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

by Scott Wapner Narrated by Scott Wapner

Overview

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.

Editorial Reviews

Publishers Weekly

02/12/2018
Two masters of the universe butt heads in this gripping, if narrowly focused, real-life business thriller from Wapner, the host of CNBC’s Fast Money. He shares the story of how two famous activist shareholders, hedge fund manager Bill Ackman and activist investor Carl Icahn, clashed over the beleaguered Herbalife, a “multilevel marketing” company that recruits devotees to sell its teas and shakes. After describing how Ackman and Icahn rose to become two of Wall Street’s biggest power players, Wapner follows their years-long showdown. In 2012, Ackman accused Herbalife of being a pyramid scheme and shorted its stock, and Icahn countered with a large stake and public declaration of confidence in the company, beginning a feud that captivated the business world. Weathering distrust from Wall Street, lawsuits and FTC investigations, and falling shares, Herbalife survived—but the outcome of Ackman and Icahn’s war remains less clear. Although Icahn beat Ackman in the end, Wapner finds it uncertain whether either came out the better. Told in a breathless, urgent style, this is a trenchant business drama that brings life to its characters and will mostly appeal to business buffs. (Apr.)

From the Publisher

"Told in a breathless, urgent style, this is a trenchant business drama that brings life to its characters and will mostly appeal to business buffs."—Publishers Weekly

"When the Wolves Bite is the thrilling story of an epic battle between two business titans. Nobody can tell it like Scott Wapner does, because nobody knows activist investors better than he does. If you want to know what makes billionaires go to war, you must read this book!"—Jim Cramer, host of MadMoney

"When the Wolves Bite completely changed the way I think about activist investors. A fantastic read from a man who keeps these titans of business honest on his show every day."—Kevin O'Leary, SharkTank investor and chairman of O'Shares ETFs

"It's never about money. It's always about ego. This book is a telling examination of the psychology of billionaires trying to one-up each other."—Andrew Ross Sorkin, NewYork Times bestselling author of Too Big to Fail

"When the Wolves Bite reads like an action film with multiple combatants, but the story is told from a neutral corner, capturing all the nuance, drama, and importance of a giant battle. Scott Wapner provides great insights for all into a very complex world."—MichaelOvitz, cofounder of CAA

Product Details

BN ID:	2940170120581
Publisher:	Hachette Audio
Publication date:	04/24/2018
Edition description:	Unabridged

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