Who Founded Ben & Jerry's
Ben Cohen and Jerry Greenfield founded Ben & Jerry's in Burlington, Vermont, in 1978. They met in high school and later took a five-dollar correspondence course in ice cream making. Their first scoop shop opened in a renovated gas station with limited equipment and a small local customer base Forbes.
The founders built the brand around chunky mix-ins, social mission, and locally sourced ingredients. Cohen handled creative flavors and branding, while Greenfield focused on production and operations. Their partnership combined hands-on experimentation with a disciplined approach to scaling a small-town scoop shop into a national ice cream company.
Ben Cohen's Role and Background
Ben Cohen dropped out of college and worked odd jobs before partnering with Greenfield. He is known for experimenting with unusual textures and flavor combinations that became Ben & Jerry's signatures. Cohen later became a prominent activist, using his personal wealth and public profile to support progressive causes.
After selling his stake in the company, Cohen focused on philanthropy and political advocacy. He has publicly supported campaign finance reform, climate action, and social justice initiatives. His post-sale activities reflect a deliberate shift from business operations to policy-focused philanthropy and public commentary.
Jerry Greenfield's Role and Background
Jerry Greenfield co-founded Ben & Jerry's and led the company's early production and quality systems. He helped design the small-batch manufacturing process that became a core part of the brand's identity. Greenfield later served as CEO and guided the company through its expansion into a nationally recognized frozen dessert brand Ben & Jerry's.
Greenfield remained involved in business and entrepreneurship after the sale. He has invested in food-related ventures and continued to support community-focused initiatives. His career reflects a focus on operational leadership, food innovation, and long-term brand stewardship.
Ben & Jerry's Sale and Current Status
Unilever acquired Ben & Jerry's in 2000 for about $326 million. The acquisition kept the brand's Vermont headquarters and social mission intact under a larger corporate structure. The deal made Cohen and Greenfield wealthy while preserving the company's independent operational identity within Unilever's portfolio.
Ben & Jerry's remains one of the best-known premium ice cream brands in the United States. The company continues to publish social mission reports and maintain its commitment to environmental and community-focused initiatives. Both founders are widely cited as examples of entrepreneurs who built a values-driven brand that scaled into a major consumer business SEC.
Founders' Net Worth and Legacy
Ben Cohen's net worth has been estimated in the hundreds of millions following the Unilever acquisition. Jerry Greenfield's net worth is similarly substantial, reflecting the value created by the company's growth and brand strength. Both founders have used their wealth to fund advocacy, philanthropy, and entrepreneurial ventures outside of ice cream.
The legacy of Ben & Jerry's includes its influence on socially responsible business models and premium food branding. The company's approach to mixing profit with purpose has been studied and replicated across the food industry. The founders remain central figures in conversations about ethical entrepreneurship and mission-driven business Bloomberg.