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{{Infobox person
{{Infobox person
| name = Reed Hastings
| name         = Reed Hastings
| birth_name = Wilmot Reed Hastings Jr.
| birth_name   = Wilmot Reed Hastings Jr.
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1960|10|8}}
| birth_date   = {{Birth date and age|1960|10|8}}
| birth_place = [[Boston, Massachusetts]], U.S.
| birth_place = [[Boston, Massachusetts]], U.S.
| nationality = American
| nationality = American
| education = [[Stanford University]] (MS)
| education   = [[Stanford University]] (MS)
| occupation = Businessman, entrepreneur, philanthropist
| occupation   = Businessman, philanthropist
| known_for = Co-founding [[Netflix|Netflix, Inc.]]
| known_for   = Co-founding [[Netflix|Netflix, Inc.]]
| title = Chairman, Netflix, Inc.
| title       = Chairman of Netflix, Inc.
| awards = <!-- populated in Recognition section -->
}}
}}


'''Wilmot Reed Hastings Jr.''' (born October 8, 1960) is an American billionaire businessman, entrepreneur, and philanthropist who co-founded [[Netflix|Netflix, Inc.]], the streaming entertainment company that fundamentally altered the global media landscape. Hastings served as the chief executive officer of Netflix for more than twenty-five years before transitioning to the role of executive chairman and, subsequently, chairman of the board.<ref>{{cite web |title=Reed Hastings appointed to Anthropic's board of directors |url=https://www.anthropic.com/news/reed-hastings |publisher=Anthropic |date=May 28, 2025 |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref> Under his leadership, Netflix evolved from a DVD-by-mail rental service into one of the world's largest streaming platforms, reshaping the entertainment industry's distribution and production models. Beyond the technology and media sectors, Hastings has been an active figure in education policy, having served as president of the [[California State Board of Education]] and as a prominent advocate for charter schools.<ref>{{cite web |title=California State Board of Education Press Release |url=http://www.cde.ca.gov/nr/ne/yr05/yr05rel8.asp |publisher=California Department of Education |date= |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref> In 2025, he was appointed to the board of directors of [[Anthropic]], the artificial intelligence safety and research company, reflecting his growing interest in AI technologies and their societal implications.<ref>{{cite web |title=Reed Hastings appointed to Anthropic's board of directors |url=https://www.anthropic.com/news/reed-hastings |publisher=Anthropic |date=May 28, 2025 |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref> His career arc—from selling vacuums door-to-door as a teenager and volunteering in the [[Peace Corps]] to building a company valued at hundreds of billions of dollars—has made him one of the most closely studied business leaders in American corporate history.<ref>{{cite news |last= |first= |date=December 5, 2025 |title=Netflix cofounder started his career selling vacuums door-to-door before college—now, his $440 billion streaming giant is buying Warner Bros. and HBO |url=https://fortune.com/2025/12/05/netflix-cofounder-reed-hastings-rags-to-riches-vaccum-salesperson-to-self-made-billionaire-netflix-chairman-career-warner-bros-hbo-purchase/ |work=Fortune |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref>
'''Wilmot Reed Hastings Jr.''' (born October 8, 1960) is an American billionaire businessman, philanthropist, and education advocate who co-founded [[Netflix|Netflix, Inc.]], the streaming entertainment service that fundamentally reshaped how audiences around the world consume film and television. Hastings served as the company's chief executive officer for more than 25 years before transitioning to the role of executive chairman in 2023.<ref name="anthropic-board">{{cite web |title=Reed Hastings appointed to Anthropic's board of directors |url=https://www.anthropic.com/news/reed-hastings |publisher=Anthropic |date=May 28, 2025 |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref> Under his leadership, Netflix evolved from a DVD-by-mail rental service into a global streaming platform and major content producer. Before founding Netflix, Hastings established the software company Pure Atria. Beyond his corporate career, Hastings has been active in education reform, having served as president of the [[California State Board of Education]] and as an advocate for charter schools.<ref>{{cite web |title=State Board of Education Names Reed Hastings as New President |url=http://www.cde.ca.gov/nr/ne/yr05/yr05rel8.asp |publisher=California Department of Education |date= |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref> In recent years, he has expanded his interests into artificial intelligence, joining the board of directors of AI safety company Anthropic in 2025.<ref name="anthropic-board" /> His career trajectory — from selling vacuums door-to-door as a teenager to serving in the Peace Corps to building a company valued at hundreds of billions of dollars — traces a distinctive arc through American business history.<ref name="fortune-career">{{cite news |last= |first= |date=December 5, 2025 |title=Netflix cofounder started his career selling vacuums door-to-door before college—now, his $440 billion streaming giant is buying Warner Bros. and HBO |url=https://fortune.com/2025/12/05/netflix-cofounder-reed-hastings-rags-to-riches-vaccum-salesperson-to-self-made-billionaire-netflix-chairman-career-warner-bros-hbo-purchase/ |work=Fortune |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref>


