Bill Ackman: Buffett’s The Best Investor Of All Time

During this interview at the Saïd Business School, University of Oxford Bill Ackman was asked who he thought was the best investor of all time and why. Here’s his response:

I hate to be boring on this, I do think Buffett is the greatest investor and the reason why I believe that is just that this is a 50 odd year, it’s a 60 year track record of compounding at 20 plus percent with a very modest amount of leverage in the form of principally insurance float.

I just don’t think there’s a record that compares and I also think that what he does actually creates value for the world. I think George Soros is an incredible investor but I think what he does as an investor creates no value for the world. No, I think what he does as a philanthropist, I think is he creates a lot of value. So I think Buffett has the benefit of… I mean I think Heinz will be a much better business by the time… as a result of Buffett’s ownership.

You look at what he did with Geico since he bought it. I think he’s been he’s created an enormous… he’s bought businesses well but not incredibly well as he’s gotten to be quite large but he’s made those businesses much more valuable.

I think he’s also created a lot of messaging that’s affected the way people think about executive compensation and derivatives. So I think he’s made an enormous contribution. I think it’s a combination of long term… kind of longitude and the accomplishments he’s had. So I think he’s the one by far the best.

You can watch the entire interview here: