Shane Smith is best known as the co-founder of VICE Media, a global media company that redefined youth culture reporting and edgy journalism in the digital age. Rising from a small counterculture magazine in the 1990s, VICE expanded into television, documentaries, digital content, and even a cable network under his leadership. But after years of rapid growth, financial turbulence, and leadership changes, many people now ask: What does Shane Smith do today?
Stepping Back from the CEO Role
In 2018, Shane Smith stepped down as CEO of VICE Media. He handed over the position to Nancy Dubuc, a seasoned media executive formerly with A+E Networks.
At the time, Smith said he wanted to focus on the company’s content and deals, while allowing Dubuc to manage day-to-day operations and stabilize VICE’s finances.
Shane Smith’s Current Role
Shane Smith now serves as Executive Chairman of VICE Media.
In this role, he is less involved in operations but still plays a part in:
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Strategic Vision: Helping guide VICE’s creative direction and long-term projects.
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Content Focus: Overseeing the production of documentaries, global reporting, and new media initiatives.
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Industry Influence: Leveraging his reputation as a bold media disruptor to negotiate deals and partnerships.
Although he is no longer the face of VICE’s daily operations, he remains tied to the company he co-founded.
VICE Media’s Challenges and Bankruptcy
In recent years, VICE Media faced financial struggles. Once valued at nearly $6 billion, the company filed for bankruptcy in 2023 and was later acquired by a consortium of investors led by Fortress Investment Group.
While Shane Smith has largely stepped back from public commentary about VICE’s finances, his earlier leadership is often cited as both the driver of the company’s meteoric rise and one of the contributors to its financial overreach.
Other Ventures and Interests
Beyond VICE, Shane Smith has:
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Media Appearances: Continued to appear in interviews and at conferences as a voice on journalism, technology, and media disruption.
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Production Work: Remained involved in producing documentaries, often focused on politics, conflict zones, and global culture.
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Advisory Role: Used his industry knowledge to advise on creative media projects and global partnerships.
Although less publicly visible than in VICE’s peak years, he remains active in the broader media landscape.
Personal Life and Public Image
Known for his bold, brash personality, Shane Smith is still viewed as a media maverick. He spends time in Los Angeles and often remains behind the scenes, focusing on projects rather than public leadership.
He is also reported to be enjoying a more private lifestyle compared to his earlier high-profile days, when he frequently appeared on-screen in VICE News reports and specials.
So, what does Shane Smith do now?
Shane Smith is currently the Executive Chairman of VICE Media, focusing on content, strategy, and partnerships while stepping back from daily operations. Despite VICE’s recent financial troubles, he remains connected to the company he co-founded and continues to influence the media world with his bold approach to storytelling and journalism.
How Much Did Shane Smith Sell Vice For?
Shane Smith, the co-founder of VICE Media, oversaw one of the most dramatic rises and falls in modern media history. From a scrappy counterculture magazine in Montreal to a global media empire once valued at billions of dollars, VICE redefined edgy journalism and youth culture reporting. But after years of rapid expansion, heavy debt, and financial mismanagement, the company’s story ended with a bankruptcy sale in 2023.
So, how much did Shane Smith actually sell VICE for? The answer is complex.
VICE’s Bankruptcy Sale
In 2023, VICE Media filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. At that time, its valuation had collapsed from nearly $5.7 billion at its peak in 2017 to a fire-sale price. A group of lenders, including Fortress Investment Group and Soros Fund Management, acquired the company for about $350 million.
This sale was not a traditional cash-out for Shane Smith or other founders. Instead, it was a debt-for-equity swap, meaning the money went toward paying creditors and restructuring the company, not directly into Smith’s pocket.
Shane Smith’s Earlier Payout
Although Shane Smith didn’t personally cash out from the bankruptcy sale, he had already secured a significant fortune years earlier. During fundraising rounds in the mid-2010s, when investors were eager to buy into VICE’s rapid growth, Smith reportedly sold more than $100 million worth of his shares.