== Early Life ==
== Early Life ==


Wilmot Reed Hastings Jr. was born on October 8, 1960, in [[Boston, Massachusetts]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Netflix Management — Reed Hastings |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090131090615/http://ir.netflix.com/management.cfm?bio=8195#8195 |publisher=Netflix, Inc. |date= |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref> Before pursuing higher education, Hastings worked as a door-to-door vacuum salesman during his teenage years, an experience that would later be cited as an early exercise in the kind of persistence and direct customer engagement that would characterize his business approach.<ref>{{cite news |last= |first= |date=December 5, 2025 |title=Netflix cofounder started his career selling vacuums door-to-door before college—now, his $440 billion streaming giant is buying Warner Bros. and HBO |url=https://fortune.com/2025/12/05/netflix-cofounder-reed-hastings-rags-to-riches-vaccum-salesperson-to-self-made-billionaire-netflix-chairman-career-warner-bros-hbo-purchase/ |work=Fortune |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref>
Reed Hastings was born Wilmot Reed Hastings Jr. on October 8, 1960, in [[Boston, Massachusetts]].<ref name="fortune-career" /> Before attending college, Hastings worked as a door-to-door vacuum salesman during his teenage years, an experience that would later be cited as an early formative episode in his entrepreneurial development.<ref name="fortune-career" />


After completing his undergraduate studies, Hastings joined the [[United States Peace Corps]], serving as a volunteer teacher. The Peace Corps experience had a formative influence on Hastings, exposing him to international development challenges and shaping his later interest in education reform.<ref>{{cite web |title=Peace Corps Online — Reed Hastings |url=http://peacecorpsonline.org/messages/messages/467/2019928.html |publisher=Peace Corps Online |date= |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref> His time in the Peace Corps also instilled in him a sense of public service that he would carry throughout his career, manifesting in his extensive philanthropic work and education policy advocacy.
After completing his undergraduate education, Hastings joined the [[United States Peace Corps]], serving as a volunteer teaching high school mathematics in [[Eswatini]] (then known as Swaziland) in southern Africa from 1983 to 1985.<ref name="peacecorps">{{cite web |title=Reed Hastings - Peace Corps Online |url=http://peacecorpsonline.org/messages/messages/467/2019928.html |publisher=Peace Corps Online |date= |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref> The Peace Corps experience had a lasting impact on Hastings. In interviews over the years, he has described how the experience of living and working abroad shaped his worldview and his approach to problem-solving. The transition from teenage vacuum salesman to Peace Corps volunteer to eventual technology entrepreneur reflected a pattern of seeking out new challenges and unfamiliar environments that would characterize much of his subsequent career.<ref name="fortune-career" />


== Education ==
== Education ==


Hastings earned a [[Bachelor of Arts]] degree from [[Bowdoin College]], a private liberal arts college in [[Brunswick, Maine]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Netflix Management — Reed Hastings |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090131090615/http://ir.netflix.com/management.cfm?bio=8195#8195 |publisher=Netflix, Inc. |date= |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref> He subsequently pursued graduate studies at [[Stanford University]], where he received a [[Master of Science]] degree in computer science.<ref>{{cite web |title=Stanford News Service — Reed Hastings |url=http://news-service.stanford.edu/news/2000/april5/hastings-45.html |publisher=Stanford University |date=April 5, 2000 |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref> The technical training at Stanford provided Hastings with the foundation in software engineering that would prove instrumental in his founding of both Pure Atria, an earlier software company, and later Netflix. His Stanford education placed him within the network of Silicon Valley entrepreneurs and technologists who would become key collaborators and contacts throughout his career.
Hastings attended [[Bowdoin College]] in Brunswick, Maine, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree. He subsequently enrolled at [[Stanford University]], where he earned a Master of Science degree in computer science.<ref name="stanford">{{cite web |title=Reed Hastings |url=http://news-service.stanford.edu/news/2000/april5/hastings-45.html |publisher=Stanford University News Service |date=April 5, 2000 |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref> His graduate education at Stanford, located in the heart of Silicon Valley, positioned Hastings within the technology ecosystem that would serve as the foundation for his later business ventures.


