Alexis Ohanian is an American internet entrepreneur and investor who is best known as the co-founder and former executive chairman of Reddit, one of the most popular social media platforms in the world. He is also the founder of Seven Seven Six, a venture capital firm that invests in early-stage startups. Ohanian is married to tennis legend Serena Williams and has two daughters with her.
In this article, we will explore the biography, net worth, and social media presence of Alexis Ohanian, who has been dubbed as “the mayor of the internet” by Forbes. We will also answer some frequently asked questions about him and his achievements.
Alexis Ohanian Biography
| Name | Alexis Kerry Ohanian |
|---|---|
| Birth day | April 24, 1983 |
| Birth place | Brooklyn, New York, USA |
| Age | 40 years old |
| Birth sign | Taurus |
| Nationality | American |
| Mother | Anke Ohanian |
| Father | Chris Ohanian |
| Spouse | Serena Williams |
| Siblings | None |
| College | University of Virginia |
Alexis Ohanian Net Worth
According to Celebrity Net Worth, Alexis Ohanian has a net worth of $150 million as of August 2021. His main sources of income are his investments in various startups and his ownership stake in Reddit. He also earns money from his book sales, speaking engagements, and endorsements.
Some interesting stories about Alexis Ohanian’s net worth are:
- He once lost $10,000 in a single hand of blackjack at a casino in Las Vegas.
- He bought a billboard in Times Square for $20,000 to propose to Serena Williams in 2016.
- He donated $1 million to DonorsChoose.org, an online platform that supports public school teachers and students.
- He bought two billboards in San Francisco for $35,000 to promote his book Without Their Permission in 2013.
- He invested $200,000 in Coinbase in 2012, which is now worth over $100 million.
About Alexis Ohanian
Alexis Ohanian was born in Brooklyn, New York, to an Armenian-American father and a German mother. His paternal grandparents were survivors of the Armenian Genocide who immigrated to the US as refugees. Ohanian grew up in Maryland and attended Howard High School, where he gave the student address at his graduation in 2001.
Ohanian developed an interest in technology and entrepreneurship from a young age. He learned how to code and build websites by spending time on online message boards. He also made websites for nonprofit organizations for free by hiding his identity behind his email. He majored in commerce and history at the University of Virginia, where he met his future co-founder Steve Huffman.
Some of the highlights of Ohanian’s career are:
- In 2005, he co-founded Reddit with Huffman after pitching their idea to Y Combinator, a startup accelerator program. Reddit became one of the most visited websites in the world, with millions of users posting and voting on various topics. Ohanian sold Reddit to Condé Nast in 2006 for an undisclosed amount, but remained involved as a board member and executive chairman until 2018.
- In 2007, he launched Breadpig, an “uncorporation” that produces geeky merchandise and donates the profits to charity. He is no longer involved in its daily operations, but remains its founder.
- In 2009, he gave a TED talk about a viral campaign he led to name a whale Mister Splashy Pants.
- In 2010, he spent three months in Armenia as a Kiva fellow, working on microfinance projects.
- In 2011 and 2012, he was named to the Forbes “30 Under 30” list as an influential figure in the tech industry.
- In 2013, he published his bestselling book Without Their Permission: How the 21st Century Will Be Made, Not Managed, which chronicles his journey as an entrepreneur and offers advice to aspiring innovators.
- In 2016, he co-founded Initialized Capital, an early-stage venture capital firm that has invested in successful startups like Coinbase, Instacart, Opendoor, and Flexport. He left Initialized Capital in 2020 to start his own fund.
- In 2020, he founded Seven Seven Six, a venture capital firm that focuses on pre-seed and seed-stage investments. He also launched the Seven Seven Six Foundation, a philanthropic arm that supports underrepresented founders and communities.
- In 2020, he resigned from Reddit’s board and asked to be replaced by a Black candidate in response to the killing of George Floyd and the Black Lives Matter movement. He also pledged to donate future gains from his Reddit stock to causes that support racial justice.
- In 2021, he bought the first of six teams that will be part of The Golf League (TGL), a new golf league that will launch in 2022 with backing from Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy. His wife Serena Williams is also part of the ownership of Los Angeles Golf Club.
Alexis Ohanian Social Media
Alexis Ohanian is active on several social media platforms, where he shares his insights, opinions, and personal life with his fans and followers. Here are some of his social media handles:
- Twitter: @alexisohanian
- Instagram: @alexisohanian
- YouTube: Alexis Ohanian
- LinkedIn: Alexis Ohanian
- Facebook: Alexis Ohanian
FAQs about Alexis Ohanian
How did Alexis Ohanian meet Serena Williams?
Alexis Ohanian met Serena Williams in May 2015 at a hotel in Rome, where they were both staying for different events. They had a brief conversation at the poolside, where Ohanian pretended to know nothing about tennis. They exchanged phone numbers and started dating soon after.
How much did Alexis Ohanian spend on his wedding with Serena Williams?
Alexis Ohanian and Serena Williams got married on November 16, 2017, in New Orleans, Louisiana. They had a lavish wedding ceremony and reception that reportedly cost $3.5 million. The wedding was attended by celebrities like Beyoncé, Kim Kardashian, Jay-Z, and Anna Wintour. The wedding theme was inspired by Beauty and the Beast.
What are some of the startups that Alexis Ohanian has invested in?
Alexis Ohanian has invested in over 200 startups through his venture capital firms Initialized Capital and Seven Seven Six. Some of the most notable ones are:
- Coinbase: A cryptocurrency exchange platform that went public in 2021 with a valuation of over $100 billion.
- Instacart: An online grocery delivery service that is valued at $39 billion as of 2021.
- Opendoor: An online real estate marketplace that allows users to buy and sell homes quickly and conveniently. It went public in 2020 with a valuation of $18 billion.
- Flexport: A freight forwarding and logistics company that uses technology to make global trade easier and more efficient. It is valued at $3.2 billion as of 2019.
- Ro: A telehealth company that provides online access to healthcare services and products for various conditions. It is valued at $5 billion as of 2020.
What are some of the causes that Alexis Ohanian supports?
Alexis Ohanian is a philanthropist who supports various causes that align with his values and vision. Some of the causes that he supports are:
- Racial justice: He has donated millions of dollars to organizations that fight against racism and discrimination, such as the NAACP Legal Defense Fund, the Know Your Rights Camp, and the Center for Policing Equity.
- Armenian causes: He has supported various initiatives that aim to help the Armenian people and preserve their culture and heritage, such as the Armenia Fund, the Aurora Humanitarian Initiative, and the Armenian National Committee of America.
- Education: He has funded several projects that aim to improve the quality and accessibility of education for students and teachers, such as DonorsChoose.org, Code.org, and Girls Who Code.
- Entrepreneurship: He has mentored and advised many aspiring entrepreneurs and innovators, especially those from underrepresented backgrounds, through programs like Y Combinator, Techstars, and Backstage Capital.
