LeaderPortfolio
Elias
Ric Elias
Rank #3285
UNITED STATESMedia & EntertainmentMedia

Ric Elias

Net Worth
$1.036B
0% (24h)
Ric Elias is the co-founder and CEO of Red Ventures, a digital media company that owns and operates brands such as CNET, Lonely Planet, and The Points Guy. Born in Puerto Rico, Elias is 58 years old and has a net worth estimated at $1.0 billion, stemming from his media ventures. His career includes early work at GE before earning an MBA from Harvard Business School. He founded Red Ventures in 2000, growing the company through strategic acquisitions, including Bankrate and CNET, and has cultivated an award-winning company culture. He is also known for surviving the US Airways Flight 1549 incident. Elias is actively involved in philanthropy, founding Golden Door Scholars.

How to read Ric Elias's profile

Public net-worth figures are estimates. They combine observable inputs—typically listed equity, disclosed transactions, and market prices—with editorial judgment where filings are incomplete (for example, private holdings, debt, or cross-holdings). For Ric Elias, we anchor the narrative to Media and Media, then update the headline number as markets move. The chart on this page is meant to show trajectory, not a certified balance sheet.

When you see $1.036B alongside global rank #3285, interpret it as our best synthesis of widely cited ownership and price signals—not a claim about cash on hand. Estimates can diverge from other publishers because of different treatment of options, trusts, charitable vehicles, or illiquid assets. We document the general approach in methodology and welcome corrections via corrections.

Country (UNITED STATES) and career milestones on this page are curated for reader context; they should be verified against primary sources when used for research. Editorial metadata for this profile is refreshed on a rolling basis, with deeper audits at least annually (last noted cycle: 2026).

Looking for depth? When available, the dossier and timeline sections below add long-form context beyond the headline number—prioritize those modules when evaluating claims about strategy, controversies, or philanthropic commitments.

The Full Dossier

Early Life

Ric Elias was born in San Juan, Puerto Rico, which granted him U.S. citizenship. Information about his early life is limited, but his later achievements suggest an early entrepreneurial drive and interest in media and technology.

Rise to Success

Ric Elias co-founded Red Ventures with Dan Feldstein in 2000. Red Ventures initially focused on online marketing services. Elias's strategy has been acquisition-driven, targeting niche sites with strong audience loyalty and monetization potential. Key acquisitions include Bankrate in 2017 ($1.4 billion) and CNET in 2020 ($500 million). Red Ventures has grown into a multi-brand digital media conglomerate. By 2015, the company was valued at over $1 billion.

Key Business Strategies

Elias's approach reflects a modern media playbook: buy, optimize, scale, and monetize through affiliate marketing, advertising, and subscription models. Red Ventures focuses on acquiring and optimizing niche digital properties, enhancing them for performance marketing, and monetizing them through affiliate revenue and advertising.

Philanthropy

Elias founded Golden Door Scholars, a non-profit that provides scholarships, mentorship, and career support to undocumented students in the U.S. He has pledged to give away at least half of his family's wealth.

Career Timeline

2020

Acquired CNET

Acquired CNET for $500 million.

2017

Acquired Bankrate

Acquired Bankrate for $1.4 billion.

2007

Inc. 500

Ranked fourth on the Inc. 500 list.

2000

Cofounded Red Ventures

Co-founded Red Ventures with Dan Feldstein, which grew into a major digital media company.

Philanthropic Impact

Education$1M

Golden Door Scholars

Provides scholarships, mentorship, and career support to undocumented students in the U.S.

Economic Development$100M

Forward787

A social enterprise committed to raising and deploying $100 million to build businesses in Puerto Rico

Key Business Ventures & Holdings

CompanyStakeValue
Red Ventures

Net Worth History

In-Depth Analysis

Early Life

Ric Elias was born in San Juan, Puerto Rico, which granted him U.S. citizenship. Information about his early life is limited, but his later achievements suggest an early entrepreneurial drive and interest in media and technology.

Rise to Success

Ric Elias co-founded Red Ventures with Dan Feldstein in 2000. Red Ventures initially focused on online marketing services. Elias's strategy has been acquisition-driven, targeting niche sites with strong audience loyalty and monetization potential. Key acquisitions include Bankrate in 2017 ($1.4 billion) and CNET in 2020 ($500 million). Red Ventures has grown into a multi-brand digital media conglomerate. By 2015, the company was valued at over $1 billion.

Key Business Strategies

Elias's approach reflects a modern media playbook: buy, optimize, scale, and monetize through affiliate marketing, advertising, and subscription models. Red Ventures focuses on acquiring and optimizing niche digital properties, enhancing them for performance marketing, and monetizing them through affiliate revenue and advertising.

Philanthropy

Elias founded Golden Door Scholars, a non-profit that provides scholarships, mentorship, and career support to undocumented students in the U.S. He has pledged to give away at least half of his family's wealth.

Data Sources & Methodology

Figures for Ric Elias are synthesized from the sources below and cross-checked against our net worth methodology. Estimates may lag market moves; see corrections to report discrepancies.