Alexis Ohanian

Early Life and Education

Alexis Kerry Ohanian was born on April 24, 1983, in Brooklyn, New York. He is the son of Chris Ohanian, of Armenian descent, and Anke Ohanian, a German-born nurse. Ohanian has often spoken about the deep bond between his parents and how their relationship influenced his values and worldview while growing up.

Despite limited financial means, his parents focused on creating meaningful experiences, instilling in him a strong appreciation for life's simple moments. Ohanian attended Howard High School in Ellicott City, Maryland. He later enrolled at the University of Virginia, graduating in 2005 with degrees in History and Commerce.

Reddit and Entrepreneurial Ventures

Shortly after college, Ohanian partnered with his friend Steve Huffman to pitch a mobile ordering app to startup accelerator Y Combinator. While the original idea was rejected, Y Combinator encouraged them to pursue an alternative. This led to the creation of Reddit, a social news aggregation and discussion website, in 2005.

Reddit gained rapid popularity and was acquired by Condé Nast in 2006 for a reported sum between $10 million and $20 million. Although he stepped away from day-to-day operations in 2010, Ohanian later returned to the company in a leadership role and eventually served as executive chairman.

In 2007, he founded Breadpig, a side venture that produces quirky merchandise geared toward tech and geek culture. Breadpig donates its profits to charitable causes, reflecting Ohanian’s broader commitment to philanthropy.