Carl Celian Icahn (born February 16, 1936) is an American billionaire financier, corporate raider, and private equity investor. In 2008 his net worth was US$14 billion, putting him in an eight way tie for the 46th richest man in the world. In 2009 Forbes recalculated his net worth as $9 billion, but now he is in an eight way tie for the 43rd richest man in the world.

Icahn was raised in a Jewish family in Far Rockaway, Queens, New York City. He was educated at Princeton University (A.B., Philosophy, 1957) and New York University School of Medicine, but left prior to graduation.

Icahn began his career on Wall Street in 1961. In 1968, he formed Icahn & Co., a securities firm that focused on risk arbitrage and options trading. In 1978, he began taking control of positions in individual companies. He has taken substantial or controlling positions in various corporations including: RJR Nabisco, TWA, Texaco, Phillips Petroleum, Western Union, Gulf & Western, Viacom, Uniroyal, Dan River, Marshall Field, E-II (Culligan and Samsonite), American Can, USX, Marvel Comics, Revlon, Imclone, Federal-Mogul, Fairmont Hotels, Kerr-McGee, Time Warner and Motorola.