culture & talent

Our most powerful asset is our people. Fanatics is fostering a culture where talent is respected, individuality is embraced, and work ethic is deeply valued. Led by Founder and CEO Michael Rubin, our team is empowered to bring their unique selves to work every day.

We are—and always have been—deliberate in our commitments, guided not by trends, but by what we believe is right for our employees. 

Our Approach

We have over 22,000 employees globally across our businesses including Lids. This represents about 15,000 full-time employees and 7,000 part-time, seasonal, contractor or temporary workers.  

We are committed to providing comprehensive plans and benefits that meet the needs of our employees and their families, investing in talent development to support our employees at every stage of their career, and creating a work environment that empowers everyone to show up as their authentic selves.  

We are also committed to hiring the best talent—and we know that teams with diverse skill sets drive greater innovation, creativity, and results. That’s why we’re continuously evolving our recruiting strategies to ensure we’re attracting the very best and brightest from a broad, representative pool of candidates to meet the needs of our fan base.

43%

Identify as ethnically diverse

Identify as ethnically diverse

45%

Identify as female

US TOtals (Full time)

25%

27%

Identify as female

In 2024, we launched a voluntary survey in the UK to capture key demographic data.  In accordance with U.K. regulations, we also publish an annual Gender Pay Gap Report for our U.K. workforce.

US Director +

Competitive Benefits 

Career Wellness

An immersive onboarding experience, extensive learning opportunities, mentoring and leadership coaching.

financial wellness

Competitive pay, bonuses, equity (where eligible), robust 401(k) matching in the U.S., student loan assistance, life and disability insurance, and childcare support. 

PERSONAL wellness

Health coverage, employee assistance programs and mental health services, generous maternity and paternity leave and unlimited discretionary time-off. 

Additional benefits to support health wellness include:     

  • Fertility coverage,     

  • Adoption assistance,     

  • Compassionate leave program,    

  • Tuition reimbursement,  

  • Access to Wellhub (formerly known as Gympass),

  • Gender affirmation care.

Health & Safety 

We maintain a strong focus on global health and safety, with weekly reviews of incident metrics and proactive training programs aimed at reducing injury rates by 10% annually.  Nothing is more important to us than the safety of our people.  

Talent Development 

In 2024, we continued investing in employee growth through programs like Fanatics University (FanU) for career learning and development, the Game Changers Talent Development Program, which includes mentorship and leadership coaching, and the Inclusive Leadership Development Program for emerging female leaders. 

IDEA

An important component of our culture is IDEA, which stands for Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Allyship. These principles shape our support for employees, fostering belonging and helping to build diverse teams. 

Fanatics Alliance Networks (FANs)

Fanatics Alliance Networks (FANs) are voluntary, employee-led groups that celebrate cultural moments and promote allyship. We believe these groups are an integral part of ensuring opportunity for all.

  • Family First

  • Global Black Alliance

  • PRIDE

  • Women’s Initiative Network

  • Veterans

  • LA LIGA

  • AAPI Community Engagement

Awards & Recognition

We have received numerous awards reflecting our commitment to creating a world-class business and company environment, including: 

  • Forbes America's Dream Employers 2025

  • America's Top Private Companies 2024

  • Front Office Sports Best Employer in Sports

  • Fast Company 50 Most Innovative Companies in the World

  • Sports Business Journal Most Influential - Michael Rubin

  • Billboard Sports & Music Power Players - Michael Rubin

  • Sports Business Journal Forty Under 40 - Andrea Ellis, Omar Wilkes

  • Sports Business Journal's Game Changers - Julie Yoo

  • Clio Sports Awards (7x) - First Fans, The Exhibit, Fanatics Fest NYC

Professional Athlete Development Program 

As an evolution of Fanatics’ Athlete Immersion Program, which debuted in November 2023, Fanatics is expanding the initiative in 2025 through a strategic collaboration with Boardroom, the sports media and entertainment brand co-founded by Kevin Durant and Rich Kleiman. Together, we are growing this three-day immersive experience designed to support athletes and their management teams as they transition from sport to business. By combining Fanatics’ global business expertise—shaped by our partnerships with major leagues such as the NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL, WNBA and NWSL —with Boardroom’s strength in brand storytelling and athlete empowerment, the program delivers a robust curriculum aimed at equipping participants with the skills, insights, and network needed to thrive beyond the game.  

This experience builds on key elements from our previous Athlete Immersion Programs and includes educational content developed in partnership with the University of Southern California, one-on-one mentorship, intimate dinners with CEOs and cultural leaders, curated panels, hands-on business sessions with Fanatics executives, a Mitchell & Ness design challenge, and exclusive access at the 2025 Fanatics Fest NYC.  

LOOKING AHEAD

We plan to enhance our programs by: 

  • Developing talent management programming to attract and retain the very best and brightest from all backgrounds.  

  • Strengthening our inclusion governance and expanding leadership development opportunities. 

  • Deepening our commitment to the Athlete Immersion Program—offering current and former athletes hands-on learning, mentorship, and real-world business experiences to support their transition beyond sport.