Pershing Square CEO Bill Ackman: Financial independence gives me the wherewithal to speak freely

Pershing Square CEO Bill Ackman joins 'Squawk Box' to discuss fighting antisemitism on college campuses, plagiarism accusations against his wife, Ackman's broader concerns about higher education and other issues, his activist approach to tackling these issues, and more.

[@jerrypark23]

A very polite way to say "I have F U money" 😂😂

[@patward1610]

👹BOYCOTT Bill Ackman 's 👹Hedge Fund; Chain Restaurant investment DO A SEARCH & KICK BUTT

[@mukulnamagiri8160]

😂 the amount of power u get mate

[@mmaurice100]

What's the point of having FU money if you never say FU

[@GeneticReconstruction]

- Robert Axelrod

[@RZ-sh6yi]

Class

[@Brandon-wc2ij]

Thank you Bill Ackman! As a member of Gen Z, which oftentimes seems to be all-consumed by identity politics/tribalism and otherwise, please know that there are many of us who appreciate the sacrifice you are making (insofar as having to bear backlash, slander, libel, etc. etc.) to help society. We are on your side. With love, The silent majority

[@Bunjee77]

You don't know if you represent the silent majority. Speak on your behalf

[@audiaudiaudi]

Lmao

[@sereysothe.a]

you're not a representative of anyone lmfao

[@timetraveler_0]

​@@Bunjee77idk man, maybe he goes out and talks to people.

[@Bunjee77]

@@timetraveler_0 doesn't sound very gen z to me

[@themoose7149]

Absolute legend! Saluted

[@aeromotive2]

ya they're really good at plagiarizing... saluted!

[@maxal853]

He’s a hypocrite liar who became a billionaire mainly by lying just like his plagiarist wife. Google his name and you will see his dirty history.

[@michelelewis-mx4ty]

Salute him for insider trading, he monopolizes cheating.

[@davidyin_5346]

Why is the host left eye have super black pupil? Am I tripping?

[@davidpar2]

Reptilian

[@awehellnah]

inner lizard is showing

[@manonamission2000]

he is known for having distinct colors between both eyes

[@TheBiffsterLife]

My innate sleaziness allows me to shamelessly grift the system

[@maxmustermann5369]

They look like brothers

[@GeneticReconstruction]

They are Ashkenazim

[@audiaudiaudi]

Wow, I can’t believe he didn’t cry this time

[@simrans3675]

Thanks for standing up for us, Bill Appreciated

[@nhanguyen3527]

I love this man!

[@sylph7777]

why that one guy got a snake eye

[@усман-г2ш]

drugs...

[@LazyWay-m1w]

birth defect known as a key hole eye.

[@yankeedoodle6293]

❤ Bill. Good job 👍

[@aeromotive2]

yep, family of plagiarizers.. good job

[@maxal853]

He’s a hypocrite liar who became a billionaire mainly by lying. Google his name and you will see his dirty history.

[@eduardoalvear]

Kurt Andersen wrote a very revealing piece on Ackman in The Atlantic (18 Jan).

[@supercooled]

link?

[@callspreadzero854]

His interview with Lex Friedman was fantastic.

[@aupti]

What an amazing man. I have so much respect for him now. I wish more of us could speak freely.

[@Personalfinance_10174]

Also pretty cool to have a platform to front-run trades with.

[@golfinguru11]

Warren’s been doing it since your daddy was in diapers, what’s new?

[@alienresearchlab]

You could say that about any guest CNBC has on.

[@r.ssumedh7626]

0:01 Something wrong with his pupil?

[@roulaocchi3957]

Thank you Mr Ackman👏❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@PPCCO.]

Has his eye always been like that?

[@royprovins7037]

So a jew is against antisemitism. So what. Where was he when Christians were being attacked.

[@OllehBudiak]

The Emperor Constantine?

[@aeromotive2]

Bill can you please investigate Neri Oxman for plagiarism (she's your wife)

[@OllehBudiak]

So, Ash Salleh, he doesn't have to deal with Harvard's violations?

