Bill Ackman Details Path to $9 Billion Net Worth Amidst Tucker Carlson's Accusations

Billionaire hedge fund manager Bill Ackman has publicly refuted claims made by media personality Tucker Carlson, who recently suggested Ackman was part of Jeffrey Epstein’s "constellation of people" and questioned the legitimacy of his $9 billion fortune. Carlson, speaking at a Turning Point USA event in July 2025, characterized Ackman as an "unimpressive" and "useless" billionaire. Ackman responded with a detailed, multi-part post on X, outlining his career trajectory and financial accumulation.

Ackman vehemently denied any personal connection to Jeffrey Epstein, stating, "I never met Jeffrey Epstein, flew on his planes, went to any of his parties and/or properties, or interacted with him ever." He clarified that his wife, Neri Oxman, received a $125,000 grant from Epstein while a professor at MIT, prior to their meeting. She met Epstein once for 45 minutes at the request of the MIT MediaLab head, presented her work, and subsequently received the grant.

Regarding his wealth, Ackman detailed a career spanning decades, beginning with childhood odd jobs and parental support for his education. After a successful stint in his father's real estate mortgage brokerage, he launched his first hedge fund, Gotham Partners, raising $2.8 million by cold-calling individuals from the Forbes 400 list. Although Gotham Partners eventually wound down after a contentious short position against MBIA, its investors largely transitioned to his next venture.

Ackman launched Pershing Square with $50 million in backing from Leucadia National Corporation and his own $4 million. He attributes his current net worth primarily to three assets: his initial investment in Pershing Square funds, which has grown 56-fold to approximately $2.5 billion; his ownership in the highly profitable Pershing Square management company, valued at about $6.5 billion after a recent 10% sale at a $9.5 billion pre-money valuation; and various private investments. Pershing Square has generated returns 2.9 times that of the S&P 500 over 21.5 years.

Beyond investment returns, Ackman highlighted his firm's active role in turning around troubled companies like Canadian Pacific and Chipotle, benefiting all stakeholders. He also noted significant philanthropic contributions, with the Pershing Square Foundation and affiliated DAFs granting over $900 million to various causes and holding an additional $900 million in uncommitted assets. Ackman's early investment in Coupang, a $2.5 million stake in 2009, grew to $1 billion by 2021, which he donated to charity.

Ackman further accused Carlson of dishonesty, claiming Carlson previously made false market manipulation accusations against him and failed to retract them despite a promise to do so. "Tucker owes me an apology," Ackman stated, asserting Carlson is "not man enough to care about the truth." The investor suggested Carlson's recent rhetoric, particularly on Iran, Israel, and the Middle East, has "gone off the reservation" and may be influenced by external factors or a personal dislike.