Ryan Cohen: Difference between revisions
Added to Category:Chief executive officers per CEO Article Guidelines |
Created comprehensive CEO article: Chewy founder (.35B PetSmart sale), GameStop Chairman/CEO, meme stock king, Bed Bath & Beyond controversy, SEC investigation, toy poodle Tylee inspiration, father Ted Cohen, net worth, children's book author, private family life, no salary as CEO |
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'''Ryan Cohen''' (born 1986) is a Canadian-American entrepreneur, business executive, and activist investor who serves as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of [[GameStop]]. He gained prominence as the co-founder and former CEO of [[Chewy]], an online pet supplies retailer he sold to [[PetSmart]] for $3.35 billion in 2017—the largest e-commerce acquisition at that time. Cohen has become a controversial figure in the financial world, dubbed the "Meme King" for his influence on meme stocks and retail investor movements. | |||
==Early Life and Education== | |||
Cohen | Ryan Cohen was born in 1986 to a Jewish family in [[Montreal]], [[Canada]]. His mother worked as a teacher, while his father, Ted Cohen, was an entrepreneur who ran a glassware importing business. The family later relocated to [[Coral Springs, Florida]], where Cohen attended North Broward Preparatory School. | ||
Cohen displayed entrepreneurial instincts from childhood. He began building websites at age 13, with his father's glassware business becoming his first client. By age 15, Cohen had launched his first venture—a referral business that collected fees from directing customers to various e-commerce websites. | |||
Despite his academic capabilities, Cohen made the unconventional decision to forgo college entirely. He has cited his father as his greatest inspiration and credits him with supporting this choice. "My father is my greatest inspiration and supported my decision not to go to college and pursue entrepreneurship instead," Cohen has stated in interviews. This decision would prove prescient, as Cohen's hands-on business experience would become more valuable than any formal education. | |||
== | ==Career== | ||
===Chewy (2011-2018)=== | |||
Cohen | In 2011, at age 25, Cohen founded an online pet supplies retailer initially called MrChewy, which would later become simply Chewy. The inspiration came from a frustrating personal experience: Cohen struggled to find a convenient way to purchase supplies for his toy poodle, Tylee. He recognized that pet owners—a demographic known for lavish spending on their animals—lacked a reliable online retailer offering comprehensive selection, fast shipping, and excellent customer service. | ||
Cohen built Chewy on a customer-obsessed philosophy borrowed from [[Amazon]]'s playbook but specialized for pet owners. The company offered free two-day shipping, 24/7 customer service, and even sent handwritten holiday cards and condolence notes when customers' pets passed away. This attention to detail created fierce customer loyalty. | |||
The company's growth trajectory was remarkable. Chewy reached $3.5 billion in annual revenues within just six years of operation. In April 2017, [[PetSmart]] acquired Chewy for $3.35 billion in what was then the largest e-commerce acquisition in history. Cohen remained as CEO through the transition, but resigned in 2018, stating he wanted to spend more time with his young family. | |||
=== | ===GameStop Involvement (2020-Present)=== | ||
After stepping away from Chewy, Cohen spent time with his family following his father's death in December 2019. However, by August 2020, he re-emerged into the business world with a controversial investment: a 10% stake (later increased to 13%) in struggling video game retailer [[GameStop]] for approximately $76 million. | |||
Cohen's | Cohen saw potential in GameStop's transformation from brick-and-mortar retail to e-commerce, much like his vision had transformed pet supplies. In January 2021, Cohen joined GameStop's board of directors alongside two former Chewy executives. His involvement coincided with the infamous GameStop short squeeze, where retail investors organized on Reddit's WallStreetBets forum drove the stock price from under $20 to a peak of $483 in late January 2021, causing billions in losses for hedge funds that had shorted the stock. | ||
On June 9, 2021, Cohen was appointed Chairman of the Board. On September 28, 2023, he assumed the role of Chief Executive Officer, notably receiving no salary for either position. Under his leadership, GameStop has focused on cost-cutting, closing unprofitable stores, and building out e-commerce capabilities, though the company continues to struggle with profitability amid the decline of physical video game sales. | |||
=== | ===Investment Philosophy=== | ||
Cohen | Cohen's investment approach focuses on identifying undervalued companies with strong brand recognition and potential for digital transformation. He has become a folk hero among retail investors, particularly on social media platforms where his cryptic tweets are analyzed for investment hints. His posting style—often featuring memes, emojis, and obscure references—has earned him cult-like status among the retail trading community. | ||
