Jerry Greenfield, co-founder of Ben & Jerry’s, has built not only a global ice cream empire but also a reputation as a businessman who tied profit with purpose. As of 2025, Jerry Greenfield’s net worth is estimated at $100 million, largely from his role in creating one of the world’s most beloved ice cream brands and his long association with its parent company, Unilever.
Early Life and Education
Jerry Greenfield was born on March 14, 1951, in Brooklyn, New York, making him 74 years old in 2025. Raised in a Jewish family on Long Island, his childhood was shaped by close ties to his community. He met Ben Cohen, his lifelong business partner, in a middle school gym class in 1963, beginning a friendship that would later transform into a legendary business venture.
Greenfield attended Oberlin College in Ohio, where he pursued pre-med studies and worked part-time as an ice cream scooper. Despite graduating in 1973, he was rejected from medical school multiple times, which ultimately redirected his life path. After moving back to New York and later to North Carolina with his then-girlfriend Elizabeth Skarie, Jerry worked as a lab technician before returning to Vermont to join Cohen in their entrepreneurial pursuit.
Building Ben & Jerry’s
In 1978, with just $8,000 in personal savings and a $4,000 bank loan, Greenfield and Cohen launched their first ice cream parlor in Burlington, Vermont. The duo had originally considered opening a bagel shop, but due to high costs, they instead took a $5 ice cream-making course at Penn State University.
Their first scoop shop quickly became a community favorite, with their quirky flavors and values-driven approach setting them apart. By 1980, they were selling pints in grocery stores, and by 1987, the company was worth $30 million. The first franchise location opened in 1981, and the brand eventually expanded into more than 615 stores across 40 countries.
Jerry’s role extended beyond operations. He became a key figure in shaping Ben & Jerry’s identity as a socially conscious business. Cohen’s anosmia, a condition limiting his sense of taste and smell, influenced the creation of chunky, flavor-packed recipes that defined the brand.
The Unilever Acquisition
In April 2000, Ben & Jerry’s was acquired by multinational giant Unilever for $326 million. Unlike a typical buyout, this deal came with unusual conditions to safeguard the company’s mission. Unilever promised to uphold Ben & Jerry’s social values, continue sourcing from Vermont farmers, and protect an independent board of directors that could sue if Unilever broke its commitments.
As part of the arrangement, both founders received salaries as brand ambassadors but no operational authority. Jerry was also provided $5 million to support a venture capital initiative helping low-income entrepreneurs. Despite losing direct control, Greenfield and Cohen remained public faces of the company, attending events, opening new scoop shops, and promoting its progressive values.
Rising Tensions and Resignation
Over time, disputes with Unilever grew. In 2021, Ben & Jerry’s announced it would halt sales in Israeli-occupied territories, sparking controversy and pushback from Unilever, which bypassed the independent board by transferring local rights. Other clashes followed, including blocked statements on abortion rights, climate change, and healthcare.
In 2025, tensions escalated further when Unilever removed CEO David Stever without consulting the board, sparking protests and calls from Cohen to buy back the company. Finally, on September 17, 2025, Jerry Greenfield resigned after 47 years, stating he could no longer align with a brand that had, in his view, lost the independence and values promised in the 2000 agreement.
Personal Life and Family
Jerry Greenfield has balanced business with family life. He married Elizabeth Skarie in 1987, and they welcomed their son Tyrone in 1988. The family has lived in Vermont, where Jerry stayed closely tied to community causes. Beyond ice cream, his life has been defined by philanthropy, activism, and a deep commitment to justice.
Both Greenfield and Cohen have taken part in direct activism. In 2016, they were arrested at a Democracy Awakening protest in Washington, D.C. In 2021, they voiced support for boycotting sales in Israeli settlements, writing in The New York Times that they were proud of the company’s actions despite lacking operational control.
The Ben & Jerry’s Foundation
In 1995, Jerry and Ben established the Ben & Jerry’s Foundation, which donates millions annually to grassroots organizations. The foundation has supported movements like The Street Vendor Project, Denver Homeless Out Loud, and RISE St. James, focusing on progressive social change and community empowerment.
Legacy and Net Worth
Jerry Greenfield’s story is not only about financial success but also about using business as a platform for change. Today, his net worth of $100 million reflects decades of innovation, brand-building, and socially conscious entrepreneurship. But beyond wealth, his legacy lies in challenging corporations to balance profit with purpose and ensuring that ice cream became a symbol of justice as much as indulgence.
Even in stepping away from the company, Jerry Greenfield remains a cultural and entrepreneurial icon whose life shows that values can be as powerful as revenue in shaping a lasting legacy.
