Icahn: Hertz not a loser

Carl Icahn doesn't like losers.

Interviewed by phone on CNBC recently, the prominent and sometimes outspoken New York investor took care when discussing Hertz in light of the company's ongoing accounting and operational problems. Icahn boosted his stake in the Estero-based car rental giant to 11.3% of the company in January.

Icahn also led the charge to shake up the executive suite at Hertz last year. Former United Airlines executive John Tague took over the top post after CEO Mark Frissora resigned. Frissora, who has a home in Naples, was the CEO who led the company's headquarters relocation to Southwest Florida from New Jersey in 2013.

Questioned by CNBC host David Faber about his Hertz investment, Icahn responded with a chuckle: “Obviously I don't buy stocks to lose money,” he says. “I'm very happy that we picked the CEO we picked and I think I can't say much more than that.”

Faber peppered Icahn with questions about the Hertz investment, but Icahn held firm. “I have to be very careful here because we're on the board and there's always things happening,” Icahn says.

Anyway, Icahn added, “I won't talk about it because I'm sure my lawyers would come over and shoot me.”