== Career ==
== Career ==
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=== Early Career and Pure Atria ===
=== Early Career and Pure Atria ===


Following his graduate studies at Stanford, Hastings entered the technology sector. He founded Pure Software, a company that developed tools for troubleshooting software. The company grew through a series of mergers and was eventually renamed Pure Atria. In 1997, Pure Atria was acquired by Rational Software in a deal that provided Hastings with the financial resources and entrepreneurial confidence to pursue his next venture.<ref>{{cite news |last= |first= |date=April 23, 2006 |title=Netflix CEO |url=https://www.usatoday.com/tech/products/services/2006-04-23-netflix-ceo_x.htm |work=USA Today |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref> The experience of building and selling Pure Atria gave Hastings practical lessons in managing fast-growing technology companies—lessons he later applied at Netflix with greater ambition and on a far larger scale.
After completing his graduate studies at Stanford, Hastings entered the software industry. He founded Pure Software in 1991, a company that developed tools for troubleshooting software. The company grew through both organic development and acquisitions. Pure Software merged with Atria Software to form Pure Atria Corporation, which became one of the larger software companies in Silicon Valley during the mid-1990s. Pure Atria was eventually acquired by Rational Software in 1997.<ref name="bloomberg-netflix">{{cite news |last= |first= |date=September 23, 2007 |title=Netflix: Flex to the Max |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2007-09-23/netflix-flex-to-the-max |work=Bloomberg Businessweek |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref> The experience of building and eventually selling Pure Atria provided Hastings with both the financial resources and the managerial experience that would inform his next venture.


=== Founding of Netflix ===
=== Founding of Netflix ===


In 1997, Hastings co-founded Netflix, Inc., initially as a DVD-by-mail rental service that challenged the then-dominant brick-and-mortar video rental model. The company's founding story has become a well-known part of Silicon Valley lore. Netflix launched its website in 1998 and quickly differentiated itself from competitors such as [[Blockbuster LLC|Blockbuster]] by offering a subscription-based model with no late fees—a direct contrast to the fee structures that had frustrated many video rental customers.<ref>{{cite news |last= |first= |date=September 23, 2007 |title=Netflix: Flex to the Max |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2007-09-23/netflix-flex-to-the-max |work=Bloomberg Businessweek |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref>
In 1997, Hastings co-founded Netflix, Inc., which initially operated as a DVD-by-mail rental service. The company launched its website in 1998, offering DVD rentals and sales through the internet with a model that eliminated late fees — a feature that distinguished it from the dominant brick-and-mortar rental chain Blockbuster Video.<ref name="usatoday">{{cite news |last= |first= |date=April 23, 2006 |title=Netflix CEO |url=https://www.usatoday.com/tech/products/services/2006-04-23-netflix-ceo_x.htm |work=USA Today |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref> Netflix introduced a subscription-based model that allowed customers to rent a set number of DVDs at a time for a flat monthly fee, with no due dates or late charges.


The subscription model proved popular, and the company grew steadily through the early 2000s. Netflix went public in 2002, and Hastings became a prominent figure in the technology and media industries. Throughout this period, he served as chief executive officer, guiding the company through the critical transition from a start-up competing with established video rental chains to a publicly traded corporation with a rapidly expanding subscriber base.<ref>{{cite news |last= |first= |date=April 23, 2006 |title=Netflix CEO |url=https://www.usatoday.com/tech/products/services/2006-04-23-netflix-ceo_x.htm |work=USA Today |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref>
The company went public in 2002. In its early years as a public company, Netflix faced intense competition and skepticism from industry observers who questioned the long-term viability of the DVD-by-mail model.<ref name="wsj-2004">{{cite news |last= |first= |date= |title= |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB108113352739374084 |work=The Wall Street Journal |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref> Hastings, however, had from the company's earliest days anticipated a transition to digital delivery of content, a vision reflected in the company's name — "Netflix" being a portmanteau of "internet" and "flicks."


