Brad Garlinghouse: Biography, Career, and Business Insights

Brad Garlinghouse’s Profile Summary

Company	Ripple Labs (XRP)
Position	Chief Executive Officer (CEO)
Source of wealth	Management roles at Ripple Labs, prior positions at Yahoo! and AOL, equity stakes in Ripple and XRP-related ventures
Also known as	Tech executive, author of the “Peanut Butter Manifesto,” advocate for blockchain and decentralized finance
Age	54
Education	University of Kansas - BA in Economics, Harvard Business School - MBA
Citizenship	United States
Residence	Menlo Park, California, USA
Family	His wife, Kristen Elizabeth Mautner, and children
Website, Social Media	https://ripple.com/ https://x.com/bgarlinghouse

Brad Garlinghouse’s biography

Brad Garlinghouse, born in 1971 in Kansas, is a seasoned tech executive best known for his leadership role at Ripple Labs, a blockchain-based payment protocol company. He earned his BA from the University of Kansas and later received an MBA from Harvard Business School. Prior to Ripple, Garlinghouse built a robust career in the tech industry, serving as Senior Vice President at Yahoo!, where he authored the famous “Peanut Butter Manifesto,” advocating for a more streamlined business approach. He also held significant roles at AOL and Hightail (formerly YouSendIt), shaping products like AOL Mail and Yahoo Mail. In 2015, Garlinghouse joined Ripple as COO and was later promoted to CEO, leading the company through its growth into one of the major players in blockchain technology. His tenure has been marked by legal challenges, particularly a high-profile lawsuit with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) over the regulatory status of XRP, Ripple's cryptocurrency. Despite these hurdles, Garlinghouse remains a vocal advocate for digital assets and the future of decentralized finance

How did Brad Garlinghouse make money?

Brad Garlinghouse makes money in the following areas:

Management roles at Ripple Labs, prior positions at Yahoo! and AOL, equity stakes in Ripple and XRP-related ventures
What is Brad Garlinghouse net worth?

As of 2025, Brad Garlinghouse’s net worth is estimated to be $9B.

What is Brad Garlinghouse also known as?

Brad Garlinghouse gained recognition during his tenure at Yahoo! for authoring the internal memo “The Peanut Butter Manifesto,” which critiqued the company’s lack of focus and pushed for operational reforms. This document earned widespread attention in the tech industry for its candid and bold insights. Beyond Yahoo!, Garlinghouse’s career in tech spans leadership roles at AOL, where he oversaw key consumer applications and ventures. In his role at Ripple, he has become a prominent advocate for blockchain technology and the use of cryptocurrencies like XRP in global financial systems. His vocal stance on the future of digital assets has placed him at the forefront of conversations around financial technology and regulation

Prominent achievements of Brad Garlinghouse

Promoted to CEO of Ripple Labs in 2016, led Ripple’s $200 million Series C funding round in 2019, played a pivotal role in the 2023 SEC lawsuit outcome, which clarified that XRP is not a security, recognized for his leadership in the fintech and cryptocurrency sectors

What are Brad Garlinghouse’s key insights?

Brad Garlinghouse emphasizes focus and execution in business, often advocating for companies to do a few things exceptionally well rather than spreading themselves too thin. He is also known for supporting corporate activism and believes that tech companies have a responsibility to contribute to social outcomes. Additionally, Garlinghouse is a strong advocate for blockchain technology and the transformative power of decentralized finance

Brad Garlinghouse’s personal life

Brad Garlinghouse is married to Kristen Elizabeth Mautner. Together, they live in Menlo Park, California, with their children. He keeps his family life relatively private, with few additional public details

Useful insights

Analyze the use case and real-world application

When evaluating crypto projects, another critical factor is the project’s real-world use case. Top investors and developers always look for meaningful applications that solve real problems.

Identify the problem it solves

One key lesson from experienced Crypto developers like Vitalik Buterin is that a project must solve a real-world problem or significantly improve an existing process. Assess if the project addresses a clear need in industries like finance, supply chain, healthcare, or decentralized applications.
Assess market demand

Crypto Angel Investors often focus on the market demand for the project's solution. If the project serves a niche with little competition or improves existing technology in a meaningful way, it has a greater chance of success. Conduct your research to evaluate whether the project's target market is growing and scalable.
Check for partnerships and adoption

A project that has established partnerships with reputable companies or institutions is generally seen as more credible. Look for announcements of collaborations or endorsements by industry leaders, as these can indicate trust in the project’s potential.