Big Shot
The King of Gaming: How Bobby Kotick Built and Sold Activision Blizzard for $69B
Apr 10, 2025
Bobby Kotick, the mastermind behind Activision Blizzard, recounts his journey from hustling snacks in NYC to leading a $69 billion company. He shares wild anecdotes, like cold-calling Nintendo and charming Steve Wynn into an investment on a private jet. Discover how he revived a bankrupt Activision, leveraging classic games as billion-dollar blueprints. Bobby also reflects on leadership philosophies and the emotional rollercoaster of selling to Microsoft, revealing the blend of grit and innovation that fueled his success in the gaming industry.
01:23:15
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Quick takeaways
- Bobby Kotick's entrepreneurial journey began in childhood, fueled by family encouragement and early hustles that laid his business foundation.
- The success of Activision Blizzard is attributed to revitalizing familiar gaming franchises instead of solely pursuing radical new ideas.
Deep dives
The Entrepreneurial Spirit
The speaker emphasizes the innate entrepreneurial spirit that drives individuals from a young age. Bobby Kotick shares how he was inspired by his family's entrepreneurial background, where both his parents and grandfather encouraged entrepreneurial endeavors. His early ventures included selling items as a child, and he attributes his ability to hustle to a genetic predisposition for business. This entrepreneurial passion was further fueled by exposure to influential figures in business during his upbringing, particularly from his father's network as a real estate lawyer.
