R ic Elias is a self-made American billionaire who is the co-founder and CEO of Red Ventures, a major digital media and marketing company. Born in Puerto Rico, he moved to the mainland for college. He co-founded Red Ventures in 2000. The company has a unique business model, operating a large portfolio of its own digital brands and media properties, which it uses to market and sell the products and services of its corporate partners in industries like financial services, healthcare, and home services.

Elias is also famous for being a survivor of the "Miracle on the Hudson," the 2009 incident where US Airways Flight 1549 made an emergency landing on the Hudson River. The life-altering experience inspired him to give a popular TED Talk and has shaped his approach to life and business. He has built Red Ventures into a massive and highly profitable private company, with a portfolio of well-known brands that includes CNET, Bankrate, and The Points Guy. His ownership of this successful digital media empire is the source of his billion-dollar fortune.