The Reddit co-founder continues his impressive investment streak in women’s athletics while praising Serena Williams as an “even greater mom” than athlete.
Alexis Ohanian has made headlines this July for his heartfelt response to wife Serena Williams’ recent workout photos, showcasing the supportive dynamic that has defined their seven-year marriage. During an appearance on NBC’s Today show, the 42-year-old entrepreneur laughed off suggestions about competing athletically with his tennis legend wife, emphasizing her role as a devoted mother above all else.
Ohanian’s Humble Response to Williams’ Fitness Display
When asked about potentially working out alongside his wife following her impressive ab-filled Instagram photos, Alexis Ohanian displayed characteristic humility and humor. The venture capitalist acknowledged Williams’ phenomenal athletic abilities while maintaining perspective about their different fitness focuses.
“Obviously, she’s a phenomenal athlete,” Ohanian told NBC correspondent Laura Jarrett. “Luckily, she doesn’t focus too much on the strength training work, so I’ve still got a couple of core disciplines and what not. But no, it’s definitely not a competition in terms of athleticism”.
The comments came after Williams shared a series of workout selfies in July, highlighting her impressive abdominal muscles with the caption “Working out and working on my angles”. The photos drew widespread praise from fans who appreciated the tennis star’s continued dedication to fitness following her retirement from professional tennis.
A Marriage Built on Mutual Support
Alexis Ohanian’s response reveals the depth of respect and admiration that characterizes his relationship with Williams. Rather than focusing solely on her athletic achievements, he emphasized her maternal qualities and personal character.
“As amazing as she is as an athlete, greatest of all time, she’s an even greater mom to our daughters Olympia and Adira,” Ohanian shared during his Today show appearance. “She’s reached the top of the mountain top, the highest of heights, things that most of us on any other day would trade so much for. Yet, after being up there, the thing that gives her so much joy is the simple things, you know, family”.
The couple, who married in November 2017 after meeting in Rome in 2015, share two daughters: Alexis Olympia Ohanian Jr., aged 7, and Adira River Ohanian, aged 19 months. Their relationship has been characterized by mutual support for each other’s professional endeavors and shared commitment to their family values.
Building a Sports Investment Empire
Alexis Ohanian’s praise for his wife coincides with his continued expansion into women’s sports investments. The Reddit co-founder has established himself as one of the most prominent advocates for women’s athletics through strategic investments and entrepreneurial ventures.
His most recent major investment involves purchasing a 10% stake in Chelsea FC Women for approximately £20 million ($26.89 million), valuing the English club at £200 million. The investment makes Chelsea Women the most valuable women’s sports team globally and gives Ohanian a seat on the club’s board of directors.
“I’ve bet big on women’s sports before — and I’m doing it again,” Alexis Ohanian announced on social media following the Chelsea deal. “I’m confident Chelsea FC Women is the next global women’s sports brand”.
The Athlos Innovation
Beyond traditional team investments, Alexis Ohanian has created entirely new opportunities for female athletes through Athlos, a revolutionary women-only track and field competition. The inaugural event in September 2024 offered the largest prize purse in track and field history, with winners earning $60,000 each.
The event featured Olympic champions including Gabby Thomas, Faith Kipyegon, and Alexis Holmes, along with a musical performance by Grammy winner Megan Thee Stallion. World Athletics granted the meet silver status, allowing all 36 competitors to earn ranking points for their world standing.
“These athletes are superstars,” Ohanian explained during a recent CBS Mornings appearance. “We are captivated by track and field during the Olympics and these athletes deserve more than just getting attention every four years”.
Plans for Athlos have expanded to include a league format launching in 2026, with the addition of field events following input from Olympic long jump champion Tara Davis-Woodhall. The October 2025 event will debut field competitions in Times Square, further demonstrating Ohanian’s commitment to innovative sports entertainment.
Financial Success Enables Philanthropic Impact
Alexis Ohanian’s ability to invest heavily in women’s sports stems from his impressive financial success in technology and venture capital. With an estimated net worth of $150 million, he has built wealth through multiple successful ventures.
His journey began with co-founding Reddit in 2005 alongside Steve Huffman. The social media platform was sold to Condé Nast just one year later for an estimated $10-20 million, making Ohanian a millionaire in his early twenties. Reddit went public in March 2024 with a valuation of $6.4 billion, though Ohanian had stepped down from the board in 2020.