=== Transition to Streaming ===
=== Transition to Streaming ===


One of Hastings's most consequential decisions was the strategic pivot from physical DVD delivery to digital streaming. Netflix launched its streaming service in 2007, a move that initially supplemented its DVD business but gradually became the company's primary offering.<ref>{{cite news |last= |first= |date=February 8, 2008 |title=Netflix |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB120251714532955425 |work=The Wall Street Journal |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref> This transition required significant investment in technology infrastructure and content licensing, and it represented a substantial bet on the future of internet-delivered entertainment.
In 2007, Netflix launched its streaming video service, initially as a complement to its existing DVD-by-mail business. Subscribers could watch a limited library of films and television shows streamed directly to their computers as part of their existing subscription. This move placed Netflix at the forefront of a fundamental shift in media consumption.<ref name="wsj-2008">{{cite news |last= |first= |date= |title= |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB120251714532955425 |work=The Wall Street Journal |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref>


The shift was not without controversy. In 2011, Netflix announced a plan to separate its DVD and streaming businesses, with the DVD service to be rebranded as "Qwikster." The announcement was met with widespread customer backlash and a significant drop in the company's stock price. Hastings publicly acknowledged the misstep and reversed the decision, keeping both services under the Netflix brand. The episode became a case study in corporate communication and strategic reversal, and Hastings was credited with handling the crisis with unusual candor for a chief executive.<ref>{{cite news |last= |first= |date= |title=Outside the Box |url=https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2014/02/03/outside-the-box-2 |work=The New Yorker |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref>
Under Hastings's leadership, Netflix aggressively expanded its streaming library and invested in technology to deliver content across an expanding array of devices, including smart televisions, gaming consoles, tablets, and smartphones. The company's growth was rapid, and by the early 2010s, Netflix had become one of the largest sources of internet traffic in North America.


Despite the Qwikster setback, the streaming strategy proved transformative. Netflix expanded internationally, entering markets across Europe, Asia, and Latin America. The company also began investing heavily in original content production, launching series such as ''[[House of Cards (American TV series)|House of Cards]]'' and ''[[Orange Is the New Black]]'' that attracted critical acclaim and large audiences. Under Hastings's leadership, Netflix became one of the largest producers and distributors of entertainment content in the world.<ref>{{cite news |last= |first= |date= |title=Outside the Box |url=https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2014/02/03/outside-the-box-2 |work=The New Yorker |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref>
A significant strategic shift occurred when Netflix began producing original content. The company's move into original programming, beginning with series such as ''House of Cards'' and ''Orange Is the New Black'', transformed Netflix from a content distributor into a content creator and studio in its own right.<ref name="newyorker">{{cite news |last= |first= |date= |title=Outside the Box |url=https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2014/02/03/outside-the-box-2 |work=The New Yorker |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref> This strategy of combining a technology-driven distribution platform with proprietary content became a model that competitors — including Disney, Apple, Amazon, and Warner Bros. — would subsequently attempt to replicate.


=== Corporate Culture and Management Philosophy ===
=== Leadership Style and Corporate Culture ===


Hastings became known for articulating a distinctive corporate culture at Netflix, emphasizing high performance, radical transparency, and employee autonomy. The company's culture document, sometimes referred to as the "Netflix Culture Deck," was shared publicly and attracted widespread attention in the technology industry and business media.<ref>{{cite web |title=Netflix Founder Reed Hastings on Scaling High-Trust Culture & Bold Judgment |url=https://fs.blog/knowledge-project-podcast/reed-hastings/ |publisher=Farnam Street |date=June 5, 2025 |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref>
Hastings became known for developing a distinctive corporate culture at Netflix, characterized by high levels of employee autonomy, transparency in decision-making, and an emphasis on performance. The company's culture document, sometimes referred to as the "Netflix Culture Deck," gained widespread attention in Silicon Valley and the broader business world for its articulation of principles such as "Freedom and Responsibility."<ref name="fs-blog">{{cite web |title=Netflix Founder Reed Hastings on Scaling High-Trust Culture & Bold Judgment |url=https://fs.blog/knowledge-project-podcast/reed-hastings/ |publisher=Farnam Street |date=June 5, 2025 |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref>


