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How I Built This with Guy Raz
Fanatics: Michael Rubin
Jan 27, 2025
Michael Rubin, the founder of Fanatics, transformed a childhood challenge with reading into a $25 billion sports branding empire. He shares how trading closeout sporting goods fueled his entrepreneurial spirit from a young age. Rubin discusses navigating setbacks with Major League Baseball and Nike, highlighting the importance of learning from criticism. He reflects on the evolution of e-commerce and strategic acquisitions that propelled Fanatics from a small venture to an industry titan while balancing work, personal life, and mental health.
56:48
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Quick takeaways
- Michael Rubin's entrepreneurial journey began young, showcasing his instinct for business through early ventures like a snow shoveling service and ski shops.
- Rubin's strategic vision during the dot-com bubble led to the acquisition of competitors, solidifying GSI Commerce's position in sports e-commerce.
Deep dives
Michael Rubin's Early Entrepreneurial Journey
Michael Rubin began his entrepreneurial journey at just eight years old, starting with a snow shoveling business where he hired other kids to do the work for him. By the age of 12, he had opened a ski tuning shop and went on to establish multiple successful ski shops by the time he graduated high school. Rubin's early ventures were marked by a keen instinct for business and a willingness to take calculated risks, which allowed him to make hundreds of thousands of dollars by flipping sporting goods, even before he turned 20. His experiences laid the foundation for his future ventures and highlighted his exceptional ability to spot opportunities in the market.
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