Review ‘Icahn: The Restless Billionaire’: Carl Icahn Documentary

For about 40 years, Carl Icahn has been denounced as a “raider,” “pirate,” and “vulture.” People who don’t understand, or don’t like, how wealth is created call you a lot of names when you create a trillion dollars of wealth for shareholders.

As portrayed in an inspiring new HBO documentary, Icahn: The Restless Billionaire, the 85-year-old financier isn’t like Robin Hood. He’s far better. Robin Hood merely moved money around from one group to another. There is no net value to society in plunder, however dashingly accomplished.

About the Author

Kyle Smith

Kyle Smith is the film critic for the Wall Street Journal.

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For about 40 years, Carl Icahn has been denounced as a “raider,” “pirate,” and “vulture.” People who don’t understand, or don’t like, how wealth is created call you a lot of names when you create a trillion dollars of wealth for shareholders.

As portrayed in an inspiring new HBO documentary, Icahn: The Restless Billionaire, the 85-year-old financier isn’t like Robin Hood. He’s far better. Robin Hood merely moved money around from one group to another. There is no net value to society in plunder, however dashingly accomplished.