Additional Coverage:
- Bill Ackman makes $2B gamble on Mark Zuckerberg’s AI pivot with massive Meta stock purchase (foxbusiness.com)
Billionaire Investor Bill Ackman Bets Big on Meta’s AI Future
In a significant move that underscores a growing belief in the future of artificial intelligence, billionaire investor and hedge fund manager Bill Ackman has reportedly poured an estimated $2 billion into Mark Zuckerberg’s Meta Platforms. This substantial investment, representing approximately 10% of Pershing Square’s total portfolio, signals a public endorsement of Meta’s strategic pivot towards superintelligence and its integration with AI.
Pershing Square began acquiring Meta shares last November, with an average purchase price of $625 per share. With Meta stock currently trading near $670, Ackman’s early entry has already yielded a gain.
This investment comes as Meta shifts its focus away from its “Metaverse” ambitions, which have seen its “Reality Labs” division incur $83 billion in losses since 2020 and a recent workforce reduction of 1,500 employees. Instead, the company is now prioritizing AI-powered smart glasses, which Zuckerberg envisions as the primary method for integrating superintelligence into daily life.
Despite Ackman’s bullish stance, some market experts express apprehension regarding Meta’s financial health, particularly its aggressive capital expenditure plans for AI infrastructure. The company’s recent fourth-quarter and full-year 2025 report projected spending between $115 billion and $135 billion in 2026, primarily to front-load artificial intelligence development.
Meta’s stock has experienced a decline over recent months and remains lower year-over-year, largely due to investor concerns about the scale of its AI spending. However, Ackman, in a Pershing Square investor presentation, characterized the stock as “deeply discounted.”
Ackman’s strategic investments extend beyond Meta, positioning Pershing Square as a key player in America’s burgeoning tech economy. The firm also holds a $2 billion stake in Uber and a $1.3 billion stake in Amazon. Further solidifying this shift, Pershing Square recently announced its complete exit from Hilton, indicating a clear move away from traditional hospitality towards high-growth technology sectors.
Neither Pershing Square nor Meta immediately responded to requests for comment.