, the president of Harvard University, also resigned on January 2nd after allegations of plagiarism in his published work surfaced.

Business Insider reported that American companies were also affected by companies rescinding job offers to students because of their comments regarding the Israel-Gaza war.

The student group’s statement also said that Israel “bears full responsibility” for the violence and that Hamas “is launching a counterattack.” [Palestine’s] Colonizer and Colonial Oppressor”, by the same publication.

Who is supermodel Karlie Kloss’ handsome billionaire husband Joshua Kushner?

Who is Bill Ackman’s wife, Neri Oxman?

Mr. Ackman’s Israeli-American wife, Neri Oxman, also faced plagiarism allegations after the gay president of Harvard University resigned. Business Insider reports that there were several instances in which she failed to accurately credit her sources.

Oxman received his doctorate from MIT in 2010. The architect became a tenured professor at the university in 2017. Ackman threatened legal action against the publication Business Insider, which reported the allegations, but his wife later admitted he was wrong.

Bill Ackman’s infamous feud with Herbalife

Even before Mr. Ackman was involved in the expulsion of the former president of Harvard University, his bullish reputation in business circles had already been well known for years. In 2012, he took aim at the multi-level marketing nutritional supplement company Herbalife, calling it a pyramid scheme during a three-hour presentation. According to NPR, he then bet his $1 billion that the company’s stock price would plummet after the presentation. He also appealed to investors and regulators for support.

Rival investor Carl Icahn disagreed. The altercation between the two was broadcast live on CNBC and was dubbed the “Billionaire Brawl.” Since then, Mr. Icahn and Mr. Ackman have exchanged gunfire, and their long-standing feud has played out in public.

How did Bill Ackman get rich?

Ackman is the son of New York real estate mogul Lawrence Ackman. According to the New York Times, Lawrence was involved in the development of iconic New York buildings such as Manhattan Plaza and Chelsea Market.

His son Bill co-founded the investment firm Gotham Partners in 1992. He made a high-profile bet on bond insurance company MBIA, which paid off big during the 2008 financial crisis. In 2004, he founded Pershing Square Capital Management, the hedge fund he currently runs. According to Forbes, Pershing has assets under management of US$16 billion.

Pershing is also unique in that it invests in just seven stocks, including Chipotle, Hilton, and Google parent company Alphabet.

Who is Alexis Roderick, Billy Joel’s wife and baby mama half his age?

How Bill Ackman plays both sides in US politics

As a hedge fund billionaire, Ackman has the luxury of spending money to support his political views and is not afraid to go against the grain. He has openly donated money to Democrats Al Gore, Barack Obama, and Pete Buttigieg.

But at the same time, he said last November that he was more open to Republican candidates and called on Joe Biden to resign, Bloomberg reported. With the U.S. election scheduled for November, Mr. Ackman donated money to Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Vivek Ramaswamy, who has since withdrawn from the race.

His investments in the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange

The Ackmans purchased a 4.9% stake in the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange, the Ackmans’ first major investment in Israel since the start of the Israel-Gaza war. Ackman and his wife paid an estimated $25 million for this.