At that time, VICE was attracting investment from major players like Disney and private equity firms, who believed the company could become the “next CNN for millennials.” Smith used the high valuations to liquidate part of his ownership, ensuring that he locked in personal wealth before the company’s finances began to unravel.
From Billion-Dollar Dreams to Reality
At its height, when VICE was valued at nearly $6 billion, Shane Smith’s stake made him a paper billionaire. But those numbers never translated into long-term stability. Heavy spending, risky expansions, and challenges adapting to changing digital ad markets caused the company’s value to plummet.
By the time of the bankruptcy sale in 2023, the brand that once symbolized the future of media was sold for a fraction of its former worth.
Final Answer
So, how much did Shane Smith sell VICE for?
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In 2014–2015, he personally sold shares worth over $100 million, securing a fortune while the company was thriving.
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In 2023, VICE Media was sold out of bankruptcy for $350 million, but this went to creditors, not to Shane Smith himself.
In short, Shane Smith didn’t “sell” VICE in the traditional sense at the end. Instead, he cashed out earlier at the peak, ensuring he profited significantly, while the company later collapsed under financial pressure.
Who is Shane Smith, CEO?
Shane Smith is a Canadian journalist, media executive, and entrepreneur best known as the co-founder of VICE Media, one of the most influential and disruptive media companies of the 21st century. For years, he served as the face of the brand and its CEO, steering VICE from a small underground magazine into a global powerhouse valued in the billions at its peak.
Although he stepped down as CEO in 2018, Shane Smith’s legacy as a bold and unconventional leader continues to define his career.
Early Life and Career Beginnings
Shane Smith was born in Ottawa, Canada, in 1969. Before diving into media, he studied English literature and political science at Carleton University. In the early 1990s, he and two friends, Suroosh Alvi and Gavin McInnes, took over a struggling counterculture magazine in Montreal called Voice of Montreal.
Soon, they rebranded it as VICE—a name that reflected their interest in edgy, rebellious, and alternative stories that mainstream outlets often ignored.
Rise of VICE Media
Under Shane Smith’s leadership, VICE transformed from a free local magazine into a multimedia empire. Some key milestones include:
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Print to Digital: VICE quickly expanded from print journalism into digital video content, a move that made it hugely popular with younger audiences.
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Global Reporting: The company became famous for sending reporters into war zones, disaster areas, and politically unstable regions, often covering stories in unconventional and immersive ways.
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VICE News: Smith spearheaded the launch of VICE News, which combined documentary-style storytelling with hard-hitting journalism.
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Partnerships and Expansion: With Smith as CEO, VICE attracted major investments from Disney, Fox, and other media giants, helping it expand into television, online platforms, and even its own cable channel, Viceland.
At its height, VICE Media was valued at over $5 billion, and Shane Smith became one of the most recognizable figures in modern media.
Leadership Style
As CEO, Shane Smith was known for his charismatic yet controversial style. He embraced a non-traditional approach to leadership—often mixing humor, boldness, and a no-nonsense attitude.
He built VICE’s brand identity on authenticity, raw storytelling, and cultural rebellion, which resonated strongly with millennials and Gen Z audiences. However, his leadership also attracted criticism for overexpansion and financial risk-taking, which later contributed to VICE’s struggles.
Stepping Down as CEO
In 2018, Shane Smith announced he was stepping down as CEO of VICE Media. He handed over the role to Nancy Dubuc, a veteran television executive, while taking on the role of Executive Chairman.
He explained that he wanted to focus more on content, global deals, and creative strategy rather than day-to-day management.
Where He Stands Today
Although no longer CEO, Shane Smith remains an influential figure in the media industry. He still serves as Executive Chairman of VICE Media, helping shape its content and vision. Even after VICE’s bankruptcy and sale in 2023, his reputation as a pioneering media disruptor endures.
So, who is Shane Smith, CEO?
He is the visionary co-founder and former CEO of VICE Media, a man who turned a small Canadian magazine into a global media empire. While he no longer holds the CEO position, his impact on modern journalism and digital storytelling is undeniable. Today, he continues to influence media as an executive chairman and creative force, leaving behind a legacy of innovation, ambition, and controversy.