Key elements of the Netflix culture under Hastings included a "keeper test," in which managers were encouraged to evaluate whether they would fight to keep each employee, and a policy of generous severance for those who did not meet the company's high performance standards. Hastings has described the use of severance as a management tool, designed to ensure that transitions were handled humanely while maintaining the overall quality of the workforce.<ref>{{cite web |title=Netflix Founder Reed Hastings on Scaling High-Trust Culture & Bold Judgment |url=https://fs.blog/knowledge-project-podcast/reed-hastings/ |publisher=Farnam Street |date=June 5, 2025 |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref> The Netflix approach to corporate culture generated both admiration and criticism, with some observers praising its clarity and others questioning whether its intensity placed excessive pressure on employees.
Central to the Netflix management philosophy under Hastings was the concept of a high-trust culture. Hastings described a system in which employees were given substantial latitude to make decisions, with an emphasis on bold judgment rather than rigid adherence to process. The company's approach to severance — using generous severance packages as a management tool to maintain a high-performance workforce — was another distinctive element of the Netflix culture that Hastings discussed publicly.<ref name="fs-blog" />


=== Transition from CEO to Chairman ===
Hastings served as CEO of Netflix for more than 25 years. In January 2023, he transitioned from the role of co-CEO to executive chairman, with Ted Sarandos and Greg Peters taking over as co-CEOs.<ref name="anthropic-board" /> In this capacity, Hastings continued to be involved in the company's strategic direction while stepping back from day-to-day operations.


After more than twenty-five years as chief executive officer of Netflix, Hastings stepped back from the CEO role. He transitioned first to the position of executive chairman and subsequently to chairman of the board, handing day-to-day operational leadership to successors while maintaining a significant role in the company's strategic direction.<ref>{{cite web |title=Reed Hastings appointed to Anthropic's board of directors |url=https://www.anthropic.com/news/reed-hastings |publisher=Anthropic |date=May 28, 2025 |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref> As chairman, Hastings continued to comment publicly on Netflix's strategic decisions, including the company's approach to theatrical film releases and its broader content strategy.<ref>{{cite news |last= |first= |date=2025 |title=Ted Sarandos Says He Wants to "Win Box Office." Reed Hastings Doesn't Sound So Sure |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/business-news/reed-hastings-comments-netflix-theatrical-movies-1236476465/ |work=The Hollywood Reporter |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref>
=== Netflix's Theatrical Strategy and Expansion ===


By late 2025, Netflix had grown into a company valued at approximately $440 billion, and was reported to be pursuing the acquisition of [[Warner Bros.]] and [[HBO]]—a deal that, if completed, would represent one of the largest media transactions in history.<ref>{{cite news |last= |first= |date=December 5, 2025 |title=Netflix cofounder started his career selling vacuums door-to-door before college—now, his $440 billion streaming giant is buying Warner Bros. and HBO |url=https://fortune.com/2025/12/05/netflix-cofounder-reed-hastings-rags-to-riches-vaccum-salesperson-to-self-made-billionaire-netflix-chairman-career-warner-bros-hbo-purchase/ |work=Fortune |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref>
Even after stepping down as CEO, Hastings continued to weigh in on significant strategic questions facing Netflix. In early 2026, following comments by CEO Ted Sarandos about Netflix's ambition to compete at the theatrical box office, Hastings offered a more nuanced perspective. According to reporting by ''The Hollywood Reporter'', Hastings expressed some uncertainty about the company's theatrical ambitions, suggesting a degree of internal strategic debate about the extent to which Netflix should pursue traditional theatrical releases versus its core streaming model.<ref name="thr-theatrical">{{cite news |last= |first= |date= |title=Ted Sarandos Says He Wants to "Win Box Office." Reed Hastings Doesn't Sound So Sure |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/business-news/reed-hastings-comments-netflix-theatrical-movies-1236476465/ |work=The Hollywood Reporter |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref>


=== Board Memberships and AI Involvement ===
By late 2025, Netflix had grown into a company valued at approximately $440 billion. In a significant expansion, the company moved to acquire Warner Bros. and HBO, a transaction that would represent one of the largest media deals in history and consolidate Netflix's position as a dominant force in global entertainment.<ref name="fortune-career" />


