When the Wolves Bite : Two Billionaires, One Company, and an Epic Wall Street Battle

"The inside story of the clash of two of Wall Street's biggest, richest, toughest, most aggressive players--Carl Icahn and Bill Ackman--and the little company caught in the middle. With their unprecedented amounts of capital and their savvy understanding of business, activist investors Carl Icahn and Bill Ackman have the ability to move markets and change the fortunes of investors, workers, and even large companies with the flick of a wrist. But what happens when they run into the one thing in business they can't control: each other? On January 25, 2013, Scott Wapner, the host of CNBC's The Halftime Report, found out firsthand. Ackman and Icahn engaged in an uninterrupted, twenty-seven-minute televised war of accusations and insults over a company called Herbalife, on which they had opposing views--and opposing financial bets. The story quickly went viral and was called "the best business television ever" by Jim Cramer. It was far from the beginning, and even farther from the end. Their feud became a years-long saga, complete with shifting allegiances, lawsuits, and financial roller coaster rides. For this book, Wapner has gained unprecedented access to all the players and unravels this remarkable war of egos, showing the extreme measures the participants were willing to take. The result is both a rollicking business story and a cautionary tale about the power that, ten years after the financial crisis, still lives in the hands of a precious few"-- Provided by publisher The inside story of the clash of two of Wall Street's biggest, richest, toughest, most aggressive players -- Carl Icahn and Bill Ackman -- and Herbalife, the company caught in the middle With their billions of dollars and their business savvy, activist investors Carl Icahn and Bill Ackman have the ability to move markets with the flick of a wrist. But what happens when they run into the one thing in business they can't control: each other? This fast-paced book tells the story of the clash of these two titans over Herbalife, a nutritional supplement company whose business model Ackman questioned. Icahn decided to vouch for them, and the dispute became a years-long feud, complete with secret backroom deals, public accusations, billions of dollars in stock trades, and one dramatic insult war on live television. Wapner, who hosted that memorable TV show, has gained unprecedented access to all the players and unravels this remarkable war of egos, showing the extreme measures the participants were willing to take. When the Wolves Bite is both a rollicking, entertaining read--a great business story of money and power and pride. Introduction: The masters of the universe The profile The pitch The activist Selling a dream The phone call The big short The poison pen The brawl The icon The exit and the pile-on The lobbyist The death blow The year that wasn't The flush and the Feds Finale or fakeout? Coda: Big thoughts.