Alright, let’s talk about Reddit. You know, that website where people post memes, ask deep (or dumb) questions, argue about everything, and somehow always bring up cats.
But have you ever stopped and thought:
“Who actually owns Reddit?”
Like… who’s behind the curtain pulling the strings?
Well, I did some digging. And now I’m here to explain it to you —because let’s be honest, some of this corporate stuff is harder to understand than math homework.
First Off, What Is Reddit?
Let’s keep this super simple:
Reddit is a website full of mini-communities called “subreddits.”
People post stuff. Other people vote on it. If it’s good, it goes up. If it’s bad, it goes down. Then everyone argues in the comments. It’s beautiful chaos.
Who Started Reddit?
Let’s rewind back to 2005 — yep, the same year YouTube launched and everyone was still using flip phones.
Reddit was created by these three dudes:
| Name | Why They Matter |
|---|---|
| Steve Huffman | Helped build Reddit. Still runs it today. |
| Alexis Ohanian | Co-founder. Also married to Serena Williams, no big deal. |
| Aaron Swartz | Joined early on. Total genius. Super important in tech history. |
They just wanted to build a place to share cool links. That’s it. No crazy plan. Just vibes.
So… Who Owns Reddit Now?
Fast forward to now, and Reddit’s grown up a lot. And like most grown-up things, ownership is messy.
Reddit isn’t owned by just one person. It’s owned by:
- A media company
- A bunch of investors
- Some of the original team
- And even people like me and you (if you buy shares)
Let me break it down.
Who Owns Reddit Today?
| Owner | Who They Are | Why They Matter |
|---|---|---|
| Advance Publications | Big media company (they own The New Yorker too) | They bought Reddit in 2011 |
| Steve Huffman | Reddit’s current CEO | He helped build the thing |
| Investors (like Fidelity, Tencent, Sequoia) | Giant money machines | They gave Reddit cash to grow |
| Employees | People who work at Reddit | Some get stock (a piece of the company) as part of their pay |
So yeah, Reddit’s kind of like a pizza that’s been cut into a lot of slices. No one’s holding the whole thing.
Visual Breakdown: Who Owns What
I made this simple little chart to help you picture it:
+--------------------------+
| Who Owns Reddit? |
+--------------------------+
| Advance Publications - 30% |
| Steve Huffman & Team - 10% |
| Big Investors - 50% |
| Employees - 10% |
+--------------------------+
These numbers aren’t exact, but they’re close enough to give you the big picture.
How Reddit Makes Money
You might be wondering:
“Okay, but how does Reddit make money? It’s free to use.”
Here’s how:
- 🧼 Ads – Yep, like every other site. Ads bring in most of the cash.
- 🪙 Reddit Premium – Pay money to hide the ads.
- 🛍️ Awards & Emojis – Users buy little digital gifts for each other.
- 🧠 Data Licensing – Companies pay to use Reddit’s data (for AI and other nerdy stuff).
Did Reddit Go Public?
Yes. In 2024.
Reddit is now a public company, which means:
- You can buy a piece of Reddit by buying its stock.
- The stock is called RDDT and it’s on the New York Stock Exchange.
- It’s no longer just a startup run out of someone’s garage.
Public vs Private Companies (Simple Table)
| Type | Can You Buy Shares? | Who Owns It? |
|---|---|---|
| Private | ❌ No | Founders & early investors |
| Public | ✅ Yes | Anyone with money (like you) |
So Who Really Owns Reddit?
If I had to sum it all up in one sentence:
Reddit is owned by a bunch of investors, a big media company, the guy who started it, and anyone who buys stock in it.
Basically, it’s like a group project where everyone owns a little piece of the final grade. But the people who actually use Reddit—post memes, comment, vote—they make the site what it is.
TL;DR (Too Long; Didn’t Read)
- Reddit started in 2005 by Steve Huffman, Alexis Ohanian, and Aaron Swartz.
- It’s now owned by a mix of:
- Advance Publications
- Investors
- Steve & the team
- Employees
- And regular people (if you buy stock)
- It went public in 2024. You can buy its stock now.
- It makes money from ads, paid memberships, awards, and selling data.
Fun Facts (Because Why Not)
- “Reddit” is a play on the phrase “I read it on Reddit.”
- One of Reddit’s biggest investors is Tencent, a tech company from China.
- Steve Huffman left Reddit for a while… then came back like a boss.
- Alexis Ohanian stepped away, but he’s still a legend in the tech world.
Final Thoughts
Reddit might be owned by big companies and investors now, but let’s be real:
The people who make Reddit are the users.
You. Me. The weird guy who posts pictures of bread stapled to trees.
The owners might have the keys, but we’re the ones driving the car.
Just try not to crash it.
—Sahadat.
