An Activist Investor on Challenging the Status Quo | Bill Ackman | TED

Bill Ackman has made billions of dollars - and a name for himself - as an activist investor, buying up stock to push for change at companies. In this wide-ranging conversation with author and business ethics professor Alison Taylor, Ackman discusses how he's bringing his activism into the social and political spheres - and shares his thoughts on free speech, his notoriously long posts on X, the conversation around Harvard and DEI and more.
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[@JayEs31]

The interviewer generally did a horrible job with this interview. Bill is pushing back which is great

[@UewnitedStates]

"right"

[@christopherdennis6785]

The Lex Fridman podcast recently featured investor Bill Ackman, who offered profound insights, epitomizing the spirit of capitalism. His expertise in finance demonstrates how it can be harnessed to build or rejuvenate valuable businesses that enhance society. Value-Adding Investor

[@ankurm4100]

I really was expecting a different sort of investor "activism"... I thought I would learn more about impact investing, social enterprises and how to look at profitability from a different perspective. I don't know what this is.

[@davescott7680]

A PR spin puff piece. "I don't have more voice in X, because I have more money. Maybe I'm nieve." Yeh you're nieve or disingenuous mate.

[@Lambyyy]

@@davescott7680 It's naive.

[@barbarabrafman8452]

So much respect for Mr. Ackman; a brilliant investor who embraces discussing the current events of the day, and sharing his thoughts, along with inviting discussion. Not easy in his world! I have learned so much about investing and improving my own portfolio, just by listening to him.

[@DBAnalyst1]

*YT Quick Survey #11:* For your shared investing ideas, what do you think will be the next Apple/Microsoft in terms of growth?

[@hunantrain]

None bro! taking into consideration the current unpredictable market volatility. 🚩🚩

[@MichaelWeebles]

Not true at all... Companies are making record profits... Although the market isn't so stable at the moment, it isn't as sick as some people have made it look... Believe me or not, as a beginner investor who knows next to nothing, I have made over $15k net profit just in a couple of months... I'm a retiree, and I am using these extra resources to help pay for odds and ends that I want.

[@hunantrain]

Hi Mr.Michael Weebles, from my little experience your profit margin is quite stunning for a beginner. can you share your spreadsheet? i would love to follow. Thanks if you reply. 🙏

[@MichaelWeebles]

I have never drawn up a spreadsheet... It's of no relevance to me. I do practically everything through my fin.advisor, Kelly Marie Matwick. In all honesty, she knows what she's doing.. You can look her up.

[@CallmeMasta]

Mercado Libre.

[@JuanPellat]

"Challenging the status quo"... pot meet kettle

[@rolandnelson6722]

Take a closer look. He became rich by challenging the status quo. He thinks is a unique way. Has trades that defy explanation. He was not always right but he never went along for applause.

[@Alexander21025]

What an activist. Wants to shut others down using his power while taking control of our institutions for self serving reasons.

[@hadror13]

Shut down self destructive parasitic ideals is not self serving more like self preservation and survival

[@Alexander21025]

@hadror13 Sending billions to a foreign entity, supporting them no matter what, which gets us nothing but massive trouble, is the destructive parasitic action.

[@arcadiagreen150]

As opposed to letting the woke mind virus ravage humanity?

[@tetelestaijohn1930]

What would you do differently if you were him?

[@Alexander21025]

@tetelestaijohn1930 Not bribe and coerce politicians and institutions to support a parasitic foreign nation.

[@yowkentay1390]

ackman for president

[@arcturianninja]

Ariel Phenomenon movie is an example of the Havard tenure issue

[@justapyro2154]

I’m waiting for the etymology sticking out your gyat Ted talk

[@brainxtc2171]

Ironically, he mentions hubris as one of the problems of failed institutions, but he fails to see his own arrogance. But, when you're born rich and then get richer it follows that you think you're a genius and above everyone.

