10 Most Famous American Investors

5. Carl Icahn

Net Worth: $6.9 billion

Carl Icahn is an American investor born in 1936. He became famous as a “corporate raider” after he acquired Trans World Airlines and then sold it to pay his debts. Icahn is an activist investor. He buys large stakes in companies that he believes will grow after a few policy changes.

Carl Icahn does not take outside investors but allows people to invest in his conglomerate, Icahn Enterprises L.P. (NASDAQ:IEP). He controls 85% of the company and it covers 62.71% of his investment portfolio as of the second quarter of 2023. His other notable Q2 investments include CVR Energy, Inc. (NYSE:CVI) and Southwest Gas Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:SWX).