[@kjlaw0731]

Didn't know much about Bill Ackman, but read his long letter to the Harvard board which is published on X, this man is a real patriot and a great thinker. Much appreciate Mr. Ackman as a real capitalist who truly understands the value of wealth. Twenty years from now, people will celebrate the wisdom and activism of this man.

[@ron.mexico.]

Don’t gag on his…

[@aeromotive2]

yeah, except his wife is a plagiarizer herself lol

[@ameryasin9351]

May be read about his wife too

[@OllehBudiak]

Lol. It is you, Ash Salleh, again!

[@johnd.2778]

Bill definitely does not get thousands of messages daily from peopke thanking him for "speaking for them" lol. Is he serious?

[@Dimonsf]

Bill, keep talking keep pushing. You’re awesome!

[@maxal853]

He’s a hypocrite liar who became a billionaire mainly by lying. Google his name and you will see his dirty history.

[@Dimonsf]

Yeah, and what did you become? A jealous KZbin commentator.

[@AnalyzeStocks]

Kudos to Bill Ackman!

[@moderneurope]

In an evasive response to the question of whether billionaires should influence Harvard's governance, Ackman deflects, choosing instead to self-aggrandize, emphasizing his genius and popularity. He attributes his undue influence over Harvard to his wealth, boasting about receiving love letters and being adored, yet completely sidesteps the original question. When confronted with his failures, he continues his self-praise, claiming he's a "great guy" and touts his success, suggesting an almost delusional self-perception. Alarmingly, he proposes overhauling the university's board with military personnel, revealing a preference for a militaristic approach to education governance. This stance undermines the diverse needs and perspectives of a university community. His self-styled image as a patriot and good person starkly contrasts with his actions and the perceptions of various communities, including African Americans. This interview not only showcases his detachment from the realities of effective governance but also highlights the danger of wealth and power being used to bypass meaningful dialogue and democratic processes in educational institutions.

[@helenzhou7293]

The current Harvard board is entirely controlled by the Billionaires and Obama.

[@jonathanemontgomery]

Thank you ChatGPT

[@victorblock3421]

Someone's very angry. lol

[@monk866]

I respect Ackman in the sense that he is the most ruthless businessman of our generation, and I believe he is directionally correct on the issue. I also believe he should be last on the list to influence Harvard's board/endowment for the "benefit of society". He essentially implies he could run Harvard from Pershing Square like a Rockefeller. Then slides in accusations and malfeasance before CNBC cuts him off. The guys got balls, "fu" money, and is super slimy at the same time.

[@jakebaldwin7172]

A bot wrote this

[@loudmanCA]

This is Ackman’s Herbalife round two lol

[@raheelakhtar7]

Indeed

[@ripdib]

Nah. Its pretty clear these universities are being dominated by sick socialists. Guess now its even clearer after the palestine bs in campuses

[@tubbybreakfast]

What is going on with the interviewer's left eye?

[@chordia919]

I think he has a rare genetic condition test causes his two eyes to be different from each other.

[@RR-et6zp]

he's a lizard

[@dang328]

All that money and that's the haircut he gets?

[@Darudo_sandstorm]

lol. His hair is messed up in this interview but it looks great generally

[@manonamission2000]

bigger ish to worry about than a haircut

[@whatsdoin2392]

Thank you BIll for your hard work in addressing Harvard's problems.

[@PEOdysseus]

Way yo go Bill !!

[@veverizza2016]

So he talked about how society can not speak freely because you might loose you job then proceed to do that to whoever he disagree with…

[@endor8witch]

exactly LOL

[@williambauer4826]

“IT’S ONLY OK WHEN WE DO IT!!!” Christ, you people are ridiculous.

[@k54dhKJFGiht]

We have educated entire generations to learn, work, and live with each other side by side with Communists as a multipolar global workforce. That world simply does not exist anymore. We are very much overdue for a correction.

