📺 Stream EntrepreneurTV for Free 📺

This Media Company Used Hip Hop and Sneakers to Attract 55 Million Viewers and Sell for Over $250 Million Andrew Medal chats with Rich Antoniello about how Complex Media is redefining the culture by sparking conversation through hip hop, sneakers, tech, news and sports.

By Andrew Medal •

entrepreneur daily

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

Rich Antoniello is the co-founder and CEO of Complex Media. Complex is the intersection of all things pop culture, from hip-hop to sneakers, and dominates the male market of 18- to 24-year-olds with 55 million monthly viewers. Through the company's latest annual conference, ComplexCon, it's now disrupting traditional retail by providing a fully immersive experience for event goers. It has been disrupting media for over a decade and caught the attention of Verizon and Hearst, who jointly acquired the company for reportedly well over $250 million in 2016.

Related: This Entrepreneur Built the Hottest Celebrity Spot on the Planet -- and a Brand With Staying Power
Andrew Medal

Entrepreneur & Angel Investor

Andrew Medal is the founder of The Paper Chase, which is a bi-weekly newsletter. He is an entrepreneur and angel investor.

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

More from Action & Ambition

Here's How This Former UFC Champion Runs His Company Today

This Comedian Breaks Down Stand-Up, Startups and Entrepreneurship

This Entrepreneur Says He Spends as Much as $200K a Month on Building His Brand

This Tattoo Artist Fell in Love With the Art When He Was 16. Here's How He Made a Career Out of It.

Editor's Pick

Most Popular

See all
Business News

Airbnb Just Rolled Out Major Changes for Hosts and Guests, Plus New Tools for Groups: 'It's Going to Be a Big Win'

Airbnb estimates that nearly 80% of all bookings are group travelers.

By Emily Rella
Thought Leaders

It's the End of the Entrepreneurial Era As We Know It

With the rise of advanced technologies and AI, are we losing all sense of the independent business person and entrepreneur?

By Jonny Caplan
Side Hustle

He Started a Luxury Side Hustle at Age 13 — Now the Business Earns More Than $10 Million a Year: 'People Want to Help You When You're Young'

Michael Morgan, now the owner of Iconic Watch Company, always had a passion for "old things" — and he turned it into a lucrative venture.

By Amanda Breen
Growing a Business

Don't Let These Three PR Myths Stop You From Harnessing Its Power

While these myths may have changed your perceptions of PR, it is still a powerful asset for any company, especially ambitious ones. Let's debunk these myths so you can identify a PR plan that works best for your business.

By Tara Coomans
Business Ideas

63 Small Business Ideas to Start in 2024

We put together a list of the best, most profitable small business ideas for entrepreneurs to pursue in 2024.

By The Staff of Entrepreneur Media, Inc.
Business News

McDonald's CFO Says 'Everybody's Fighting for Fewer Consumers' as Earnings Reports Show People Are Spending Less on Fast Food

Starbucks, Pizza Hut, KFC, and McDonald's all reported lower-than-expected sales this week.

By Sherin Shibu