Bill Ackman praises Israel as a highly innovative economy

Billionaire investor Bill Ackman, CEO of Pershing Square Capital Management, has identified Israel as one of the world’s most innovative and best economies. Speaking from the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange and at the ARC Summit, Ackman highlighted the country’s strong growth prospects, low inflation, resilient currency, and relatively low sovereign debt.

Ackman, who holds an approximately 5 percent stake in the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange alongside his wife, Neri Oxman, noted that the investment has seen significant returns following their purchase after the October 7, 2023, attacks. He described the period as an opportunistic time for capital, likening Israel to ‘Silicon Valley as a country’ due to its high concentration of intellectual property and talent per capita.

He suggested that Israel’s small population could serve as an asset in the artificial intelligence era, as high IQ and IP per capita are critical economic drivers. Ackman also noted that foreign direct investment into Israel rose 78 percent in 2025 to $26.2 billion.