# Fanatics: Michael Rubin

- Show: [How I Built This](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this)
- Published: 2025-01-27
- Length: 56m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2025-01-27-fanatics-michael-rubin

## Summary

Michael Rubin, founder and CEO of Fanatics, recounts his journey from a struggling student with undiagnosed ADD to building a $25 billion sports commerce and betting empire. He details his early ventures in ski tuning and closeout footwear, the strategic pivot to e-commerce via GSI Commerce, and the acquisition of Fanatics to vertically integrate sports licensing. Rubin discusses the company's recent challenges with product design, specifically the backlash over Nike jerseys and MLB uniforms, and his personal battle with anxiety and sleep deprivation.

## Chapters

- [5:10](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2025-01-27-fanatics-michael-rubin#t=310) Early Entrepreneurship and Ski Business
- [19:54](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2025-01-27-fanatics-michael-rubin#t=1194) Closeout Footwear and Early Financing
- [31:36](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2025-01-27-fanatics-michael-rubin#t=1896) GSI Commerce and the Dotcom Bubble
- [38:22](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2025-01-27-fanatics-michael-rubin#t=2302) Acquiring Fanatics and Vertical Integration
- [46:36](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2025-01-27-fanatics-michael-rubin#t=2796) Product Design Backlash and Brand Purpose
- [51:10](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2025-01-27-fanatics-michael-rubin#t=3070) Personal Sacrifices, Anxiety, and Sleep

## Topics

- [Starting a product company](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/starting-a-company)
- [Direct-to-consumer & e-commerce](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/direct-to-consumer)
- [Industrial & consumer product design](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/industrial-design)
- [Founder wellbeing](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/founder-wellbeing)
- [Leadership, teams & culture](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/leadership-and-culture)

## Most relevant to

companies scaling up

## Mentioned

- Fanatics (company)
- GSI Commerce (company)
- Nike (company)
- Major League Baseball (company)
- eBay (company)
- SoftBank (company)
- Amazon (company)
- DraftKings (company)
- FanDuel (company)
- Mitchell & Ness (company)
- Topps (company)
- Dick's Sporting Goods (company)
- Sports Authority (company)
- TJ Maxx (company)
- Marshalls (company)
- Boskov's (company)
- Umbro (company)
- Continental Bank (company)
- Villanova (company)
- Ray Pinello Ski Shop (company)

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- [Founder Fundraising Journey: Craig Dubitsky, Happy Products](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-startup-cpg-podcast/2026-04-18-founder-fundraising-journey-craig-dubitsky-happy-products) (The Startup CPG Podcast)
- [#115 Pure Gold Series: Lessons on Iterating from Seth Goldman + Updates on Eat the Change & Just Ice Tea](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-startup-cpg-podcast/2023-11-21-115-pure-gold-series-lessons-on-iterating-from-seth-goldman-updates-on-eat-the-c) (The Startup CPG Podcast)
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## Citing this page

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