Even if you’re not all clued up on who’s who in the gaming industry, you probably know who Bobby Kotick is. Even if you don’t know the name, you’ve probably seen his face on more than a few memes swimming around the internet. He’s in charge of probably the biggest publisher in the world right now, but last year he was nearly fired from Activision.
Last year Vivendi became the controlling shareholder of Activision Blizzard, giving them majority control of the publisher. One of the first things they discussed after the acquisition was ousting current CEO Bobby Kotick, with the fear that he would quit anyway if he couldn’t purchase $2.34 billion of Vivendi’s Activision shares. The decision was really close to being made, according to emails sent by the Vivendi leadership at the time.
Vivendi’s then-CEO Jean-Francois Dubos had already made up his mind, and was asking who would be the one to tell Kotick he was out of a job. An email sent on May 31st last year read,
“I really wonder who’s going to fire him?”
To which Vivendi’s CFO and Activision Chairman at the time, Philippe Capron, replied,
“Myself, happily. Tomorrow if you want.”
As we all now know, that didn’t actually happen. What did happen was actually the opposite. Kotick lead a deal that saw him purchase $8.2 billion worth of shares. This ultimately left him in control of Activision, ensuring that his chair won’t be getting cold anytime soon. He is, however, facing claims that the deal improperly benefitted him, after a judge ruled against him last month.
Say what you will about Kotick, but he’s a genius. He took a crumbling Activision and turned it in to one of the largest video game publishers on the planet.
Last Updated: July 17, 2014
Admiral Chief Saxon
July 17, 2014 at 13:06
EIGHT.POINT.TWO….BILLION….DOLLAHS…
Ffs, I’d settle for 8.2 million in Randelas…
Crazy money
Admiral Chief Saxon
July 17, 2014 at 13:07
Also the ALT-Text needs work…
UnholyMunk
July 17, 2014 at 13:09
http://hercmerc.files.wordpress.com/2010/05/bobby-kotick-money-bags.jpg
UnholyMunk
July 17, 2014 at 13:13
In all seriousness though… he is a business genius, and should be grouped with the likes of Steve Jobs and Bill Gates.
Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)
July 17, 2014 at 13:10
And he managed to do it, by emptying one of his money pools. Damn you Scrooge McKotick….
Hammersteyn
July 17, 2014 at 13:13
So you say “you’ve probably seen his face on more than a few memes swimming around the internet” So I search Booby Kotick in Google. Along with Images are categories up top ranging from left to right as
Money
Evil
Moneyball
Devil
Jew
Wife
I had no idea he was in Moneyball o_0
Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)
July 17, 2014 at 13:15
Wait, he had a cameo in Moneyball?
Hammersteyn
July 17, 2014 at 13:17
Who would have thought?
Umar Fong Wong
July 17, 2014 at 13:19
http://www.joystiq.com/2011/08/07/why-bobby-kotick-has-a-cameo-in-moneyball-the-charitable-conclu/
Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)
July 17, 2014 at 13:24
And for charity, nogal?
Umar Fong Wong
July 17, 2014 at 13:25
Yeah….Dammit there goes my afternoon CoD trollin
Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)
July 17, 2014 at 13:26
Although, the super-wealthy uses charities to score huge tax breaks…. (so CoD trollin’ is safe)
Umar Fong Wong
July 17, 2014 at 13:27
Yes!!! F*** COD!!!
Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)
July 17, 2014 at 13:29
YEah F*** COD in ITS EYE!
Umar Fong Wong
July 17, 2014 at 13:30
LOL I’ve heard 3 people say F in the eye…Is this a real thing? Do people F in the Eye??
Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)
July 17, 2014 at 13:34
Apparently the eye socket is prime real estate….
Umar Fong Wong
July 17, 2014 at 13:38
…….Sounds squishy….But thats not a bad thing
Hammersteyn
July 17, 2014 at 13:38
Good PR is good PR
VampyreSquirrel
July 17, 2014 at 13:31
Isn’t he also a ginger?
Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)
July 17, 2014 at 13:35
Yeah, that means he doesn’t have a soul. I’m amazed that the cameras could capture his image. I wonder what space magic he uses….
Hammersteyn
July 17, 2014 at 13:37
Hahaha that wasn’t part of the results, so he knows Rince?
Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)
July 17, 2014 at 13:38
All gingers know each other… they’re crafty! We must be careful, Rince might be a spy.
Hammersteyn
July 17, 2014 at 13:38
Bastard. I knew it
Alessandro Barbosa
July 17, 2014 at 15:49
The exact same thing happened to me this morning o.O so much hate
Hammersteyn
July 17, 2014 at 16:01
LOL!
Rince&pop
July 17, 2014 at 13:32
What the actual fuck? Where is this info from?
CAE9872
July 17, 2014 at 13:42
I share your sentiments! Nothing is sacred anymore!
Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)
July 17, 2014 at 13:41
Completely off topic – Col’Cacchio’s Quattro Formaggi pizza is damn delicious…
CAE9872
July 17, 2014 at 13:44
On topic – (a) Col’Cachio’s pizzas are overrated and (b) I had a bout of illness a while back due to suspect pizza topping (NOT Col’Cachio) and now I am off pizza.
You have any idea how piss poor that is! I love pizza…eish!
Thats_how_I_Troll
July 17, 2014 at 15:49
I’ll top you, loved pizza and bread and pies and everything that contains gluten, last year i was diagnosed with Crohn’s, so have to avoid all dairy and gluten… God dammit all I want is a pb sammie
CAE9872
July 17, 2014 at 16:18
Hell yeah you win!
Weanerdog
July 17, 2014 at 13:58
Not a huge Col Cacchio’s fan. But dammit now I feel like pizza. I am all warm and sticky and covered in cheese.
Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)
July 17, 2014 at 14:03
It’s Thursday, I think you need to spoil yourself with a PIZZA!!!
VampyreSquirrel
July 17, 2014 at 14:07
but Friday is Pizza day! We went through this! Multiple times!
Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)
July 17, 2014 at 15:26
You are right! Mondays are for Bacon. Fridays are for Pizzas, Sony is for gaming and Samsung for everything else – The Lagz mantra
Weanerdog
July 17, 2014 at 14:32
No I will not fall for your evil plan I will not be tempted I will stay strong and save all my money for this Saturday, the most epic of days when I will revel in beer, comradery and burgers. That is unless the Lagz meet up is cancelled.
CAE9872
July 17, 2014 at 13:55
It’s odd as I have no qualms with Kotick and his methods – he is doing exactly what I would want from a CEO of a listed company. Make me richer (if I had shares). To sit and say you dislike him for x and y I understand – he is hardly the “face of gaming.” But then that is to forget gaming is no specialist hobby anymore.
It is MASSIVE business!
Johan du Preez
July 17, 2014 at 14:09
I agree but I hate him due to his choices on a moral scale. But as a CEO his one of the best in the world at the moment.
CAE9872
July 17, 2014 at 14:11
I sure wouldn’t want to sit next to him at dinner! Doesn’t appear to be my kinda guy either…errrr I mean guy in, you know, general sense. Not the other sense…
*dig Lazarus dig*
Johan du Preez
July 17, 2014 at 17:26
rofl
Danie Nell
July 17, 2014 at 15:50
Never heard of him, never seen him before. I would remember a haircut like that.
1O8OVG
July 18, 2014 at 08:57
They probably thought he worked for Infinity Ward.