In addition to his role at Netflix, Hastings has served on the boards of several major technology companies. He was appointed to the board of directors of [[Facebook]] (now [[Meta Platforms]]) in 2011.<ref>{{cite web |title=Facebook Names Reed Hastings to Its Board of Directors |url=http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/facebook-names-reed-hastings-to-its-board-of-directors-124429638.html |publisher=PR Newswire |date= |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref> He served on the board of [[Microsoft]] beginning in 2012.<ref>{{cite web |title=Reed Hastings joins Microsoft Board of Directors |url=http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/news/Press/2012/Oct12/10-09ReedPR.aspx |publisher=Microsoft |date=October 9, 2012 |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref> Hastings departed the Facebook board in 2019.<ref>{{cite news |last= |first= |date=April 12, 2019 |title=Netflix CEO Reed Hastings to depart Facebook board of directors |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2019/04/12/netflix-ceo-reed-hastings-to-depart-facebook-board-of-directors.html |work=CNBC |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref>
=== Board Service and AI Interests ===


In May 2025, Hastings was appointed to the board of directors of [[Anthropic]], an artificial intelligence safety and research company focused on building reliable and interpretable AI systems.<ref>{{cite web |title=Reed Hastings appointed to Anthropic's board of directors |url=https://www.anthropic.com/news/reed-hastings |publisher=Anthropic |date=May 28, 2025 |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref> The appointment reflected Hastings's growing engagement with the AI sector. In a December 2025 appearance at a Bloomberg event, Hastings discussed artificial intelligence and its potential impact on the future of television and media.<ref>{{cite news |last= |first= |date=December 11, 2025 |title=Bloomberg Talks: Reed Hastings Talks AI |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/audio/2025-12-11/bloomberg-talks-netflix-s-reed-hastings-talks-ai-podcast |work=Bloomberg |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref>
Throughout his career, Hastings has served on the boards of directors of several prominent technology companies. In 2011, he was named to the board of directors of [[Facebook]] (now [[Meta Platforms]]).<ref name="facebook-board">{{cite web |title=Facebook Names Reed Hastings to its Board of Directors |url=http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/facebook-names-reed-hastings-to-its-board-of-directors-124429638.html |publisher=PR Newswire |date= |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref> He served on the Facebook board until 2019, when he departed.<ref name="cnbc-facebook">{{cite news |last= |first= |date=April 12, 2019 |title=Netflix CEO Reed Hastings to depart Facebook board of directors |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2019/04/12/netflix-ceo-reed-hastings-to-depart-facebook-board-of-directors.html |work=CNBC |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref> In 2012, he joined the board of directors of [[Microsoft]].<ref name="microsoft-board">{{cite web |title=Reed Hastings Named to Microsoft Board of Directors |url=http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/news/Press/2012/Oct12/10-09ReedPR.aspx |publisher=Microsoft |date=October 9, 2012 |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref>


== Education Policy and Advocacy ==
In May 2025, Hastings was appointed to the board of directors of [[Anthropic]], an AI safety and research company. The announcement described Hastings as bringing "deep experience in scaling technology companies and navigating complex strategic decisions" to the AI company's governance.<ref name="anthropic-board" /> Hastings's interest in artificial intelligence extended to public commentary on the technology's potential societal impact. In a December 2025 conversation with Bloomberg, he discussed AI and the future of television.<ref name="bloomberg-ai">{{cite news |last= |first= |date=December 11, 2025 |title=Bloomberg Talks: Reed Hastings Talks AI |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/audio/2025-12-11/bloomberg-talks-netflix-s-reed-hastings-talks-ai-podcast |work=Bloomberg |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref>


Hastings has been a significant figure in American education policy. He served as president of the [[California State Board of Education]], a role in which he helped shape policy for the state's public school system.<ref>{{cite web |title=California State Board of Education Press Release |url=http://www.cde.ca.gov/nr/ne/yr05/yr05rel8.asp |publisher=California Department of Education |date= |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref>
== Education Reform Advocacy ==


Hastings has been a prominent advocate for charter schools, supporting efforts to expand the number of publicly funded, independently operated schools across the United States. His advocacy has included both financial contributions to charter school organizations and public statements in favor of educational reform. In 2014, he drew attention for proposing the elimination of elected school boards, arguing that they impeded effective education governance.<ref>{{cite news |last= |first= |date=March 14, 2014 |title=Netflix's Reed Hastings has a big idea: Kill elected school boards |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/answer-sheet/wp/2014/03/14/netflixs-reed-hastings-has-a-big-idea-kill-elected-school-boards/ |work=The Washington Post |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref> The proposal generated significant debate among education policymakers and commentators.
Beyond his business career, Hastings has been a prominent figure in American education policy, particularly in the area of charter school advocacy. He served as president of the [[California State Board of Education]].<ref>{{cite web |title=State Board of Education Names Reed Hastings as New President |url=http://www.cde.ca.gov/nr/ne/yr05/yr05rel8.asp |publisher=California Department of Education |date= |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref>