[@ElonyMusky2]

Parasites controlling us, we are sick to the bone and this guy is a prime example of that.

[@ashitaka9327]

By “his own arrogance”, you mean he disagrees with your own fascistic lefty ideas of how to control the expression of ideas, because any narrative other than your own is evil and must be inhibited.

[@richardstephenson5563]

I didn't hear anything that would suggest that. seems down to earth to me.

[@JJ-fq6zi]

I disagree that he is arrogant. How is speaking arrogant?

[@nothimbutbetteractually]

He pursued finance and then got funded. No different than how on Earth people get put through med school. His message is anyone, no matter how rich or poor can invest in companies they believe have actual value and against companies they don't think belong in the world. He could have gotten his funding and his millions and kept to himself, but he sees value in finance as a means to keep stock market companies in check, or to start new industries that disrupt old ones. It's a simple concept, but they are attacking the strawman and not the argument.

[@EvilChris2010]

What an incredible activist. Who would’ve thought that silencing anti-genocidal voices using dark money tactics was activism? Not me!

[@archerberenson6355]

Genocide is the word of the decade isn't it! The ICJ did not determine that Israel is committing genocide, even though they were using the absurd and overly punitive definition set by the United Nations. You probably don't know what the ICJ is, though, do you Chris? Can you even mention specifically what "dark money tactics" he has used to support the Israeli position?

[@DanTheMan189]

I agree. Hamas’ genocide against Israel is abhorrent.

[@Continentalmunkey88]

12:58 languages avoidance, ethnic terminology positivity

[@Continentalmunkey88]

2:33

[@davidanalyst671]

I want the SEC to investigate how bill Ackman's investments suddenly crashed really really bad during his divorce so he was somehow able to give his ex wife as little money as possible, and then after the divorce was finalized he met his angel Neri, and got married, and all his stocks went up from then on. Just like all divorcees, he met his new wife AFTER the divorce was finalized, and his business value somehow crashed so he gave his exwife as little money as possible.

[@emilieiggiotti]

How much did he pay TED Talk for this PR stunt??? That's my real question!

[@rolandnelson6722]

Clapping FOR free speech at Ted conference! Is this the turn in the pendulum?

[@Continentalmunkey88]

3:59 globalist-state protections metering

[@HarryJoiner]

3:59 / 10:25 - makes sense

[@Justdoing185]

Looked like niten yahu

[@AJTalbot99]

That interviewer speaks in a very annoying way.

[@mbergamin16]

Sort comments by newest if you want to see real opinions 😂

[@myyoutube7144]

We don’t want to hear what billionaires think is best for us

[@sparkysmalarkey]

Who are the "We" and "Us" that you seem to speak for with such . . . confidence?

[@bluestriker256]

​@@sparkysmalarkeywe and us is you and me. Stop acting like you're different from the average person and that you're closer to billionaires. You're closer to being homeless than to being a billionaire

[@leahleeds4289]

@@bluestriker256you may want to google what “emotional projection” is.

[@leahleeds4289]

you may want to google what “emotional projection” is.

[@amarpm1704]

@myyoutube7144 i think instead better is "you hear(from anyone)" & "you say(to anyone)" & let all public decide "whoz say" is better. It's called Democracy. And offcourse "Equal opportunity platforms" are vital here. And such platforms need to be built & nurtured.

[@amarpm1704]

Same pinch❤ "Right to put views by anyone" must be basic structure of every countries constitution. Very common_sense & very fundamental of ( proof of ) human existence. Free speech includes equal opportunity. And i know the solution to get equal opportunity. Idea is easy & but Revolutionary. When right time comes i will design the infrastructure and one day come to TEDx & explain it to all of the public of the world.😊

[@theabominable]

Very annoying and awkward interviewer. Makes me cringe...

[@gillsabji]

What's that watch?

