Top 20 billionaires and their wives and girlfriends

9. Carl Icahn and Gail Golden


Carl Icahn, the founder of Icahn Enterprises, married Gail Golden. 

Carl Icahn is a well-known American financier and one of the pioneers of activist investing. He is the founder and controlling shareholder of Icahn Enterprises, a diversified business group based in Sunny Isles Beach. Over the years, Icahn has built a reputation for acquiring significant stakes in companies and pushing for strategic or managerial changes that he believes will increase shareholder value.

Icahn is widely regarded as one of the first major activist investors, helping to popularize this investment strategy among hedge funds and institutional investors. His approach typically involves identifying undervalued companies and influencing their corporate policies to unlock potential growth. During the 1980s, he gained notoriety as a “corporate raider,” particularly after his involvement in the takeover and restructuring of Trans World Airlines, which brought him both profits and public attention.

In his personal life, Icahn has been associated with Gail Golden, who was once his assistant. Their relationship eventually led to marriage, and they have spent many years together. Icahn’s personal life, like his business career, has occasionally drawn public interest.

With a net worth estimated in the tens of billions, Carl Icahn remains an influential figure in global finance. His legacy lies in reshaping corporate governance practices and demonstrating how shareholder activism can significantly impact the direction and performance of major companies.