Lex Fridman Podcast
#413 – Bill Ackman: Investing, Financial Battles, Harvard, DEI, X & Free Speech
Tue, 20 Feb 2024
Bill Ackman is an investor who has led some of the biggest and controversial financial trades in history. He is founder and CEO of Pershing Square Capital Management. Please support this podcast by checking out our sponsors: - LMNT: https://drinkLMNT.com/lex to get free sample pack - Policygenius: https://policygenius.com/lex - AG1: https://drinkag1.com/lex to get 1 month supply of fish oil - Eight Sleep: https://eightsleep.com/lex to get special savings - BetterHelp: https://betterhelp.com/lex to get 10% off Transcript: https://lexfridman.com/bill-ackman-transcript EPISODE LINKS: Bill's X: https://twitter.com/BillAckman Pershing Square Holdings: https://pershingsquareholdings.com/ Pershing Square Foundation: https://pershingsquarefoundation.org Neri Oxman conversation: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XbPHojL_61U Books mentioned: The Intelligent Investor: https://amzn.to/3ONnaZy America's Cultural Revolution: https://amzn.to/3SDz1dY PODCAST INFO: Podcast website: https://lexfridman.com/podcast Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/2lwqZIr Spotify: https://spoti.fi/2nEwCF8 RSS: https://lexfridman.com/feed/podcast/ YouTube Full Episodes: https://youtube.com/lexfridman YouTube Clips: https://youtube.com/lexclips SUPPORT & CONNECT: - Check out the sponsors above, it's the best way to support this podcast - Support on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/lexfridman - Twitter: https://twitter.com/lexfridman - Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lexfridman - LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lexfridman - Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lexfridman - Medium: https://medium.com/@lexfridman OUTLINE: Here's the timestamps for the episode. On some podcast players you should be able to click the timestamp to jump to that time. (00:00) - Introduction (08:55) - Investing basics (13:47) - Investing in music (22:08) - Process of researching companies (26:47) - Investing in restaurants (32:16) - Investing in Google (37:58) - AI (43:13) - Warren Buffet (45:22) - Psychology of investing (54:53) - Activist investing (1:04:41) - General Growth Properties (1:20:57) - Canadian Pacific Railway (1:28:21) - OpenAI (1:32:32) - Biggest loss and lowest point (1:47:21) - Herbalife and Carl Icahn (2:04:11) - Oct 7 (2:10:42) - College campus protests (2:29:09) - DEI in universities (2:50:00) - Neri Oxman (3:15:30) - X and free speech (3:19:54) - Trump (3:27:30) - Dean Phillips (3:34:36) - Future
Full Episode
The following is a conversation with Bill Ackman, a legendary activist investor who has been part of some of the biggest and at times controversial trades in history. Also, he is fearlessly vocal on X, FKA, Twitter, and uses the platform to fight for ideas he believes in.
For example, he was a central figure in the resignation of the president of Harvard University, Claude Dean Gay, the saga of which we discuss in this episode. And now a quick few second mention of each sponsor. Check them out in the description. It's the best way to support this podcast.
We got Element for delicious electrolytes, Policy Genius for insurance, AG1 for overall delicious health, Aidsleep for naps, and BetterHelp for mental health. Choose wisely, my friends. Also, if you want to work with our amazing team or just want to get in touch with me, go to lexfreeman.com contact. And now onto the full ad reads. As always, no ads in the middle.
I try to make this interesting, but if you skip them, please still check out the sponsors. We love them. I love them. Maybe you will love them too. This episode is brought to you by Element, the thing I'm drinking right now, the thing I drink throughout the day, all days, when I travel, it is forever with me. The only flavor I now acknowledge exists is watermelon salt.
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