[@nicholasmatthewheldt8766]

Bremont Bamford Aurora

[@davidsamuelson2089]

Creating artificial scarcity by alums & the administration while making egregious profits. Allowing in legacy families & the super-rich that do not need “loans”. Must’ve forgot what colleges are supposed to do.

[@tvm73836]

This guy buys himself into every show, including TED!!

[@booneguy]

To the interviewer: The best DEI is competence. I could care way way way less about your gender, race and family background. I care about competence.

[@nycotter3576]

They both seem really nervous!

[@tadsg82]

The only activist on this meeting was the interviewer, who did a terrible job.

[@Continentalmunkey88]

10:07 population-demographics state

[@explore-n]

the host is too pronounced and animated

[@aguastheclown]

these guys remind me of the princess and the pea

[@gzapata17]

Ugh. TED has really gone downhill 😂

[@riser9644]

Nepotism is bigger problem than dei

[@vapormissile]

"Investment" relies on human shortcomings & the existence of evil. Successful investment requires the acceptance that you are harming the innocent.

[@jmj7543]

Ok so if I happen to wake up tomorrow with the cure formula againts cancer but I don’t have money to do anything with it. I should just do nothing because asking for investment is bad and investing is bad??? Think before you type so vague and idiotic comments

[@jayjoey1209]

success is difficult😂

[@numbakrunch]

Disappointing. Get better speakers please.

[@DocBrainiac]

Anyone else feels the host (Alison Taylor) was a terrible host who seemed fairly one sided ?

[@LeveragedFinance]

LIMITED EDITION BAMFORD AURORA GMT SUPERMARINE BLACK DLC BLACK STRAP 140 500

[@jshaffer189]

The interviewer needs fired

[@MZD15]

Lol this guy is the elite, the matrix.

[@AbdallahBotan]

The comments

[@qz4615]

Amazing investor ,, bought fukin chipotle, cried on cnbc to short the market during covid ,, fukin legendary fake guru 👏👏

[@Continentalmunkey88]

Gen Z

[@ViddyMan1]

Has TED finally realised how important diversity of political opinion is? Funny he was talking about great institutions that lost their way. TED got lost around 2016

[@RadAntelope]

What political opinion was not being heard? It seems the political right just wants to squash opinions they don't like,, Which isn't free speech at all..

[@mbergamin16]

TED is so far gone and removed from what they once were

[@macaroni_tuesday]

He says at the end, free speech without reason, so that the most powerful ideas captures minds. Sounds a bit naive to me for someone who has the “longest” posts on X.

[@adamabraham5499]

Retitle to: Harvard’s Struggles

[@MaroonmeisteR]

Common sense from Bill Ackman! Ignore the haters and keep on going!

[@patrick.lin.]

Great to see Bill pushing Harvard, they clearly need changes if they would like to be a top university!

[@ElonyMusky2]

Parasite

[@NicholasPalance]

21:10 Let’s be clear, he’s talking about Soros

[@titicaca-fx9cs]

What a shame on you , Tedtalk! I am expecting someone who is wise to give a talk , not some billionaire bully who is behind the resignation of Howard president.

[@arcturianninja]

Nice

[@Woogeee]

Jeez this comment section is full of losers 😂

[@fj103]

🫵🏽

[@isaacherrera5930]

This is a joke, right?

[@laithsabunchi2632]

❤

[@kavishsinghal6739]

Lol, Most of the people in the comments are slamming Bill for being born into a good family. Fools, he didn't get to choose where he was born. Be thankful he is one of the few open Investors who isn't afraid to speak up for millions on his behalf, even if it means slamming his Alma Mater, Harvard for campus protests. "A fish doesn't go to its parents and complain, why wasn't I born a shark"

[@IG_WindischP]

There's a 99% chance you have well-off parents, you felt a way and that's why you said something. To not see any hypocritical arrogance in his pursuits you are either contrarian or disingenuous.

