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Person

Michael G. Rubin

Nationality:

American
Born:

1972
Occupation:

Executive Chairman, Fanatics

Co-Chair, REFORM Alliance

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Michael G. Rubin is an online entrepreneur and left-of-center criminal-justice policy advocate. Rubin was an early leader in internet-based commerce, building and selling several companies for billions of dollars. As of 2023, Rubin runs Fanatic, a $27 billion global sports company that licenses and sells products and is entering the online gambling market. In 2019, Rubin was one of the co-founders of the REFORM Alliance, which seeks to reform parole and probation laws in various states.

Business Career

In 1998, Rubin formed the online retail company G.S.I. Commerce, which built online shops for stores and processed payments, fulfillments, and returns. 1 Among G.S.I. Commerce’s large early clients were Ralph Lauren and Estee Lauder. 2 In 2011, Rubin sold G.S.I. Commerce to eBay for $2.4 billion and personally made $180 million from the deal. 3

As part of the G.S.I. Commerce deal, Rubin was able to keep certain assets, including luxury brand retailer Rue La La, flash sale commerce site ShopRunner, and Fanatics, a sports e-commerce business. 4 In 2020, Rubin sold ShopRunner to FedEx for $228 million. 5 Rubin’s umbrella company, Kynetic, purchased clothes retailer Gilt Groupe in 2018. 6

Rue La La and Gilt Groupe merged and the resulting entity was later sold to Hudson’s Bay Company for $250 million. 7 Rubin continues to sit on the board at Rue Gilt Group. 8 Until 2020, Rubin stated he spent most of his time focusing on Fanatics through brokering sports-licensing deals, creating physical and digital trading cards, collectibles, and working on sports betting and gaming. 9

In 2011, Rubin purchased a 10 percent stake of Harris Blitzer Sports and Entertainment (Harris Blitzer) as part of a play to purchase the NBA’s Philadelphia 76ers. 10 In 2013, Harris Blitzer purchased the NHL’s New Jersey Devils. 11 In 2022, Rubin sold his stake in Harris Blitzer to avoid conflicts as Fanatics made plans to enter sports gambling. 12

As of 2022, Fanatics has more than 10,000 employees in 57 countries with a valuation of $27 billion. 13 In June 2023, Forbes estimate of Michael Rubin’s wealth at $11.4 billion. 14

REFORM Alliance

Michael Rubin is a co-founder of the left-of-center criminal justice reform group REFORM Alliance. 15 REFORM Alliance seeks to change the parole and probation systems in several states. 16 Recording artist Meek Mill and Rubin approached and convinced others, including Jay-Z and New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft, to donate $50 billion to launch REFORM in 2019. 17 In 2020, during COVID-19, REFORM delivered more than 6 million masks to jails and prisons. 18

Other Philanthropy

In 2020, Rubin also founded the ALL IN Challenge that became one of the largest online auction fundraisers in history, donating $60 million to feed people during the pandemic. 19 Prizes auctioned and raffled included a dinner with Peyton Manning, golf at Pebble Beach with Bill Murray and Justin Timberlake, and a New England Patriots Super Bowl ring. 20

