Ben Cohen, the co-founder of the world-famous Ben & Jerry’s ice cream brand, is not just a successful entrepreneur but also a lifelong activist. As of 2025, Ben Cohen’s net worth stands at $150 million, a fortune earned not just from scoops of Cherry Garcia but also from years of social responsibility, innovation, and fearless advocacy.
Early Life and Education
Ben Cohen was born Bennett Cohen on March 18, 1951, in New York City. Raised in a Jewish household in Merrick, New York, he grew up with his mother Frances and father Irving, who worked as an accountant. Now 74 years old, Cohen’s early years were filled with creativity and a knack for thinking outside the box. His summers at Buck’s Rock Performing and Creative Arts Camp in Connecticut shaped his passion for community and the arts.
He met his lifelong friend and business partner Jerry Greenfield during gym class in seventh grade. The two later attended Sanford H. Calhoun High School. After graduation, Ben briefly studied at Colgate University but dropped out in 1972. Like many great entrepreneurs, Cohen took the long way to success—working as a taxi driver, ER clerk, McDonald’s cashier, and even a craft teacher.
The Start of Ben & Jerry’s
Ben and Jerry wanted to start a bagel shop but changed direction after realizing the cost of bagel equipment was too high. Instead, they chose ice cream, inspired by a $5 correspondence course from Pennsylvania State University. In 1978, they launched Ben & Jerry’s Homemade Ice Cream Parlor in a converted gas station in Burlington, Vermont, using $8,000 in personal savings and a $4,000 bank loan.
The timing was perfect—college students loved the quirky shop and its unique flavors. By 1980, pints of Ben & Jerry’s were sold in grocery stores. The business skyrocketed, and by 1987, it was worth $30 million. Known for fun flavors like Half Baked, Phish Food, and Cherry Garcia, the company stood out for more than just taste—it embraced activism and fair trade before those became trends.
The Unilever Acquisition
In April 2000, Ben & Jerry’s was acquired by global food giant Unilever for $326 million. At that time, the brand was earning over $230 million annually. Today, its global reach includes 615 stores across 43 countries and annual revenues of around $700 million.
Despite selling to a major corporation, Cohen and Greenfield fought hard to keep the brand’s core values intact. Unilever agreed to several unique conditions:
- Maintain Ben & Jerry’s independent board.
- Commit to social causes and local dairy sourcing.
- Donate 7.5% of pre-tax profits to charity.
- Cover legal fees if Unilever ever broke the agreement.
Though Ben Cohen stepped down as CEO in 1996, he and Jerry still receive a salary from Unilever, although they no longer have operational control over the company.
Advocacy and Philanthropy
Ben Cohen is just as committed to activism as he is to dessert. He co-founded the Ben & Jerry’s Foundation, which funds social justice and environmental efforts. The foundation has supported causes like Denver Homeless Out Loud, The Street Vendor Project, and The Anti Displacement Project.
Cohen is also behind progressive campaigns like TrueMajority, Business Leaders for Sensible Priorities, and Stamp Stampede, which aims to reduce the influence of money in politics. His passion for political reform has led to arrests during peaceful protests, including the Democracy Awakening demonstration in Washington, D.C., in 2016.
He’s also a major supporter of Bernie Sanders. In fact, Cohen released limited-edition ice cream flavors like Bernie’s Yearning (2016) and Bernie’s Back (2019), reinforcing his belief that business and politics can work together for good.
Personal Life and Unique Challenges
Ben Cohen has lived an unconventional but fulfilling life. He never married publicly or shared detailed information about his private family life, keeping his focus on community work and values-based business. A lesser-known fact about Ben is that he has anosmia, a condition that limits his ability to smell or taste. During the early days of Ben & Jerry’s, Jerry would create flavors and ask Ben for feedback. Since Ben couldn’t identify subtle flavors, Jerry would keep adding ingredients until Ben could guess what it was. This actually led to the company’s signature rich and chunky ice cream style.
Awards, Recognition, and Legacy
In 1988, Ben and Jerry were named U.S. Small Business Persons of the Year by President Reagan. In 2000, the New York Open Center honored Ben Cohen for his pioneering work in socially responsible business. The duo also authored two bestselling books:
- Ben & Jerry’s Homemade Ice Cream & Dessert Book (1987)
- Ben & Jerry’s Double Dip: How to Run a Values-Led Business and Make Money Too (1997)
Even after stepping back from the company, Ben Cohen’s influence continues. He regularly speaks out on national platforms about economic justice, environmental protection, and ethical entrepreneurship.
Final Thoughts on His Net Worth
Ben Cohen’s $150 million net worth in 2025 isn’t just the result of selling pints of ice cream. It’s the product of a lifelong commitment to doing business differently. By embedding activism, fairness, and fun into the DNA of Ben & Jerry’s, he has become one of the most respected names in socially conscious capitalism.
He may have walked away from the boardroom, but his legacy lives on in every scoop—and every cause he supports.
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