- Alexis Ohanian co-founded Reddit, now worth billions.
- He became an internet advocacy figure and later prioritized underrepresented communities.
- Ohanian married Serena Williams, welcomed two daughters, and resigned from Reddit.
From waffle house epiphany to internet royalty
Alexis Ohanian’s path to becoming the “Mayor of the Internet” began with a life-changing moment at a Waffle House.
The Baltimore-raised entrepreneur, along with his college best friend Steve Huffman, went on to create Reddit, the online community site now worth billions.
Ohanian’s journey was marked by personal tragedies, including his then-girlfriend’s coma and his mother’s terminal brain cancer diagnosis.
Ohanian became a prominent figure in internet advocacy, opposing the Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA) and forming the Internet Defense League. He later co-founded Initialized Capital, a venture capital firm that prioritized investing in startups led by underrepresented communities.
Love, family, and a commitment to change
Ohanian’s life took a new direction when he met tennis superstar Serena Williams in 2016. The couple welcomed their first daughter, Alexis Olympia Ohanian Jr., in 2017 and married shortly after.
In 2020, Ohanian resigned from Reddit’s board, calling for more diversity and reflecting on his own privilege.
The couple welcomed their second daughter, Adira River Ohanian, in 2023, with Ohanian proudly announcing the birth on Instagram.
