Early Life
Michael Rubin was born on July 21, 1972, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Growing up in Lafayette Hill, he showed an entrepreneurial spirit from a young age. At 12, he started a ski-tuning shop in his parents' basement. Two years later, he opened Mike's Ski and Sport in Conshohocken, Pennsylvania, using funds from his bar mitzvah.
Rise to Success
Rubin's career took off when he founded Global Sports Incorporated (later GSI Commerce) in 1998. GSI Commerce provided e-commerce solutions for retailers. In 2011, he sold GSI Commerce to eBay for $2.4 billion. He then bought back assets, including Fanatics, which would become the cornerstone of his wealth. Under Rubin's leadership, Fanatics has partnered with over 300 professional leagues and teams.
Key Business Strategies
A key strategy for Rubin has been forming strategic partnerships with major sports leagues and teams, creating a vertically integrated model for Fanatics. He focused on an e-commerce approach, making Fanatics a leader in online sports merchandise. Fanatics also expanded into collectibles and sports betting to diversify its revenue streams. Rubin's ability to acquire undervalued assets and his risk-taking have been crucial to his success.
Philanthropy
Rubin co-founded the REFORM Alliance in January 2019, a criminal justice reform organization. He also created the ALL IN Challenge in 2020, which raised $60 million to feed those in need during the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2023, he initiated the Merch Madness Fan Gear Giveaway, donating approximately $20 million of licensed apparel. In 2025, Rubin spearheaded the LA Strong merchandise collection to support those impacted by the LA wildfires.