References

  1. Rosman, Katherine. “Michael Rubin’s Big Shot.” New York Times. November 5, 2021. Accessed June 18, 2023. https://www.nytimes.com/2021/11/05/style/michael-rubin-fanatics-76ers.html.
  2. [1] Rosman, Katherine. “Michael Rubin’s Big Shot.” New York Times. November 5, 2021. Accessed June 18, 2023. https://www.nytimes.com/2021/11/05/style/michael-rubin-fanatics-76ers.html.
  3. Rosman, Katherine. “Michael Rubin’s Big Shot.” New York Times. November 5, 2021. Accessed June 18, 2023. https://www.nytimes.com/2021/11/05/style/michael-rubin-fanatics-76ers.html.
  4. Rosman, Katherine. “Michael Rubin’s Big Shot.” New York Times. November 5, 2021. Accessed June 18, 2023. https://www.nytimes.com/2021/11/05/style/michael-rubin-fanatics-76ers.html.
  5. Rosman, Katherine. “Michael Rubin’s Big Shot.” New York Times. November 5, 2021. Accessed June 18, 2023. https://www.nytimes.com/2021/11/05/style/michael-rubin-fanatics-76ers.html.
  6. Rosman, Katherine. “Michael Rubin’s Big Shot.” New York Times. November 5, 2021. Accessed June 18, 2023. https://www.nytimes.com/2021/11/05/style/michael-rubin-fanatics-76ers.html.
  7. Kestenbaum, Richard. “Why Rue La La Is Acquiring Gilt Groupe.” Forbes. June 4, 2018. Accessed June 18, 2023. https://www.forbes.com/sites/richardkestenbaum/2018/06/04/why-rue-la-la-is-acquiring-gilt-groupe/?sh=7dc32d7b7534.
  8. “Michael Rubin.” Fanatics. Accessed June 18, 2023. https://www.fanaticsinc.com/michael-rubin
  9. “Michael Rubin.” Fanatics. Accessed June 18, 2023. https://www.fanaticsinc.com/michael-rubin; Rosman, Katherine. “Michael Rubin’s Big Shot.” New York Times. November 5, 2021. Accessed June 18, 2023. https://www.nytimes.com/2021/11/05/style/michael-rubin-fanatics-76ers.html.
  10. Krietzberg, Ian. “Fanatics CEO Michael Rubin Selling Ownership Stake in Philadelphia 76ers, New Jersey Devils.” CNBC. June 22, 2022. Accessed June 19, 2023. https://www.cnbc.com/2022/06/22/fanatics-ceo-michael-rubin-selling-ownership-stake-in-76ers-nj-devils-.html.
  11. “Timeline.” Harris Blitzer Sports and Entertainment. Accessed June 18, 2023. https://www.hbse.com/about-us/.
  12. Krietzberg, Ian. “Fanatics CEO Michael Rubin Selling Ownership Stake in Philadelphia 76ers, New Jersey Devils.” CNBC. June 22, 2022. Accessed June 19, 2023. https://www.cnbc.com/2022/06/22/fanatics-ceo-michael-rubin-selling-ownership-stake-in-76ers-nj-devils-.html.
  13. Krietzberg, Ian. “Fanatics CEO Michael Rubin Selling Ownership Stake in Philadelphia 76ers, New Jersey Devils.” CNBC. June 22, 2022. Accessed June 19, 2023. https://www.cnbc.com/2022/06/22/fanatics-ceo-michael-rubin-selling-ownership-stake-in-76ers-nj-devils-.html.
  14. “Michael Rubin.” Forbes. Accessed June 19, 2023. https://www.forbes.com/profile/michael-rubin/?sh=3f2855713da9.
  15. Lynch, John. “They Dynamic Career and Life of Michael Rubin – Billionaire Team Partner, Friend of High-Profile Rappers, and Criminal Justice Reform Advocate.” Business Insider. April 21, 2021. Accessed June 18, 2023. https://www.businessinsider.com/michael-rubin-profile-fanatics-reform-alliance-2021-4
  16. Lynch, John. “They Dynamic Career and Life of Michael Rubin – Billionaire Team Partner, Friend of High-Profile Rappers, and Criminal Justice Reform Advocate.” Business Insider. April 21, 2021. Accessed June 18, 2023. https://www.businessinsider.com/michael-rubin-profile-fanatics-reform-alliance-2021-4.
  17. Rosman, Katherine. “Michael Rubin’s Big Shot.” New York Times. November 5, 2021. Accessed June 18, 2023. https://www.nytimes.com/2021/11/05/style/michael-rubin-fanatics-76ers.html; Lynch, John. “They Dynamic Career and Life of Michael Rubin – Billionaire Team Partner, Friend of High-Profile Rappers, and Criminal Justice Reform Advocate.” Business Insider. April 21, 2021. Accessed June 18, 2023. https://www.businessinsider.com/michael-rubin-profile-fanatics-reform-alliance-2021-4.
  18. “About Us.” REFORM Alliance. Accessed June 19, 2023. https://reformalliance.com/about/#.
  19. “Michael Rubin.” Fanatics. Accessed June 18, 2023. https://www.fanaticsinc.com/michael-rubin
  20. Rosman, Katherine. “Michael Rubin’s Big Shot.” New York Times. November 5, 2021. Accessed June 18, 2023. https://www.nytimes.com/2021/11/05/style/michael-rubin-fanatics-76ers.html.
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