These activist investors absolutely crushed it on huge trades

Activist investors are putting cash to work like never before, setting their sights on bigger targets and extracting enormous paydays from companies once thought untouchable.

They're awash with cash, as investors in search of returns in a low-interest rate environment pump cash in to the strategy.

Some of the boldface names of activist investing have made billions this year alone.

Business Insider takes a look back at some of the most successful plays by activist investors in recent memory.