==Controversies== | |||
=== | |||
===Bed Bath & Beyond Pump-and-Dump Allegations=== | |||
Cohen | Cohen's most significant controversy erupted in 2022 involving home goods retailer [[Bed Bath & Beyond]]. In March 2022, Cohen disclosed a near 10% stake in the struggling company, causing the stock price to surge as retail investors interpreted his involvement as a vote of confidence. Cohen's cryptic tweets during this period—including "At least her cart is full" followed by a smiling moon emoji—were seen by investors as bullish signals. (In meme stock culture, moon emojis reference the phrase "to the moon," suggesting stock prices will skyrocket.) | ||
However, between August 15-18, 2022, Cohen abruptly sold his entire Bed Bath & Beyond position—9.45 million shares—netting approximately $68 million in profit. The stock price collapsed following the disclosure, wiping out hundreds of millions in market value and leaving retail investors with devastating losses. Many accused Cohen of a "pump-and-dump" scheme, though he maintained his sale was simply a change in investment thesis. | |||
On August 24, 2022, Cohen was named in a federal lawsuit alleging fraudulent market manipulation. The [[Securities and Exchange Commission]] also launched an investigation, requesting information about Cohen's trades and communications with Bed Bath & Beyond executives. The lawsuit was ultimately dismissed on June 11, 2024, with the judge finding insufficient evidence of securities fraud. However, the controversy severely damaged Cohen's reputation among some retail investors, while others remained loyal. | |||
=== | ===GameStop Criticism=== | ||
Cohen's leadership at GameStop has drawn mixed reviews. While supporters credit him with saving the company from bankruptcy and transforming its balance sheet, critics argue he has provided little strategic vision beyond vague promises of digital transformation. The company has continued to post losses, closed hundreds of stores, and laid off employees under his leadership. | |||
Financial analysts have questioned why Cohen works for no salary, with some suggesting this allows him to avoid accountability to shareholders. His cryptic communication style and refusal to provide detailed strategic guidance during earnings calls has frustrated institutional investors, though it has enhanced his mystique among retail traders. | |||
Cohen | |||
==Personal Life== | ==Personal Life== | ||
Ryan Cohen is married and has one son, though he | Ryan Cohen maintains an intensely private personal life, rarely discussing his family in public forums. He is married and has at least one son, though he has never publicly disclosed his wife's name or details about their relationship. The couple resides in Bal Harbour, Florida, in a waterfront mansion Cohen purchased for nearly $24 million in 2020. | ||
Cohen's father | Cohen's decision to resign as Chewy CEO in 2018 was reportedly motivated by his desire to spend more time with his young family, particularly following the death of his father Ted Cohen in December 2019. He has described this period as transformative, stating he needed time to grieve and reflect before returning to business. | ||
In 2022, Cohen published a series of children's books titled ''Teddy'', based on lessons he learned from his father. The books explore themes of entrepreneurship, integrity, and perseverance—values Cohen credits his father with instilling. Proceeds from book sales were donated to charity. | |||
Cohen is known for his love of animals, particularly dogs. His toy poodle Tylee (who inspired Chewy) frequently appeared in early company marketing materials. He has spoken passionately about animal welfare and supported various animal rescue organizations. | |||
== | ==Philosophy and Legacy== | ||
Cohen's business philosophy centers on extreme customer focus, a principle he learned from studying [[Jeff Bezos]] and [[Amazon]]. "The customer is the most important stakeholder," Cohen has written. "If you take care of customers, everything else falls into place." At Chewy, this manifested in practices like 24/7 customer service, accepting returns of opened pet food, and the famous handwritten cards that created emotional connections with customers. | |||
His approach to corporate governance is unconventional. Beyond working without salary, Cohen communicates almost exclusively through cryptic social media posts rather than traditional investor relations. He has dismissed concerns about quarterly earnings, focusing instead on long-term value creation. This approach has created intense polarization: retail investors view him as a champion fighting against Wall Street short sellers, while traditional investors see an unpredictable celebrity CEO more focused on Twitter fame than business fundamentals. | |||
==Net Worth== | ==Net Worth== | ||
Cohen's net worth is estimated at approximately $3 billion, primarily derived from his Chewy sale and his stake in GameStop. However, his wealth has been volatile given GameStop's stock price fluctuations, which have ranged from $10 to over $400 per share in recent years. His investment in GameStop has generated hundreds of millions in paper profits, though he has not sold shares. | |||
