DraftKings vs Robinhood Markets: Founders, CEOs and History
DraftKings was founded in 2012 by Jason Robins, Matthew Kalish, Paul Liberman and is led by Jason Robins. Robinhood Markets was founded in 2013 by Vlad Tenev, Baiju Bhatt and is led by Vlad Tenev.
Company facts
DraftKings
- Founded
- 2012
- Headquarters
- Boston, Massachusetts, United States
- Current CEO
- Jason Robins
- Employees
- 5,500
Robinhood Markets
- Founded
- 2013
- Headquarters
- Menlo Park, California
- Current CEO
- Vlad Tenev
- Employees
- 2,900
Founders
DraftKings
Jason Robins
Jason Robins is co-founder, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of DraftKings. He met Matthew Kalish and Paul Liberman at Vistaprint, launched DraftKings with them in 2012, led it through the 2015 fantasy-sports legal fights, moved it into sports betting afte…
Matthew Kalish
Matthew Kalish co-founded DraftKings in 2012 and later served as President of DraftKings North America.
Paul Liberman
Paul Liberman co-founded DraftKings in 2012; the first version of the product was built in his spare bedroom in Watertown, Massachusetts.
Robinhood Markets
Vlad Tenev
Vlad Tenev co-founded Robinhood in 2013 and has been sole CEO since November 2020; he is also chairman.
Baiju Bhatt
Baiju Bhatt co-founded Robinhood in 2013 and was co-CEO with Vlad Tenev until November 2020, when he became Chief Creative Officer and focused on product and design.
CEOs and their tenures
DraftKings
- Jason Robins2012–present
Co-Founder, Chief Executive Officer & Chairman
Robins has led DraftKings since 2012, from DFS startup through the 2020 listing to $6.05 billion of 2025 revenue, its first full-year GAAP profit in 2025 and the December 2025 Predictions launch.
Source - Matthew Kalish2012–2026
Co-Founder & President, DraftKings North America
Kalish co-founded DraftKings and served as President of DraftKings North America until March 31, 2026; he remains a director.
Source - Alan Ellingson2025–present
Chief Financial Officer
Ellingson said in August 2026 that the core business was on track for about $1 billion of Adjusted EBITDA in 2026.
Source
Robinhood Markets
- Vlad Tenev2013–present
Co-founder, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
Under Tenev, Robinhood moved from a $541 million net loss in 2023 to $1.883 billion of net income on $4.473 billion of revenue in 2025.
Source - Baiju Bhatt2013–2020
Co-founder and former co-CEO
Shared the CEO role with Vlad Tenev until November 2020, then served as Chief Creative Officer until 2024.
Source - Shiv Verma2025–present
Chief Financial Officer
Succeeded long-time CFO Jason Warnick in 2025.
Source
Timeline: DraftKings and Robinhood Markets side by side
2012DraftKings
DraftKings Founded in Watertown
The three ambitious founders launch the influential daily fantasy startup from a tiny spare bedroom.
2013Robinhood Markets
Robinhood is founded
Vlad Tenev and Baiju Bhatt found Robinhood with a mission to democratize access to investing.
2015DraftKings
The DFS Legal War
State attorneys general, led by New York, challenged daily fantasy sports; DraftKings fought for state laws that licensed DFS.
2015Robinhood Markets
Mobile app launches
Robinhood launches commission-free stock trading through a simple mobile brokerage app.
2018DraftKings
The Historic PASPA Repeal
Immediately following the Supreme Court's ruling, DraftKings launches the first legal mobile sportsbook in New Jersey.
2018Robinhood Markets
Robinhood Crypto launches
Robinhood expands into crypto trading, adding a major cyclical revenue driver.
2020DraftKings
The SBTech Merger and IPO
DraftKings executes a $3.3 billion merger with SBTech, officially listing on the Nasdaq exchange.
2021Robinhood Markets
GameStop restrictions and IPO
Robinhood faces scrutiny during the meme-stock trading episode and later goes public on Nasdaq.
2022DraftKings
Acquired Golden Nugget Online Gaming
DraftKings acquired Golden Nugget Online Gaming in May 2022.
2023Robinhood Markets
X1 acquisition adds card capability
Robinhood acquires X1, helping build the Robinhood Gold Card strategy.
