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Billionaire investor Bill Ackman has recently ignited a whirlwind of online discussions with his surprising tips on dating.
The 58-year-old, who leads Pershing Square Capital Management and boasts a fortune of approximately $9.3 billion, dispensed what he describes as “traditional wisdom” aimed at helping young men overcome challenges in meeting women face-to-face.
In a post on X, Ackman expressed his concern over a societal trend that he believes leaves young men feeling isolated and apprehensive when it comes to approaching women in real life.
“With that in mind, I decided to share a phrase I often used in my younger years to connect with someone intriguing,” he explained.
He suggested simply asking, “May I meet you?” as a way to initiate a conversation.
Ackman also said the polite phrasing and “proper grammar and politeness” made his approach surprisingly effective, claiming it “almost never got a No.”
He added, “Just two cents from an older happily married guy concerned about our next generation’s happiness and population replacement rates.”
While Ackman may have intended his words as mentorship, the internet quickly made them a laughing stock.
Thousands of users across X transformed “May I meet you?” into a meme, pairing the phrase with images of awkward party encounters and uncomfortable exchanges between men and women.
One viral post featured comedian Shane Gillis staring creepily into the camera, while another showed a man awkwardly gazing at a group of women at a party.
One user joked, “May I meet you first thing Monday morning to talk about your performance improvement plan?” above a photo of a smiling woman, which was a playful jab at the line’s stilted formality.
Ackman’s advice arrives amid his growing prominence outside the financial world.
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Ackman married designer Neri Oxman in 2019 after divorcing his first wife, landscape architect Karen Herskovitz. (Patrick McMullan/PMC/ Getty)
Known for his outspoken commentary, he has become a prominent MAGA donor and an influential voice in conservative circles.
His firm, Pershing Square, which manages roughly $16 billion in assets, is one of Wall Street’s most closely watched hedge funds, with Ackman famous for high-profile bets on companies like Chipotle and Herbalife.
Ackman married designer Neri Oxman in 2019 after divorcing his first wife, landscape architect Karen Herskovitz, with whom he shares three daughters.