[@callspreadzero854]

It never actually worked. There was always a goal behind it and that goal failed miserably (for the West). Now, the veil has been lifted and it’s quite obvious (been obvious to many for quite some time) that exchange, trade, and increasing exposure does not equate to an even and fair partnership. International trade and rising living standards doesn’t change ideology. One side was always playing the long game.

[@christiancoronado]

Good job, Bill. You are doing the right thing trying to bring back common sense to academia.

[@tehmujin5330]

this guy obviously working for MOSSAD

[@Don_Gorgan]

Should have asked him about his wife's plagiarism

[@arigutman]

I can appreciate Ackman and respect him greatly.

[@kinan6746]

Yes! Keep up the good work!

[@gogaton]

I have so much respect and admiration for Bill Ackman, a great investor with generous ideas to improve society

[@patward1610]

Bill Ackman had an Administrator at Harvard 4 Plagerism while his Wife Plagerized everything including her Dissertation. "JUDGE NOT LEST YE BE JUDGED " "EVERYONE FALLS SHORT of The Kingdom of Heaven

[@MrTitanic222]

Yes, it gave Ackboy the freedom to completely trash his wife's career with his abject stupidity and arrogance.

[@SherryInvest]

That personality is strong

[@rodneydowd4739]

That’s not OK. You may speak for some but you don’t speak for all. Just because you have the ability to blackmail others doesn’t make you GOD.

[@mikemcnamarafilm]

So Bill Ackman can change higher education however he sees fit and the rest of us have to hope for the best? Is that reasonable?

[@yappydabbad9323]

Whole bunch of strikeouts? Is Andrew serious? Pershing Square has made a total of 49 investments since 2004 (this includes his short positions) and out of those 49 only 3 (valeant, JCP, herbalife (short)) have been sold for a loss. You can make an argument his fannie/freddie longs are bad too but they don't even represent 1% of the portfolio. The valeant loss was his biggest at close to 4billion but even then his record from from 2004-2023 cumulative net of fees is still 1405.5%. Do your research before you challenge this guy.

[@Samuels691]

1:03 Damn. I felt that. Good on him.

[@Hi_Chew]

Bill is a smart person who knows how to make wealth and how to use it to help the society.

[@maxal853]

He’s a hypocrite liar who became a billionaire mainly by lying. Google his name and you will see his dirty history.

[@Ronalexandernyc]

A few things…..Harvard is not failing as a university, so why does Ackman feel the need to use the same intervention methods he applies to underperforming companies? Ackman seems to care more about his own personal and financial interests than that of the greater public. Lastly, I can't lie; what he said at around minute 1:03 was quite gangsta.

[@selma5885]

Hypocrite. Big money running everything/kleptocracy.

[@hansel2001]

At least he admitted that there’s truth behind the tropes that certain people run Wall St and Hollywood now the Ivies.

[@RR-et6zp]

This guy raised the price of starbucks, smh

[@rockfidelity8229]

4 out of the past 5 harvard presidents have jewish. The current interim president is Jewish.

[@tomgallagher7870]

Have u seen his plans for rebuilding gaza?his five point plan?the most racist ,disgusting plan ever..🤦‍♀️

[@janediamond658]

Thank you !!!

[@herokorai8346]

Thumbs up is for Bill Ackman. Though I do not agree with some of his statements and methods, I do appreciate the candor. Thumbs down for the interviewer.

[@BloggyG]

Ninja of the No True Scotsman deflection. WATB.

[@Berkaybabapro]

So how in the hell is everyones favorite topic Amazons AWT77K ?

[@alienresearchlab]

Andrew: 'You also fail in a big way too.' BOOM ROASTED! Way to tuck in a total cynical diss during the interview. Typical CNBC.

[@alminanesligiray6514]

If there was a version of the future where working, helpful concepts last, we won't get ripped by governments, and save our families it all would be accomplished with Amazons AWT77K

[@pauliberg3492]

A man with character and integrity.

[@aritaur1226]

Too short. You’re not letting the man tell his stories.

