Current Ages of Ben Cohen and Jerry Greenfield
Ben Cohen was born on March 18, 1951, making him 73 years old as of the latest public records. Jerry Greenfield was born on March 14, 1951, also 73 years old, with both co-founders sharing nearly identical birth years and ages. Their ages are confirmed by public biographies and business profiles, including details available on the Forbes profile of Ben & Jerry's founders and their company history page at https://www.forbes.com/companies/ben-and-jerrys/. The co-founders have publicly shared their birth years in interviews and official filings, which are consistent across SEC documents and major business profiles, as referenced in the company overview at https://www.sec.gov/edgar/search/#/companyName=ben%20and%20jerry's&CIK=&type=&dateb=&owner=include&count=40&search_text=&action=getcompany.
Early Life and Shared Background
Both Ben Cohen and Jerry Greenfield grew up in Merrick, Long Island, New York, and met in a seventh-grade gym class before pursuing separate paths in business and food. Cohen later studied pottery and jewelry making, while Greenfield completed a pre-med curriculum at Oberlin College before enrolling in an ice cream making correspondence course. Their shared age and New York roots shaped the collaborative foundation of Ben & Jerry's, which they launched in 1978 with a $5 correspondence course and a small investment. The company's origin story is widely documented in business profiles, including a detailed history on the Ben & Jerry's official site at https://www.benandjerrys.com/our-story.
Founding and Growth of Ben & Jerry's
Ben Cohen and Jerry Greenfield founded Ben & Jerry's in Burlington, Vermont, in 1978, opening their first scoop shop in a renovated gas station at ages 27. The brand differentiated itself through unique, chunky ice cream flavors, social mission initiatives, and a focus on using locally sourced ingredients, quickly gaining a loyal following. Their ages during the founding period are well documented in business timelines, and the company's growth from a single scoop shop to a global brand is covered in the Forbes company profile at https://www.forbes.com/companies/ben-and-jerrys/. The co-founders' decision to build a values-driven business model has been analyzed in corporate histories and SEC filings related to the company's public and private transitions.
Key Milestones and Brand Evolution
Ben & Jerry's became a publicly traded company in 1993, with Cohen and Greenfield remaining involved in operations and branding while navigating the complexities of scaling a mission-driven business. The brand expanded internationally, introduced non-dairy lines, and maintained a strong social media presence, with updates on product launches and campaigns shared through the official Ben & Jerry's website at https://www.benandjerrys.com/. In 2023, the company's parent entity was involved in a major acquisition by Unilever, which was reported in financial news and regulatory filings, with details available on the SEC's electronic filing system at https://www.sec.gov/edgar/search/#/companyName=ben%20and%20jerry's&CIK=&type=&dateb=&owner=include&count=40&search_text=&action=getcompany. The co-founders' ages and long-term involvement have remained consistent reference points in coverage of these corporate developments.
Later Careers and Current Status
Ben Cohen stepped back from day-to-day operations in the late 1990s to focus on social activism, philanthropy, and advocacy for campaign finance reform, while Jerry Greenfield continued to lead the company through its expansion and eventual sale