Ryan Cohen is known for navigating the volatile waters of high stakes trading and corporate leadership, but the GameStop CEO recently revealed that his most significant returns have nothing to do with a stock ticker. In a candid exchange with Business Insider, the billionaire co-founder of Chewy reflected on the personal investments that shaped him, noting that the greatest yield of his life came from the time he spent with his father, Ted. Even though his father passed away in 2019, Cohen remarks that he is still collecting dividends from those early years.
The influence of Ted Cohen extended far beyond simple parenting; it served as a blueprint for Ryan’s entrepreneurial journey. By treating his son like an adult and encouraging him to rely on his own instincts rather than providing easy answers, Ted fostered a sense of independence in Ryan. This relationship became so central to his identity that Cohen eventually launched a series of children’s books dedicated to sharing these lifelong lessons. From observing his father run a glassware importing business to learning basic life skills like shaving, Cohen credits his dad as the primary architect of his success.
However, not every interpersonal investment paid off. While focusing on family provided stability, Cohen admitted that his most painful losses occurred when he placed too much faith in the wrong people. He described his gravest errors as trusting individuals who were masters of self-promotion but lacked the discipline or ability to actually perform the work. For Cohen, wasting time and emotional energy on those who talk a big game without delivering results proved more costly than any bad trade on Wall Street.
This sentiment echoes the warnings of another major influence in Cohen’s life, legendary investor Warren Buffett. Like Buffett, who has long cautioned shareholders against falling for scoundrels and smooth talking promoters, Cohen now views misplaced trust as a liability. By framing these experiences through the lens of investing, the CEO highlights a universal truth that applies regardless of net worth: while financial capital can be recovered, time spent on the wrong people is a permanent deficit.