CEOs are paid for doing a terrible job. If the system wasn't so messed up, guys like me wouldn't make this kind of money. Carl Icahn More Quotes by Carl Icahn More Quotes From Carl Icahn Some people get rich studying artificial intelligence. Me, I make money studying natural stupidity. Carl Icahn entrepreneur money people When friends and acquaintances are telling you [that] you are a genius, before you accept their opinion, take a moment to remember what you always thought of their opinions in the past. Carl Icahn opinion genius past In life and business, there are two cardinal sins. The first is to act precipitously without thought and the second is to not act at all. Carl Icahn business self-esteem mistake When nobody wants something, that creates an opportunity. Carl Icahn want-something want opportunity When most investors, including the pros, all agree on something, they're usually wrong. Carl Icahn investors including agree Don't confuse luck with skill when judging others, and especially when judging yourself. Carl Icahn judging-yourself luck skills Now the guy that got to the top, the CEO, would obviously be stupid to have a number two guy who was a lot smarter than he is. So by definition, since he's a survivor and he got to the top and he isn't that brilliant, his number two guy is going to always be a little worse than he is. So, as time goes on, it's anti-Darwinism, the survival of the un- fittest. Carl Icahn stupid numbers two Don't go in and tell somebody else how to run their business. Carl Icahn running You learn in this business.. If you want a friend, get a dog. Carl Icahn business dog friendship A great company in the media business needs visionary leaders, not a conglomerate structure headquartered in Columbus Circle that second guesses. Carl Icahn greatness media leadership Everything I have is for sale, except for my kids and possibly my wife. Carl Icahn my-wife wife kids I enjoy the hunt much more than the “good life” after the victory. Carl Icahn good-life victory enjoy The CEO is, by far, the most important decision for a company... The company is going to rise and fall with the CEO. Carl Icahn important decision fall We want these assets to be productive. We buy them. We own them. To say we care only about the short term is wrong. What I care about is seeing these assets in the best hands Carl Icahn care want hands I like winning. There's also a certain joy in it. I feel fulfilled by it. Carl Icahn certain winning joy I can tell you how bad our boards are... I don't have to watch Saturday Night Live anymore; I just go to the board meetings. Carl Icahn funny-graduation night watches Reuters was completely accurate that I am concerned about the level of the market. But I also made it clear on the conference call (and I believe as Reuters reported it), that it is almost impossible to predict what a market will do in the short term. There are too many variables. Carl Icahn variables levels believe With some exceptions, the wrong people are running U.S. companies. It's been that way for years, and it hasn't gotten much better. Carl Icahn running people years A lot of people died fighting tyranny. The least I can do is vote against it. Carl Icahn vote fighting people My wife watches me like a hawk. Carl Icahn hawks wife watches
