Icahn: The Restless Billionaire (2022)

Trader's Film Library #62 · People, money and institutions. A portrait of an investor who, instead of trading companies, changes them.

Original title: Icahn: The Restless Billionaire · Type: documentary · Created by: HBO · Usefulness for traders: ★★★☆☆

What it's about

An HBO documentary about Carl Icahn, the activist investor who since the 1980s has been buying stakes in companies and forcing changes in their management.

What it has to do with markets

The film shows a different kind of market game: influencing a company rather than trading its shares. The negotiations and public disputes are interesting, including the one with Bill Ackman over Herbalife (see Betting on Zero).

Lessons for traders

• on the other side of the market are people with different goals and horizons (the false consensus effect, Atlas of biases #61)
• patience and determination in pursuing a thesis
• public disputes between big investors move share prices

What to watch out for

A fairly sympathetic portrait of its subject.

Discussion

The discussion takes place in Hetman Capital Club (in Polish). Join the discussion in the Club →

Navigation

← #61 Warren Buffett: Becoming Warren Buffett and Warren Buffett: How to Make a Fortune · Film Library index · #63 Money, Explained and How to Get Rich →

The description outlines the plot without revealing the ending where possible (true stories have a known outcome). Educational content, not investment advice.