The investor

The REAL
Domain King®

Rick Schwartz has bought, built, leased and sold premium domains since December 26, 1995. Awards, landmark sales, the T.R.A.F.F.I.C. conferences, and now the Beanstalk Challenge.

1995 started domaining
1,325 blog posts
28 conventions · 4 continents
2021 voted Greatest of All Time
Rick Schwartz, illustrated
Rick SchwartzFounder · The Domain King®

Since December 26, 1995

“A good domain name is easy to remember.
A great one is hard to forget.”

Rick bought Porno.com for $42,000 in 1997 when the industry said he was crazy. It earned roughly $15 million and sold for $8.88 million. Men.com, Candy.com, iReport.com and Punchbowl.com followed, each sold to the company that should have owned it from day one. Co-founder of the T.R.A.F.F.I.C. conferences. Today, rather than simply selling extraordinary domains, Rick is putting them to work. Partners, joint ventures, long-term leases and other innovative ideas are welcome. And no, the domains are not cheap.

  • ★
    Greatest Domain Investor of All TimeVOTED 2021
  • ★
    3× Greatest Domainer of All TimeINDUSTRY VOTE
  • ★
    Domainer of the Year2005
  • ★
    Domain Hall of FameINDUCTEE

Domains are forever

Since December 26, 1995, Rick Schwartz has been in the domain business for

30
years
000
days
00:00:00
hours · minutes · seconds
Today is 0% done. Still counting.
  • 1995December 26. Starts buying domain names.
  • 1997Bought Porno.com for $42,000. The industry laughed.
  • 2015Sold it for $8,880,000 cash. 211 times the price.
  • 2026$750M portfolio. $200M entrusted to Beanstalk builders.

In Rick's words

Straight talk since 1995.

“

Your domain isn't just where your website lives. It's your digital headquarters.

Rick Schwartz
“

A marginal domain suggests you are a marginal company.

Rick Schwartz
“

It's not that the price of my domain is too high. It's just that your idea for its use is too small.

Rick Schwartz
“

I would rather overpay for quality and location than get a bargain on shit.

Rick Schwartz
“

Your domain isn't just where your website lives. It's your digital headquarters.

Rick Schwartz
“

A marginal domain suggests you are a marginal company.

Rick Schwartz
“

It's not that the price of my domain is too high. It's just that your idea for its use is too small.

Rick Schwartz
“

I would rather overpay for quality and location than get a bargain on shit.

Rick Schwartz
“

A good domain name is easy to remember. A great domain name is hard to forget.

Rick Schwartz
“

With thousands of domain names still to be developed, they will far outlast my lifetime. I need help, and that is an opportunity for you.

Rick Schwartz
“

Domains are forever.

Rick Schwartz
“

My portfolio is your portfolio.

Rick Schwartz
“

A good domain name is easy to remember. A great domain name is hard to forget.

Rick Schwartz
“

With thousands of domain names still to be developed, they will far outlast my lifetime. I need help, and that is an opportunity for you.

Rick Schwartz
“

Domains are forever.

Rick Schwartz
“

My portfolio is your portfolio.

Rick Schwartz

Thirty years

From the first names in 1995
to a $750 million portfolio.

1995
1995

The first domains

December 26, 1995. Rick Schwartz starts buying domain names.

1997

Porno.com bought

$42,000. The industry said he was crazy. It went on to earn roughly $15 million.

2003

Men.com sold

$1.3 million after more than $250,000 in advertising revenue.

2004

iReport.com to CNN

$750,000. One word, one network, global recognition.

2005

Domainer of the Year

The first of the industry awards.

2008

Candy.com sold

$3 million plus 12.5% equity in the buyer.

2009

Punchbowl.com sold

Cash plus stock. The buyer dropped the prefix and rebranded.

2015

Porno.com sold

$8.88 million cash. 211 times the purchase price.

2016

Teem.com

Cash plus equity in the rebrand from EventBoard.

2021

Greatest of All Time

Voted Greatest Domain Investor of All Time. Domain Hall of Fame.

2026

Beanstalk Challenge

$200 million+ in domains entrusted to builders. The portfolio goes to work.

★ Track record · Domains are forever

$100 million earned.
Sales that defined the market.

Public, documented, several still paying out through equity. This is what happens when you own the exact name a category needs.

1997 → 2015211× return

Porno.com

Bought for $42,000 in 1997. Earned roughly $15 million in revenue while held, then sold for cash in 2015.

$8,880,000All cash
→ 200386× return

Men.com

Acquired for $15,000. Produced more than $250,000 in advertising revenue before the sale.

$1,300,000Cash
2008Cash + equity

Candy.com

Sold to a 35-year-old candy company that wanted to own the category online, with a stake retained in the business.

$3,000,000+ 12.5% equity

Serious inquiries, answered

Tell us the name
and the number.

Acquisition, lease, partnership, or a domain you want to sell. Every transaction closes through Escrow.com.