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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@ashitaka9327
May 14, 2024 at 9:46 am
A lot of salty lefties in these comments…
@arcturianninja
May 14, 2024 at 3:31 pm
Indeed
@aguastheclown
May 14, 2024 at 9:50 am
these guys remind me of the princess and the pea
@kavishsinghal6739
May 14, 2024 at 10:04 am
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
May 14, 2024 at 10:12 am
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.
@kasim7929
May 14, 2024 at 11:08 am
Crazy how they don’t attack warren Buffett, jim Simmons, Cathie woods and other lot. Must be this guy is basically Trump of the public markets…no?
Also, are u 8 digit millionaire or something you’re so happy he’s speaking on your behalf? Smh
@titicaca-fx9cs
May 14, 2024 at 10:10 am
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.
@amarpm1704
May 14, 2024 at 10:14 am
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.😊
@EvilChris2010
May 14, 2024 at 10:35 am
What an incredible activist. Who would’ve thought that silencing anti-genocidal voices using dark money tactics was activism? Not me!
@archerberenson6355
May 14, 2024 at 3:53 pm
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?
@SubhanAIS
May 14, 2024 at 10:55 am
War criminal and war financer….a corrupt genocide support
@Justdoing185
May 14, 2024 at 11:15 am
Looked like niten yahu
@BABAtheBLACKship
May 14, 2024 at 11:41 am
Giving voice to genocide supporters does not mean you are doing good job, @tedtalk.
You are on the wrong side of history
@ankurm4100
May 14, 2024 at 11:52 am
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
May 14, 2024 at 1:51 pm
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.
@mbergamin16
May 14, 2024 at 12:13 pm
Sort comments by newest if you want to see real opinions 😂
@JuanPellat
May 14, 2024 at 12:18 pm
“Challenging the status quo”… pot meet kettle
@numbakrunch
May 14, 2024 at 12:42 pm
Disappointing. Get better speakers please.
@macaroni_tuesday
May 14, 2024 at 1:05 pm
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.
@arcturianninja
May 14, 2024 at 2:52 pm
Ariel Phenomenon movie is an example of the Havard tenure issue
@emilieiggiotti
May 14, 2024 at 3:10 pm
How much did he pay TED Talk for this PR stunt??? That’s my real question!
@arcturianninja
May 14, 2024 at 3:32 pm
Nice
@laithsabunchi2632
May 14, 2024 at 3:43 pm
❤
@renjit9044
May 14, 2024 at 4:01 pm
If you google “Netanyahu supports Hamas” you come up with articles clearly showing Netanyahu supporting Hamas. If Hamas is a terrorist organization and Netanyahu supported Hamas, by the transitive property of mathematics doesn’t that make Netanyahu a terrorist? Also in the ongoing gaza war israel has suffered less than 1800 deaths. However, if you google you find that Ethiopian jews were forced into taking contraceptives by conservative jews which easily prevented more jewish births than this was has reduced the jewish population. Doesn’t that prove that conservative jews are actually more anti-semitic than Hamas?
@gzapata17
May 14, 2024 at 4:24 pm
Ugh. TED has really gone downhill 😂
@TheHonestBroker
May 14, 2024 at 4:44 pm
Oh, great. Another “humble” billionaire who thinks he knows everything, while routinely making a fool of himself. Thumbs down.
@jdevoz
May 14, 2024 at 5:51 pm
Arrogant.
@massifaqiri6711
May 14, 2024 at 6:18 pm
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.
@kentucky4494
May 14, 2024 at 6:36 pm
*YT Quick Survey #11:* For your shared investing ideas, what do you think will be the next Apple/Microsoft in terms of growth?
@hunantrain
May 14, 2024 at 6:39 pm
None bro! taking into consideration the current unpredictable market volatility. 🚩🚩
@MichaelWeebles
May 14, 2024 at 6:39 pm
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
May 14, 2024 at 6:40 pm
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
May 14, 2024 at 6:41 pm
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
May 15, 2024 at 4:14 am
Mercado Libre.
@richardhaskell3151
May 14, 2024 at 7:37 pm
Another shameful attack on diversity initiatives without one data element showing how these initiatives are harming businesses, universities, or society.
@LeveragedFinance
May 15, 2024 at 12:41 am
LIMITED EDITION BAMFORD AURORA GMT SUPERMARINE BLACK DLC BLACK STRAP 140 500
@jayjoey1209
May 15, 2024 at 12:55 am
success is difficult😂
@booneguy
May 15, 2024 at 3:40 am
Thanks, Bill.
@booneguy
May 15, 2024 at 3:51 am
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.
@MaroonmeisteR
May 15, 2024 at 3:55 am
Common sense from Bill Ackman! Ignore the haters and keep on going!
