Pete Cashmore became rich primarily through founding and managing Mashable, a popular blog turned global media company.
Here’s a brief overview of his path to wealth:
- Founding of Mashable: In 2005, at the age of 19, Cashmore founded Mashable from his home in Aberdeen, Scotland. He started the blog as a way to share his thoughts on social media and digital technology, industries that were rapidly changing and growing at the time.
- Mashable’s Growth: The blog quickly gained popularity due to the quality of its content and its focus on the emerging world of social media. As the internet and social media began to play an increasingly important role in society, Mashable became a go-to source for news and analysis on the latest digital trends and technology innovations. This resulted in significant advertising revenue.
- Expanding Mashable: Cashmore expanded Mashable into a global media company, covering a wider range of topics including technology, digital culture, and entertainment. This brought even more visitors to the site, boosting advertising revenue further.
- Sale of Mashable: Cashmore’s wealth took a significant leap forward when Mashable was sold. In 2017, Ziff Davis, a digital media subsidiary of J2 Global, purchased Mashable for around $50 million. At this point, Cashmore stepped down as CEO but continued to act as a strategic advisor.
Pete Cashmore’s wealth, therefore, is largely a result of his ability to create, manage, and successfully sell a digital media company. His deep understanding of social media trends and digital technology, along with his entrepreneurial drive, were key factors in his financial success.