Ryan Cohen

Ryan Cohen is a Canadian billionaire entrepreneur and activist investor who founded Chewy, the online pet retailer, and later led a dramatic turnaround at GameStop as its chairman and CEO. Born in 1986 in Montreal, Quebec, Cohen built Chewy from a basement start-up into a multibillion-dollar company, selling it to PetSmart for $3.35 billion in 2017 — at the time the largest e-commerce acquisition ever. He then turned his attention to GameStop, taking a 9.9% stake in 2020 and pushing the struggling video-game retailer to embrace e-commerce. By 2023 he was CEO, and under his leadership GameStop posted its first annual profit in years, with record operating income in early 2026. Cohen's influence extends beyond business: his cryptic social-media posts and role in the 2021 meme-stock frenzy earned him the nickname "Meme King" and a devoted following of retail investors who see him as a champion against Wall Street.[edit]

Ryan Cohen grew up in the Montreal suburb of Dollard-des-Ormeaux in a Jewish household. His father, Ted Cohen, was a lawyer and businessman; his mother, Evelyn, was a homemaker. From an early age he showed an entrepreneurial streak, selling candy to classmates and later building computers for friends. He attended Herzliah High School, a private Jewish school, and briefly enrolled at Concordia University's John Molson School of Business but dropped out to pursue business full-time. Inspired by reading about Jeff Bezos and Amazon, Cohen taught himself HTML and built websites as a teenager. He started selling products on eBay, which gave him early e-commerce experience, and he soon identified a gap in the online pet-supply market. In his late teens, he began running a small pet-supply business from his parents' basement, partnering with Michael Day to formally launch Chewy in 2011.[edit]

Cohen co-founded Chewy in 2011 with Michael Day, an online retailer of pet food and supplies. The company grew rapidly, raising $15 million in Series A funding in 2014 and $26 million in Series B in 2015. In 2017, PetSmart acquired Chewy for $3.35 billion, the largest e-commerce acquisition at the time. Cohen remained CEO until 2018, then stepped down but stayed on the board. In 2020, he revealed a 9.9% stake in GameStop and wrote a letter urging the board to pivot to e-commerce. The following year, with help from retail investors on Reddit's r/WallStreetBets, GameStop's stock soared in a historic short squeeze. Cohen was appointed chairman in June 2021. In 2023, he became CEO, cutting costs, closing underperforming stores, and expanding into trading cards and collectibles. By 2024, GameStop reported its first annual operating profit, and in early 2026 it posted record operating income, cementing Cohen's turnaround.[edit]

Cohen is portrayed by media as a reclusive, disciplined businessman with a cult-like following among retail investors. His signature aesthetic is a black t-shirt, black jeans, and sneakers. On X, he posts cryptic memes and abstract art that his followers analyze for clues about GameStop's strategy. His fan base, often called "Apes" from the GameStop short-squeeze community, treats him as a folk hero. He rarely speaks publicly, which adds to his mystique and fuels speculation about his next move.[edit]

Ryan Cohen commands a unique position in modern business culture, bridging the gap between high-finance activism and the retail investor revolution. His following is not a traditional entertainment fandom with a single official name or organized rituals; rather, it is a dedicated coalition of traders and enthusiasts who track his every move through shareholder letters and cryptic social media posts. This group, often identified by their shared interest in GameStop stock, treats Cohen as a folk hero, dissecting his minimalist aesthetic and abstract memes for strategic clues. The mythology surrounding him is built on financial milestones rather than stage performances, with the most prominent narrative being his aggressive pursuit of eBay in 2026. This $56 billion proposal became a focal point of discussion before reports emerged that he was pivoting toward a partnership model, a shift that solidified his reputation as a strategist willing to upend established markets. While the community lacks a formal designation like those found in music or film, the intensity of their engagement creates a distinct cultural ecosystem centered on his corporate vision. Despite this intense engagement, iFANN's Global Fame Engine has evaluated Ryan Cohen but determined that he does not currently hold a placement in the published rankings, including the Global Top 1,000 or any scope-specific lists. Consequently, no specific ordinal rank or score can be assigned to his current global standing within the system.[edit]

Ryan Cohen maintains an impressive collection of rare Pokémon and sports trading cards, valuing his personal hoard at millions of dollars. A devoted fan of the progressive rock band Tool, he has famously quoted their lyrics in official shareholder letters. His preferred reading material is "The Hard Thing About Hard Things" by Ben Horowitz, which reflects his pragmatic approach to leadership. He has never participated in a traditional media interview, relying exclusively on shareholder communications and social platforms to speak to the public. His wardrobe remains strictly minimalist, consisting only of black t-shirts, black jeans, and sneakers. Beyond these personal quirks, Cohen's career is marked by legendary business maneuvers. In May 2026, he made headlines by proposing a $125 per share bid to acquire eBay, a deal valued at approximately $56 billion. Although reports later suggested he might abandon the takeover push in favor of a store partnership, the sheer scale of the offer cemented his status as a disruptive force in the tech sector. Additionally, his founding of Chewy in 2011 stands as a defining chapter, growing the company into a $3.5 billion annual revenue enterprise before its record-breaking sale to PetSmart.[edit]

Ryan Cohen was born to Ted Cohen, a lawyer and businessman, and Evelyn Cohen, a homemaker. He has not publicly named any siblings. As of 2026, he is not married and has no children. He lives a private life and has not disclosed his current residence or pets. His family background is Jewish, and he grew up in a close-knit household in the Montreal suburb of Dollard-des-Ormeaux.[edit]

Cohen co-founded Chewy with Michael Day. He replaced Matt Furlong as CEO of GameStop in 2023. Retail investor Keith Gill (Roaring Kitty) helped spark the 2021 GameStop short squeeze, though Cohen has never publicly acknowledged him.[edit]

Ryan Cohen has never publicly confirmed any romantic relationships. There are no credible reports of him dating, being engaged, or married. He has no known children. His intensely private nature means no details about past or present partners are available from multiple credible outlets. As of 2026, he is reported to be single.[edit]

Per iFANN's editorial analysis, Ryan Cohen's net worth stands at $4.5 Billion as of 2026. The majority of this fortune stems from his substantial 12% stake in GameStop, which alone is valued at over $3 billion. He also maintains a significant holding in Apple Inc., estimated to be worth $500 million, while retaining shares from the original Chewy sale despite some divestment over the years. As CEO of GameStop, Cohen draws a nominal salary of just $1 annually. There are no publicly reported real estate holdings or endorsement deals attached to his name. His wealth trajectory has climbed steadily since the 2021 surge in GameStop's stock price, further bolstered by the retailer's recent return to profitability.[edit]

Cohen has not won traditional entertainment or business awards. His recognition comes primarily from business rankings and lists, such as being named to the Forbes 400 and TIME 100 Next. He was inducted into the Canadian Business Hall of Fame as part of the Chewy founding team and received an honorary doctorate from Concordia University in 2022.[edit]