Bill Ackman brings activist playbook to the culture wars

The billionaire fashioned a place for himself as an arbiter of how public companies should behave. He’s now using similar tactics to dictate terms far beyond the business world.

Annie Massa, Katherine Burton and Amanda Gordon

Jan 17, 2024 – 5.00am

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Bill Ackman wants you to know this: He’s just getting started, and he doesn’t care that he’s making enemies in the media or on the political left. His months of haranguing Harvard University president Claudine Gay ended in her resignation. Now the billionaire hedge-fund manager says he intends to use his money and influence wherever he chooses.

Item No. 1: Higher education. Item No. 2: the media. Item No. 3: free speech. Items No. 4, 5, 6: stay tuned.

Bloomberg