In November 2025, Hastings commented publicly on the potential impact of artificial intelligence on schools. He suggested that the role of teachers would evolve as AI technologies became more prevalent, stating that he believed "the teacher's role is going to move more towards a social worker focusing on social emotional learning."<ref>{{cite news |last= |first= |date=November 20, 2025 |title=Netflix's Reed Hastings on the Impact of AI on Schools |url=https://www.the74million.org/article/netflixs-reed-hastings-on-the-impact-of-ai-on-schools/ |work=The 74 |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref> The remarks added a new dimension to Hastings's longstanding engagement with education policy, connecting his interest in technology to his advocacy for school reform.
Hastings has been a significant financial supporter of charter school initiatives and has advocated for structural changes to public education governance. In 2014, ''The Washington Post'' reported on Hastings's proposal to eliminate elected school boards, arguing that they were inefficient governing structures for public education systems.<ref name="wapo-schools">{{cite news |last= |first= |date=March 14, 2014 |title=Netflix's Reed Hastings has a big idea: Kill elected school boards |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/answer-sheet/wp/2014/03/14/netflixs-reed-hastings-has-a-big-idea-kill-elected-school-boards/ |work=The Washington Post |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref> The proposal generated significant debate among education policy experts, with supporters pointing to the potential for more professionalized school governance and critics raising concerns about democratic accountability.


== Political Activity ==
In November 2025, Hastings spoke publicly about the potential impact of artificial intelligence on education. In an interview with ''The 74'', an education news outlet, he predicted that the role of teachers would shift significantly as AI tools became more prevalent in classrooms. "I think the teacher's role is going to move more towards a social worker focusing on social emotional learning," Hastings stated, suggesting that AI would increasingly handle the delivery of academic content while human educators focused on students' emotional and social development.<ref name="the74-ai">{{cite news |last= |first= |date=November 20, 2025 |title=Netflix's Reed Hastings on the Impact of AI on Schools |url=https://www.the74million.org/article/netflixs-reed-hastings-on-the-impact-of-ai-on-schools/ |work=The 74 |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref> Hastings has donated substantial sums to education-related causes over the years, making him one of the more influential philanthropists in the education reform space.


Hastings has been politically active, particularly in California state politics. He has made financial contributions to political campaigns and causes. In 2016, he was among a group of business leaders who publicly endorsed [[Hillary Clinton]] in the presidential election.<ref>{{cite news |last= |first= |date=June 2016 |title=Business leaders endorse Hillary Clinton |url=https://www.politico.com/story/2016/06/business-leaders-endorse-hillary-clinton-224706 |work=Politico |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref> His political contributions have included donations related to California campaigns and ballot measures.<ref>{{cite web |title=Campaign Finance — Reed Hastings |url=http://cal-access.sos.ca.gov/Campaign/Committees/Detail.aspx?id=1315905&session=2009&view=late1 |publisher=California Secretary of State |date= |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref>
He has also contributed to political campaigns related to education. Campaign finance records from California show contributions made through committees associated with his advocacy efforts.<ref>{{cite web |title=Campaign Committee Detail |url=http://cal-access.sos.ca.gov/Campaign/Committees/Detail.aspx?id=1315905&session=2009&view=late1 |publisher=California Secretary of State |date= |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref>


Hastings's political involvement has extended beyond direct campaign contributions. His education advocacy, particularly his support for charter schools and criticism of elected school boards, has placed him at the intersection of education policy and political debate. His positions have drawn both support from those who favor market-oriented education reforms and criticism from advocates of traditional public school governance.<ref>{{cite news |last= |first= |date=March 14, 2014 |title=Netflix's Reed Hastings has a big idea: Kill elected school boards |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/answer-sheet/wp/2014/03/14/netflixs-reed-hastings-has-a-big-idea-kill-elected-school-boards/ |work=The Washington Post |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref>
== Personal Life ==
 
