About Carl Icahn
Carl Icahn is 83 years old American investor, businessman and philanthropist by occupation. He is well known for founding and managing Icahn Enterprises and also for advising United States President Donald Trump on financial regulation from January 2017 to August 2017. He is also holding the position of being chairman of Federal-Mogul corporation.
Early Life
Carl was born on 16th February, 1936 in New York City, New York, United States as Carl Celian Icahn to Bella and Michael. He was raised in Jewish family as only child having father working as a cantor and substitute teacher whereas mother as a school teacher. He completed his education attending Far Rockaway High School and Princeton University where he got his degree in philosophy. He also joined New York University School of Medicine but soon joined army reserves by dropping out.
Career
He started his career in 1961 on Wall Street as a broker at Dreyfus & Co. but soon managed to obtain seat on the New York Stock Exchange by launching Icahn & Co. He further focused on acquiring stocks
in Tappan, a family owned appliance company which later got sold to Electrolux doubling his stock prices. This was a game changer in his life and he obtained the title of being one of the notorious “corporate raiders” of the 1980s. This title was later labelled as an activist investor. He also took equity interest in companies like Marshall Field’s Dan River, Philips Petroleum, Hammermill Paper, US Air Group and Texaco threatening a corporate takeover through greenmail. He was also involved in Trans World Airlines (TWA) plunging it into debt and increasing personal wealth in 1992. In 1990, he took over American Real Estate Partners (AREP) converting it into Icahn Enterprises after three years and making it his investment vehicle. He also made notable investments in entertainment ventures like Netflix and Time Warner. During 2016 presidential elections he became a major supporter of Donald Trump and also served as his special adviser on issues pertaining to regulatory reforms in 2017. He is now considered as the 5th wealthiest hedge fund manager and the 26th wealthiest person in the world according to Forbes 400.
Achievements
He has the honour of receiving Starlight Foundation’s Founders Award.
Personal Life
He got married twice. His first marriage was with Liba Trejbal in 1979 that ended up in 1999 with divorce. Both have two children; Brett Icahn and Michelle Celia Icahn Nevin. In 1999 he got married to Gail Golden and became step-father of two.
Net Worth
It is estimated to be around US$18.3 billion as on April 2019.