==See Also== | |||
* [[Chewy]] | |||
* | |||
* [[GameStop]] | * [[GameStop]] | ||
* [[ | * [[Meme stock]] | ||
* [[ | * [[Short squeeze]] | ||
* [[ | * [[Bed Bath & Beyond]] | ||
* [[PetSmart]] | |||
==References== | ==References== | ||
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{{reflist}} | {{reflist}} | ||
==External Links== | |||
* [https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryandcohen/ Ryan Cohen on LinkedIn] | |||
* [https://investor.gamestop.com/ GameStop Investor Relations] | |||
[[Category:1986 births]] | [[Category:1986 births]] | ||
[[Category:Living people]] | [[Category:Living people]] | ||
[[Category:Canadian businesspeople]] | [[Category:Canadian businesspeople]] | ||
[[Category:American | [[Category:American chief executives]] | ||
[[Category:Chief executive officers]] | |||
[[Category:Businesspeople from Montreal]] | |||
[[Category:Canadian emigrants to the United States]] | |||
[[Category:American billionaires]] | |||
[[Category:GameStop]] | [[Category:GameStop]] | ||
[[Category: | [[Category:E-commerce]] | ||
Revision as of 09:50, 20 November 2025
Ryan Cohen (born 1986) is a Canadian-American entrepreneur, business executive, and activist investor who serves as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of GameStop. He gained prominence as the co-founder and former CEO of Chewy, an online pet supplies retailer he sold to PetSmart for $3.35 billion in 2017—the largest e-commerce acquisition at that time. Cohen has become a controversial figure in the financial world, dubbed the "Meme King" for his influence on meme stocks and retail investor movements.
Early Life and Education
Ryan Cohen was born in 1986 to a Jewish family in Montreal, Canada. His mother worked as a teacher, while his father, Ted Cohen, was an entrepreneur who ran a glassware importing business. The family later relocated to Coral Springs, Florida, where Cohen attended North Broward Preparatory School.
Cohen displayed entrepreneurial instincts from childhood. He began building websites at age 13, with his father's glassware business becoming his first client. By age 15, Cohen had launched his first venture—a referral business that collected fees from directing customers to various e-commerce websites.
Despite his academic capabilities, Cohen made the unconventional decision to forgo college entirely. He has cited his father as his greatest inspiration and credits him with supporting this choice. "My father is my greatest inspiration and supported my decision not to go to college and pursue entrepreneurship instead," Cohen has stated in interviews. This decision would prove prescient, as Cohen's hands-on business experience would become more valuable than any formal education.
Career
Chewy (2011-2018)
In 2011, at age 25, Cohen founded an online pet supplies retailer initially called MrChewy, which would later become simply Chewy. The inspiration came from a frustrating personal experience: Cohen struggled to find a convenient way to purchase supplies for his toy poodle, Tylee. He recognized that pet owners—a demographic known for lavish spending on their animals—lacked a reliable online retailer offering comprehensive selection, fast shipping, and excellent customer service.
Cohen built Chewy on a customer-obsessed philosophy borrowed from Amazon's playbook but specialized for pet owners. The company offered free two-day shipping, 24/7 customer service, and even sent handwritten holiday cards and condolence notes when customers' pets passed away. This attention to detail created fierce customer loyalty.
The company's growth trajectory was remarkable. Chewy reached $3.5 billion in annual revenues within just six years of operation. In April 2017, PetSmart acquired Chewy for $3.35 billion in what was then the largest e-commerce acquisition in history. Cohen remained as CEO through the transition, but resigned in 2018, stating he wanted to spend more time with his young family.
GameStop Involvement (2020-Present)
After stepping away from Chewy, Cohen spent time with his family following his father's death in December 2019. However, by August 2020, he re-emerged into the business world with a controversial investment: a 10% stake (later increased to 13%) in struggling video game retailer GameStop for approximately $76 million.
Cohen saw potential in GameStop's transformation from brick-and-mortar retail to e-commerce, much like his vision had transformed pet supplies. In January 2021, Cohen joined GameStop's board of directors alongside two former Chewy executives. His involvement coincided with the infamous GameStop short squeeze, where retail investors organized on Reddit's WallStreetBets forum drove the stock price from under $20 to a peak of $483 in late January 2021, causing billions in losses for hedge funds that had shorted the stock.
On June 9, 2021, Cohen was appointed Chairman of the Board. On September 28, 2023, he assumed the role of Chief Executive Officer, notably receiving no salary for either position. Under his leadership, GameStop has focused on cost-cutting, closing unprofitable stores, and building out e-commerce capabilities, though the company continues to struggle with profitability amid the decline of physical video game sales.
