Who Owns RTIC?

Jim and John Jacobsen founded RTIC in 2015 in Cypress, Texas, outside Houston. The twin brothers studied accounting at Sam Houston State University and first built Cheap Cheap Moving Boxes into the largest direct-to-consumer moving box retailer in the US, which taught them how to warehouse and ship bulky products at low cost.

When YETI's premium coolers proved consumers would pay hundreds of dollars for rotomolded construction, the Jacobsens spotted the value opening: equivalent coolers and stainless drinkware sold direct for roughly half the price. RTIC shipped its first cooler in September 2015 and generated nearly $200 million in cumulative revenue within two years, with the 30-ounce tumbler hitting number one in its Amazon category.

Success attracted YETI's attention. YETI sued RTIC in 2016 for trade dress infringement and patent violations, arguing the products were deliberate copies. The 2017 settlement required RTIC to pay damages and redesign its product lines, which it did while continuing to grow.

Wind Point Partners bought a majority stake in September 2020, bringing in CEO Bill Pond and capital for product expansion. The brand has since broadened into wheeled coolers, backpack soft coolers, day bags, camp chairs, and drinkware, staying primarily direct-to-consumer while expanding select retail presence.