2024DraftKings
The Jackpocket Lottery Acquisition
DraftKings acquires digital lottery courier Jackpocket for about $750 million in cash and stock.
2024Robinhood Markets
Robinhood Gold Card launches
Robinhood launches the Gold Card, built on technology from its 2023 X1 acquisition.
2025DraftKings
First Full-Year Net Profit and Predictions Launch
DraftKings reported $6.05 billion of 2025 revenue and about $3.7 million of net income, bought Railbird in October and launched DraftKings Predictions in December.
2025Robinhood Markets
TradePMR and Bitstamp expand product reach
Robinhood uses acquisitions to expand advisory infrastructure and crypto exchange capability.
2025Robinhood Markets
Revenue reaches $4.473B
Robinhood reports FY2025 total net revenues of $4.473B and net income of $1.883B.
2025Robinhood Markets
Joins the S&P 500
Robinhood is added to the S&P 500 index in September 2025.
2026DraftKings
Super App and DKeX Exchange
DraftKings rolled out its Super App nationwide and launched its own DKeX prediction-market exchange; co-founder Matthew Kalish stepped down as President on March 31.
2026Robinhood Markets
Q1 revenue of $1.07 billion
Robinhood reports Q1 2026 total net revenues of $1.07 billion, up 15%, as crypto revenue falls.
2026Robinhood Markets
10% workforce reduction
In June 2026 Robinhood cuts about 290 roles to flatten management layers.
2026Robinhood Markets
Record Q2 revenue of $1.31 billion
Q2 2026 revenue rises 32% to $1.31 billion, net income reaches $573 million, and funded customers hit 28.4 million.
Acquisitions
DraftKings
- Railbird Technologies (Railbird Exchange)2025Undisclosed
- Jackpocket2024$750M
- Golden Nugget Online Gaming (GNOG)2022$1.6B
- SBTech2020$3.3B
Robinhood Markets
- TradePMR2025$300M
- Bitstamp2025$200M
- X12023$95M
- Say Technologies2021$140M
- MarketSnacks2019Undisclosed
Questions about DraftKings vs Robinhood Markets
Who is the CEO of DraftKings Inc. and Robinhood Markets, Inc.?
DraftKings Inc. is led by Jason Robins and Robinhood Markets, Inc. is led by Vlad Tenev. Both serve as the top executive responsible for the company's strategy, operations, and financial performance.
When was DraftKings Inc. founded vs Robinhood Markets, Inc.?
DraftKings Inc. was founded in 2012 — 1 year before Robinhood Markets, Inc., which was founded in 2013. DraftKings Inc.'s longer operating history gives it a deeper track record but also potentially more institutional inertia compared to the younger Robinhood Markets, Inc..
How many employees does DraftKings Inc. have compared to Robinhood Markets, Inc.?
DraftKings Inc. employs approximately 5,500 people, while Robinhood Markets, Inc. employs approximately 2,900. DraftKings Inc. has the larger workforce at 5,500 employees, compared to Robinhood Markets, Inc.'s 2,900. A higher headcount does not necessarily imply greater efficiency — it often reflects differences in business model (e.g., manufacturing vs. software).
Where are DraftKings Inc. and Robinhood Markets, Inc. headquartered?
Both DraftKings Inc. and Robinhood Markets, Inc. are headquartered in United States, meaning they operate under the same primary regulatory and tax environment.
Who founded DraftKings Inc. and Robinhood Markets, Inc.?
DraftKings Inc. was founded by Jason Robins, Matthew Kalish, Paul Liberman. Robinhood Markets, Inc. was founded by Vlad Tenev, Baiju Bhatt.
Which company has a longer operating history — DraftKings Inc. or Robinhood Markets, Inc.?
DraftKings Inc. has been operating for approximately 14 years, making it the more established of the two companies. Robinhood Markets, Inc. has been in operation for around 13 years. A longer operating history often signals greater institutional resilience and brand recognition, though it can also mean slower adaptation to new market conditions.
Figures come from each company's filings and the sources linked beside them. Amounts reported in another currency are shown in US dollars at an approximate rate and marked with ~. Back to the DraftKings vs Robinhood Markets overview