Billionaire investor Bill Ackman has ignited a viral buzz with some unconventional dating tips he recently shared online.
Ackman, the 58-year-old mastermind behind Pershing Square Capital Management with a fortune estimated at $9.3 billion, dispensed what he described as “old-school wisdom” aimed at young men who find it difficult to connect with women face-to-face.
In a post on X, Ackman expressed his concern over a cultural shift that seemingly leaves young men feeling isolated and hesitant to initiate offline interactions with women.
“With that in mind, I wanted to offer a few words from my younger days that helped me approach someone I found intriguing,” he shared.
His suggestion was straightforward: “May I meet you?” This phrase, he noted, would precede any further conversation.
Ackman also emphasized that his approach, grounded in “proper grammar and politeness,” was 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.
