Carl Icahn is an American businessman, investor, and philanthropist best known as the founder and controlling shareholder of Icahn Enterprises, a diversified conglomerate holding company headquartered in New York City.
Carl Celian Icahn was born on February 16, 1936, in Queens, New York City. He was the only child of Bella and Michael Icahn. His mother was a public school teacher, while his father served as a cantor at a local synagogue. Raised in a modest household, Icahn grew up in a tough neighborhood but developed resilience and independence during these formative years.
Icahn attended Far Rockaway High School, where he earned outstanding grades that led to his acceptance into the prestigious Princeton University. Despite his challenging upbringing, Icahn demonstrated early signs of ambition and academic ability that would define his later achievements.
Carl Icahn began his professional career on Wall Street in 1961 by becoming a stockbroker. He built his reputation as an aggressive investor during the late 1970s, starting with a takeover battle at Tappan Company. Throughout the 1980s, he became widely recognized as one of Wall Street’s pioneering "corporate raiders," a term used to describe investors who buy large stakes in companies to force strategic changes that may enhance shareholder value.
His investment tactics—commonly associated with activist investing—involved acquiring significant positions in undervalued firms and pushing for corporate restructuring, asset sales, or leadership changes. These strategies often led to increased stock prices, benefiting Icahn and other shareholders.
Over the decades, Icahn accumulated wealth through high-profile positions in major corporations, including RJR Nabisco, Texaco, Phillips Petroleum, and Viacom. While not all ventures were successful—such as his investment in Trans World Airlines (TWA)—Icahn maintained his status as a formidable force in markets. His approach exemplified the bold, often controversial tactics associated with activist investing.
Through Icahn Enterprises, Carl Icahn has diversified his holdings into sectors such as energy, automotive, food packaging, metals, and real estate. The company operates as a multi-sector conglomerate, reflecting his broad investment interests and strategic adaptability.
Regarded as one of the most influential investors of his generation, Icahn continues to exert considerable influence in corporate governance, capital markets, and shareholder activism.
| Birth Date: | 16 Feb, 1936 |
| Age: | 84 yrs |
| Occupations: | Stockbroker Financier Businessperson |
| Citizenship: | United States of America |
| Birth Place: | Far Rockaway |
| Education: | Princeton University New York University School of Medicine |
| Gender: | Male |
| Description: | American businessman |
| Net Worth 2021: | 15.6 million |
