Icahn

Icahn is a surname most commonly associated with Carl Celian Icahn (born February 16, 1936), an American businessman and investor. He is the founder and controlling shareholder of Icahn Enterprises L.P., a diversified holding company whose investments span energy, chemicals, real estate, automotive and financial services. Icahn is widely known as an activist investor, using large holdings to press for governance changes, asset sales, cost reductions, spin-offs, and other strategic moves intended to unlock shareholder value.

Icahn began his career on Wall Street, working as a stockbroker and analyst before founding his securities firm, Icahn & Co., in 1968. Through Icahn Enterprises and his various investment roles, he has pursued a strategy of acquiring sizable stakes in publicly traded companies and advocating for changes in management and strategy, often confronting boards and management teams.

Over the decades, Icahn has been involved in campaigns at a number of major corporations. In the 1980s he became one of the best-known corporate raiders and activist investors, shaping corporate governance and capital allocation practices in that era. In more recent years, he has maintained a high profile with selective campaigns and board activities. Notable public actions include a public campaign in 2013 surrounding Apple Inc.’s capital return policy and, in 2018, involvement in Xerox Holdings Corporation’s strategic options.

Philanthropy and public profile: Icahn has donated to educational and medical causes; his benevolence has led to recognitions and institutions bearing his name, such as the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. He remains a prominent and controversial figure in finance, influential in shaping modern activism in corporate governance.