Investment Philosophy
Cohen's investment approach focuses on identifying undervalued companies with strong brand recognition and potential for digital transformation. He has become a folk hero among retail investors, particularly on social media platforms where his cryptic tweets are analyzed for investment hints. His posting style—often featuring memes, emojis, and obscure references—has earned him cult-like status among the retail trading community.
Controversies
Bed Bath & Beyond Pump-and-Dump Allegations
Cohen's most significant controversy erupted in 2022 involving home goods retailer Bed Bath & Beyond. In March 2022, Cohen disclosed a near 10% stake in the struggling company, causing the stock price to surge as retail investors interpreted his involvement as a vote of confidence. Cohen's cryptic tweets during this period—including "At least her cart is full" followed by a smiling moon emoji—were seen by investors as bullish signals. (In meme stock culture, moon emojis reference the phrase "to the moon," suggesting stock prices will skyrocket.)
However, between August 15-18, 2022, Cohen abruptly sold his entire Bed Bath & Beyond position—9.45 million shares—netting approximately $68 million in profit. The stock price collapsed following the disclosure, wiping out hundreds of millions in market value and leaving retail investors with devastating losses. Many accused Cohen of a "pump-and-dump" scheme, though he maintained his sale was simply a change in investment thesis.
On August 24, 2022, Cohen was named in a federal lawsuit alleging fraudulent market manipulation. The Securities and Exchange Commission also launched an investigation, requesting information about Cohen's trades and communications with Bed Bath & Beyond executives. The lawsuit was ultimately dismissed on June 11, 2024, with the judge finding insufficient evidence of securities fraud. However, the controversy severely damaged Cohen's reputation among some retail investors, while others remained loyal.
GameStop Criticism
Cohen's leadership at GameStop has drawn mixed reviews. While supporters credit him with saving the company from bankruptcy and transforming its balance sheet, critics argue he has provided little strategic vision beyond vague promises of digital transformation. The company has continued to post losses, closed hundreds of stores, and laid off employees under his leadership.
Financial analysts have questioned why Cohen works for no salary, with some suggesting this allows him to avoid accountability to shareholders. His cryptic communication style and refusal to provide detailed strategic guidance during earnings calls has frustrated institutional investors, though it has enhanced his mystique among retail traders.
Personal Life
Ryan Cohen maintains an intensely private personal life, rarely discussing his family in public forums. He is married and has at least one son, though he has never publicly disclosed his wife's name or details about their relationship. The couple resides in Bal Harbour, Florida, in a waterfront mansion Cohen purchased for nearly $24 million in 2020.
Cohen's decision to resign as Chewy CEO in 2018 was reportedly motivated by his desire to spend more time with his young family, particularly following the death of his father Ted Cohen in December 2019. He has described this period as transformative, stating he needed time to grieve and reflect before returning to business.
In 2022, Cohen published a series of children's books titled Teddy, based on lessons he learned from his father. The books explore themes of entrepreneurship, integrity, and perseverance—values Cohen credits his father with instilling. Proceeds from book sales were donated to charity.
Cohen is known for his love of animals, particularly dogs. His toy poodle Tylee (who inspired Chewy) frequently appeared in early company marketing materials. He has spoken passionately about animal welfare and supported various animal rescue organizations.
Philosophy and Legacy
Cohen's business philosophy centers on extreme customer focus, a principle he learned from studying Jeff Bezos and Amazon. "The customer is the most important stakeholder," Cohen has written. "If you take care of customers, everything else falls into place." At Chewy, this manifested in practices like 24/7 customer service, accepting returns of opened pet food, and the famous handwritten cards that created emotional connections with customers.
His approach to corporate governance is unconventional. Beyond working without salary, Cohen communicates almost exclusively through cryptic social media posts rather than traditional investor relations. He has dismissed concerns about quarterly earnings, focusing instead on long-term value creation. This approach has created intense polarization: retail investors view him as a champion fighting against Wall Street short sellers, while traditional investors see an unpredictable celebrity CEO more focused on Twitter fame than business fundamentals.
Net Worth
Cohen's net worth is estimated at approximately $3 billion, primarily derived from his Chewy sale and his stake in GameStop. However, his wealth has been volatile given GameStop's stock price fluctuations, which have ranged from $10 to over $400 per share in recent years. His investment in GameStop has generated hundreds of millions in paper profits, though he has not sold shares.
See Also
References