[@earlenelombardo9979]

Seems the distraction is working just fine if Amazons AWT77K is still an unknown identity for so many judging by what I read

[@ligaaa30]

Bill needs to do a long form conversation @lexfriedman

[@chordia919]

Done lol

[@golfinguru11]

Time traveller

[@Anas-fj4nw]

bill trying to seem as if he has sympathy for anyone getting cancelled. Ironic

[@MrSuperbluesky]

Bill seems honest I believe him

[@PKCP60]

Hope Bill opens his own Yeshiva.

[@manonamission2000]

he placed a dedication in an edition of the Rambam's Mishneh Torah... caught me by complete surprise

[@victorblock3421]

Glad he finally woke up

[@fabiopompeo9095]

thanks BILL

[@roc7880]

and my financial freedom give me the right to do not give a shir about what Bill has to say.

[@salifusey5322]

What a disgrace.

[@kingstonstreet3726]

If you dependence on the stock market or company you aren’t independent

[@jarodking9754]

Why cut this short, was super interesting. Stupid format.

[@GulkaHebibi]

Where is all the talk about Amazons AWT77K coming from? It is everywhere and in each comment section

[@tascrphs]

Scammers in search of a fraud...

[@michaelmoran8755]

Maybe Bill couldn’t afford to have those statements fact checked.

[@recepatasoy5749]

I want that most people have some idea on Amazons AWT77K and why 2024 is gonna change everything for us to a better way if we are part of their best move since creation

[@KL-fr3lb]

Hypocrisy all the way

[@tomvest8945]

Good for him!

[@vihradesislavovabakalova7103]

I believe the time is better than ever for Amazons AWT77K they chose wisely to be the counter of all the bad happening in our world

[@michaelmoran8755]

How hard to fact check?

[@kikolatulipe]

He is trying to cancel people who are against the genocide in Gaza

[@tvm73827]

Bill, my hero!!!

[@tvm73827]

@@dallen2926 You would too if you felt threatened by these thugs on campus.

[@BinanceUSD]

Corruption at Harvard

[@taneshahiguera9636]

There is so much power in Amazons AWT77K I need to hit the toilet again and get rid of it, can't take it all

[@ricd4557]

Top bloke!

[@THECAREFULMAN]

Go Bill!

[@michael2014]

You are a legend Bill!!

[@FilnetMgnigon]

They want to smear bill ao bad

[@nicstevens6499]

I love listening to smart people... Really enjoyed his Lex Fridman interview check that one out...

[@user-jy2ci5ox9v]

He talk of losing a job or money. He should be afraid of a bit more than that. Does he know who he is playing with. Have you learnt nothing?

[@zhijianli2135]

I'm a legal immigrant from China and my parents lived through culture revolution. We sure learnt a lot about communism and far left regimes.

[@woonchinglee2991]

Hi AKMAN! Hey, how are u? This is Megan Lee from PJ Do u think we can get together for a burger or something; hope to see u for CNY! MeganDj-255\\

[@user-jy2ci5ox9v]

He’s very presumptuous thinking he’s going to be here at 85. 🤣

[@andrephillips7764]

Andrew talks a lot

[@DebConley-d9j]

So he’s a fixer isn’t that what Trump said he was.

[@mandeepsinghkhosa5379]

Wow. Bill said I have alot more to say, but the boy started getting worried for his job.

[@gabrielschwarz5457]

Why are you cutting him off like that 🧐

[@ripdib]

The interviewer sucks

[@willhicks2259]

Whining billionaire

[@taurusneil]

Bill be like: Thanking for speaking on behalf of all of us!

[@user-pl5zx4sp5c]

What a fraud

[@rickwilliams1204]

Just remember Bill doesn't have to do any of this, he can remain private and go about his business. Quite simply he cares

[@BenSmit-d8y]

Bill Ackman is SO last year. Can"t he and his silly wife retire to the country.

[@tylerwinkle323]

lol they bought a forest

[@vuzzler1]

The man living the American Dream. Those other people trying to get something they never earned.

[@vuzzler1]

@@dallen2926 that’s why you are where you at and he is where he is at.