The Icahn you never knew

Way before Microsoft-Yahoo thrust his name into the spotlight yet again, Carl Icahn was a hedge fund industry icon. But did we really know him? I would suggest none of us really know the financier-celebrities. Some have an army of PR people on their payrolls, and they're adept at working the media. Others take the reclusive route. A MarketWatch columnist spent some time with him and paints a picture of "a charmer. He is funnier than Jay Leno, more good-naturedly acerbic than Don Rickles, and does more straight-talking than John McCain." And this: "You can't schmooze or con him. Icahn figures that the media need him more than he needs any of us (and he might be right)." This at a dinner affair. Interesting stuff. A few questions about Microsoft-Yahoo would have been nice. But the nice chat may have ended earlier.  

For more:
- here's the column

Related Articles:
Icahn now a main player in Microsoft-Yahoo drama
Stodgy old billionaires ink deals with cash
Icahn now getting glowing press
Icahn praised by TW CEO