Ending Soon! Save 33% on All Access

Self-Made Billionaire Michael Rubin: E-Commerce Is Rapidly Changing The owner of Rue La La, Fanatics and ShopRunner was bankrupt in his teens. But today, at 41, he is worth almost $3 billion.

By Catherine Clifford

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

Michael Rubin, a Philadelphia native, has been playing hardball in business since he was just a teen. His early days were tumultuous to say the least. By the time he was 16, Rubin was more than $200,000 in debt. But he has more than recovered: At 41, Rubin is worth $2.7 billion.

Today, Rubin is hyper focused on growing his three e-commerce businesses: fashion flash sale site Rue La La, two-day delivery membership program ShopRunner and sports-team gear site Fanatics. He says e-commerce is still a young and rapidly growing industry that stands to be changed as dramatically by mobile as the Internet has changed e-commerce.

Related

Why This Company Wants You to Change Your Underwear

Why Bitcoin's Future Is Bright

Catherine Clifford

Senior Entrepreneurship Writer at CNBC

Catherine Clifford is senior entrepreneurship writer at CNBC. She was formerly a senior writer at Entrepreneur.com, the small business reporter at CNNMoney and an assistant in the New York bureau for CNN. Clifford attended Columbia University where she earned a bachelor's degree. She lives in Brooklyn, N.Y. You can follow her on Twitter at @CatClifford.

Want to be an Entrepreneur Leadership Network contributor? Apply now to join.

Business Models

How to Become an AI-Centric Business (and Why It's Crucial for Long-Term Success)

Learn the essential steps to integrate AI at the core of your operations and stay competitive in an ever-evolving landscape.

Business News

'Creators Left So Much Money on the Table': Kickstarter's CEO Reveals the Story Behind the Company's Biggest Changes in 15 Years

In an interview with Entrepreneur, Kickstarter CEO Everette Taylor explains the decision-making behind the changes, how he approaches leading Kickstarter, and his advice for future CEOs.

Career

Is Consumer Services a Good Career Path for 2024? Here's the Verdict

Consumer services is a broad field with a variety of benefits and drawbacks. Here's what you should consider before choosing it as a career path.