Following his Reddit success, Alexis Ohanian founded Seven Seven Six, a venture capital firm with nearly $1 billion in assets under management. The firm has invested in numerous successful startups including Instacart, Coinbase, Kickstarter, and MrBeast’s Feastables brand.
Breaking New Ground in Sports Entertainment
The success of Alexis Ohanian’s women’s sports investments validates his belief in the untapped potential of female athletics. His previous venture, Angel City FC, was sold in 2024 for $250 million, setting a record as the world’s most valuable women’s professional sports team at the time.
“It’s never about charity or altruism. It’s about capitalism,” Ohanian stated plainly about his women’s sports investments. This business-first approach has helped legitimize women’s athletics as profitable enterprises rather than charitable causes.
His investment strategy focuses on identifying undervalued opportunities with significant growth potential. “The biggest secret I’ve learned about creating billion-dollar companies is that the best ideas look like bad ideas at first. If everyone agrees with you, you’re late,” Ohanian recently shared on social media.
Technology Ventures and Social Impact
Beyond sports, Alexis Ohanian continues pursuing technology investments that align with his values. In March 2025, he joined Frank McCourt’s $20 billion bid to acquire TikTok’s U.S. operations as a strategic advisor specializing in social media.
The “People’s Bid for TikTok” aims to rebuild the platform on a decentralized blockchain system called Frequency, giving users greater control over their personal data. “This isn’t just about TikTok, it’s about fundamentally rewiring how the internet works,” Ohanian explained about his involvement.
His commitment to user empowerment reflects lessons learned from his Reddit experience. In June 2020, Alexis Ohanian resigned from Reddit’s board amid social justice protests following George Floyd’s death, requesting that a Black candidate replace him. He was succeeded by Michael Seibel, then-CEO of Y Combinator.
Family Values and Entrepreneurial Lessons
Alexis Ohanian’s parenting philosophy reflects his entrepreneurial mindset while emphasizing traditional values. He and Williams provide their 7-year-old daughter Olympia with a $7 weekly allowance in exchange for completing household chores.
“She gets $7 a week. Serena was her lawyer in the negotiation,” Ohanian joked about their daughter’s allowance arrangement. “I drew up a real contract… Her mom was her counsel, which was really frustrating”.
The allowance system teaches Olympia the connection between work and reward, even as she grows up in a privileged environment. When she saved $100 toward a $125 watch, her parents encouraged her to earn the remaining $25 herself rather than simply providing it.
Advocacy for Paternal Rights
Following Olympia’s birth in 2017, Alexis Ohanian became a prominent advocate for paternal leave policies. He took 16 weeks of paid paternal leave after Williams’ complicated delivery, which included life-threatening complications.
“Because Olympia’s birth was such a complicated one and I watched everything that my wife went through and persevered through… I realized that we had so many advantages and yet this was still such a traumatic experience,” Ohanian explained to Business Insider in 2019.
His advocacy work includes collaborating with Dove Men+Care to gather over 30,000 signatures supporting universal paternal leave in the U.S. workforce. The initiative aims to normalize men taking time off to care for their families without career consequences.
Looking Toward the Future
As Alexis Ohanian continues expanding his influence in women’s sports, his latest investments signal growing mainstream acceptance of female athletics as profitable entertainment. The success of Angel City FC, combined with early results from Athlos and his Chelsea Women investment, demonstrates the commercial viability of women’s sports when properly supported.
His marriage to Serena Williams provides unique insights into the challenges and opportunities facing female athletes. Williams’ support for her husband’s ventures, combined with her own business investments through Serena Ventures, creates a powerful partnership advocating for women’s sports at the highest levels.
The couple’s commitment to their daughters’ future extends beyond financial security to creating a world where female athletes receive equal recognition and compensation. Through strategic investments and innovative events, Alexis Ohanian is helping transform women’s sports from undervalued entertainment into mainstream commercial success.
His recent comments about Williams’ workout photos, emphasizing her maternal qualities over athletic achievements, reflect the couple’s shared priority on family values while pursuing professional excellence. As both continue their respective careers, their partnership demonstrates how successful couples can support each other’s ambitions while maintaining strong family bonds.
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