[@isaacherrera5930]

"good family" 🥴

[@HyperBart]

The man is being interviewed AT A TED TALK watched by millions but tries to claim that he really doesn't believe his voice is heard more than that of others... He calls himself naive in doing so... if he were honest I would lose complete trust in him as a competent investor because my conclusion would be that he's incapable of having an objective and realistic view of the world (and thus markets)... but of course he's not honest... he's not naive, he's just fooling people... or, maybe worse... he's fooling yourself. Then... the idea to follow both sides of the extreme spectrum on X, and then somehow find "the most articulate seemingly intelligent ones"... man I don't even know where to start.... It's those extremes that have eaten up our attention and have devoured attention from common, centric, logical, common sense, reasonable, achievable and realistic policy. You're not going to find any of that at either of those spectrums, even if you were to "balance it out" because you can't. WTF. Who is this guy catering to? The noise? I'm saying this while I think this man has generally made decent investment decisions and tries to have a moral compass, or tries to find out what a moral compass should look like. The whole DEI thing was also warped... Not saying that DEI is gospel or anything, but to reduce it to policy on % of certain people employed somewhere... DEI is much broader than that. It's main value is in terms of creating awareness and trying to make people aware of unconscious bias. Trying to reduce it to something else is dishonest.

[@user-oi3kf7zv9r]

We don't care about Israel Gaza errybodys gotta opinions n on that. Talk about investing william

[@BABAtheBLACKship]

Giving voice to genocide supporters does not mean you are doing good job, @tedtalk. You are on the wrong side of history

[@3up3down.]

She did a so so job at best. Lex’s podcast was much better…

[@pauliberg3492]

A man with immense integrity.!

[@ashitaka9327]

A lot of salty lefties in these comments…

[@arcturianninja]

Indeed

[@booneguy]

Thanks, Bill.

[@Gbizz]

This comment section is not it.

[@tylermcfadden1059]

"activist investor" ie "invests in neo-segregationists who want to dismantle the civil rights act" this is a joke.

[@KajSeVai]

First of all: brilliant questions Second of all: Answers that make a lot of sense to me. What's not to like?

[@SurfbyShootin]

As a fellow Ashkenazi Jew, this one of my favorite billionaires.

[@ElonyMusky2]

🤣🤣🤣🤣 As a fellow Satanic Zionist this guy is my favorite billionaires

[@EvilChris2010]

As a fellow Under the Bed Monster with a hoodie on my pee pee, this is one of my favorite billionaires too!

[@nerd26373]

This is a remarkable discussion. Looks like there's more to this than meets the eye.

[@brunogomes9427]

I am learn a lot with them ❤

[@EthanDeanplus]

This feels like a point of view in search of an argument. Yawn.

[@redhaeln]

The worst interviewer ever

[@latitudepost]

Interesting interview. However, I do think Ackman is an overrated investor. He does have some good insights, but he lacks the wisdom and humility of greats like Charlie Munger and Warren Buffett.

[@happy..1907]

Her hands are confusing

[@tommybtravels]

She’s awful

[@fj103]

Disaster What a waste of an interview

[@user-ew8xj5pg7y]

God loves you and takes care of you so that this message reaches you. God is the one who created this great universe and has complete control over it. And the greatest loss that a person loses in this life is that he lives while he does not know God who created him, knowing the Messenger of Muhammad, the last of the messengers, and the Islamic religion, the last of the heavenly religions. The great intelligence, before you believe in something or not, is to read it, study it, and understand it well, and then you have the choice to believe in it or not. I advise you on this now before you do not have time to do that.

[@ViperPacket]

propaganda bot

[@massifaqiri6711]

Activist? For cancelling freedom of speech in support of Netanyahu's genocide in Gaza? Quite an activism! Lost my respect for TED talks and whoever chose this monstrosity to lecture people on anything let alone activism.

[@jdevoz]

Arrogant.

[@TheHonestBroker]

Oh, great. Another "humble" billionaire who thinks he knows everything, while routinely making a fool of himself. Thumbs down.