@Gbizz
May 15, 2024 at 4:30 am
This comment section is not it.
@justapyro2154
May 15, 2024 at 5:10 am
I’m waiting for the etymology sticking out your gyat Ted talk
@theabominable
May 15, 2024 at 7:24 am
Very annoying and awkward interviewer. Makes me cringe…
@tvm73836
May 15, 2024 at 12:00 pm
This guy buys himself into every show, including TED!!
@isaacherrera5930
May 15, 2024 at 12:43 pm
This is a joke, right?
@NicholasPalance
May 15, 2024 at 3:19 pm
21:10 Let’s be clear, he’s talking about Soros
@AbdallahBotan
May 15, 2024 at 6:40 pm
The comments
@Woogeee
May 15, 2024 at 7:27 pm
Jeez this comment section is full of losers 😂
@fj103
May 18, 2024 at 11:20 am
🫵🏽
@JayEs31
May 15, 2024 at 9:13 pm
The interviewer generally did a horrible job with this interview. Bill is pushing back which is great
@UewnitedStates
May 18, 2024 at 8:07 pm
“right”
@explore-n
May 15, 2024 at 10:34 pm
the host is too pronounced and animated
@pauliberg3492
May 15, 2024 at 11:05 pm
A man with immense integrity.!
@jotac87278
May 16, 2024 at 12:17 am
He keeps exhaling from his nose is bugging me. He’s a giant hypocrite. Constantly whining and pouting on X. He also said X is good for free speech and it’s important to be able to discuss your views and not be worried about your job. Meanwhile, this hypocrite said he wouldn’t hire any of the pro palestinian protesters. He’s a phony, a fake, a fraud, a con man.
He said “I never threatened them about money or anything.” Actually he implied that him and other donors wouldn’t give money until the situation was fixed. Aka do what they say
@rolandnelson6722
May 16, 2024 at 6:17 am
Clapping FOR free speech at Ted conference!
Is this the turn in the pendulum?
@davidsamuelson2089
May 16, 2024 at 3:18 pm
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.
@jshaffer189
May 17, 2024 at 4:57 pm
The interviewer needs fired
@adamabraham5499
May 17, 2024 at 9:34 pm
Retitle to: Harvard’s Struggles
@riser9644
May 18, 2024 at 1:53 am
Nepotism is bigger problem than dei
@christopherdennis6785
May 18, 2024 at 6:54 am
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
@AJTalbot99
May 18, 2024 at 8:54 am
That interviewer speaks in a very annoying way.
@redhaeln
May 18, 2024 at 10:01 am
The worst interviewer ever
@fj103
May 18, 2024 at 11:20 am
Disaster
What a waste of an interview
@HarryJoiner
May 18, 2024 at 11:49 am
3:59 / 10:25 — makes sense
@user-oi3kf7zv9r
May 18, 2024 at 12:23 pm
We don’t care about Israel Gaza errybodys gotta opinions n on that. Talk about investing william
@barbarabrafman8452
May 18, 2024 at 2:22 pm
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.
@3up3down.
May 18, 2024 at 2:55 pm
She did a so so job at best. Lex’s podcast was much better…
@MZD15
May 18, 2024 at 5:45 pm
Lol this guy is the elite, the matrix.
@gillsabji
May 18, 2024 at 11:16 pm
What’s that watch?
@nicholasmatthewheldt8766
May 20, 2024 at 5:56 pm
Bremont Bamford Aurora
@davidanalyst671
May 19, 2024 at 8:14 am
Did they ask Bill Ackman what are the ethics of defending a Genocider like Netanyahoo?
@davidanalyst671
May 19, 2024 at 8:21 am
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.
@DocBrainiac
May 19, 2024 at 8:42 am
Anyone else feels the host (Alison Taylor) was a terrible host who seemed fairly one sided ?
@EthanDeanplus
May 19, 2024 at 3:11 pm
This feels like a point of view in search of an argument. Yawn.
@tadsg82
May 19, 2024 at 5:01 pm
The only activist on this meeting was the interviewer, who did a terrible job.
@mouradbouabdallah9049
May 19, 2024 at 7:38 pm
bill ackman is genocide supporter, he caught Using Donations To Urge NYC Mayor To Crush Columbia Protests
@MusicalMemeology
May 20, 2024 at 3:31 am
Really admire bill standing up against DEI and the hypocrisy of universities that were silencing people for years suddenly claiming free speech for those calling for violence. It’s truly shocking how the left screamed about imaginary nazis for years to now the left openly now standing for those who want to eradicate the Jewish state and acting like actual nazis.
@tommybtravels
May 20, 2024 at 11:08 am
She’s awful