Hastings has maintained a relatively private personal life compared to many technology industry figures of comparable prominence. He has resided in the [[Santa Cruz, California]] area.<ref>{{cite news |last= |first= |date=July 12, 2006 |title= |url=http://www.santacruzsentinel.com/archive/2006/July/12/local/stories/03local.htm |work=Santa Cruz Sentinel |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref>
 
In terms of political activity, Hastings was among a group of business leaders who endorsed [[Hillary Clinton]] during the 2016 United States presidential election, as reported by ''Politico''.<ref>{{cite news |last= |first= |date=June 2016 |title=Business leaders endorse Hillary Clinton |url=https://www.politico.com/story/2016/06/business-leaders-endorse-hillary-clinton-224706 |work=Politico |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref>
 
Outside of his technology and education interests, Hastings has pursued recreational activities including skiing. In early 2026, it was reported that Hastings had acquired a stake in [[Powder Mountain]], a ski resort in Utah. Reporting by ''Ski Magazine'' described Hastings as having "local roots and a true love for its slopes and vibe," and noted that his investment in the resort reflected a genuine personal interest in skiing rather than a purely financial transaction.<ref name="skimag">{{cite news |last= |first= |date= |title=Powder Mountain Has New Leadership From an Unlikely Place |url=https://www.skimag.com/news/netflix-reed-hastins-buys-stake-powder-mountain/ |work=Ski Magazine |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref>


== Personal Life ==
== Political and Civic Engagement ==


Hastings has maintained a relatively private personal life compared to some of his peers in the technology industry. He has been reported to have interests outside of business and technology, including outdoor recreation. In early 2026, it was reported that Hastings had acquired a stake in [[Powder Mountain]], a ski resort in [[Utah]], reflecting what was described as a longstanding connection to the area and a personal interest in skiing.<ref>{{cite news |last= |first= |date=2026 |title=Powder Mountain Has New Leadership From an Unlikely Place |url=https://www.skimag.com/news/netflix-reed-hastins-buys-stake-powder-mountain/ |work=Ski Magazine |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref>
Hastings's civic engagement has extended beyond education reform. He made political donations in California, including to Republican-aligned causes in the state, as documented by the ''Los Angeles Times''.<ref>{{cite news |last= |first= |date= |title= |url=http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-stategop1aug01,0,4553077.story?coll=la-home-center |work=Los Angeles Times |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref> His political contributions have crossed party lines over the years, reflecting an approach to political engagement focused on specific policy issues — particularly education — rather than strict partisan affiliation.


Hastings's financial holdings have included significant stakes in Netflix, Inc. His stock transactions and insider holdings in the company have been a subject of public record and investor interest.<ref>{{cite web |title=Reed Hastings Insider Trading |url=https://www.insidermole.com/insider/hastings-reed |publisher=InsiderMole |date= |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref>
His NPR interview from 2004 provided further insight into his views on public policy and the intersection of technology and education.<ref>{{cite news |last= |first= |date= |title= |url=https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4112093 |work=NPR |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref>


== Legacy ==
== Legacy ==


Reed Hastings's influence on the media and technology industries is reflected in the scale and reach of Netflix, which grew under his leadership from a small DVD-by-mail start-up into a global streaming service with hundreds of millions of subscribers. The company's success contributed to a broader transformation of the entertainment industry, accelerating the shift from physical media and traditional broadcast television to on-demand digital streaming. The term "Netflix effect" has been used in media commentary to describe the company's impact on viewing habits, content production, and the business models of competing studios and networks.<ref>{{cite news |last= |first= |date= |title=Outside the Box |url=https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2014/02/03/outside-the-box-2 |work=The New Yorker |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref>
Reed Hastings's impact on the entertainment industry has been substantial and measurable. Netflix, under his leadership, grew from a small DVD-by-mail startup into one of the most valuable media companies in the world, with a valuation reaching approximately $440 billion by late 2025.<ref name="fortune-career" /> The company's streaming model catalyzed a broader transformation of the media landscape, prompting established studios and technology companies to launch their own streaming platforms in what industry observers came to call the "streaming wars."


Hastings's corporate culture philosophy, particularly the emphasis on radical transparency, high performance, and employee autonomy, has influenced management practices at technology companies beyond Netflix. The Netflix Culture Deck, which Hastings helped create and made publicly available, has been downloaded and studied by executives and human resources professionals across industries.<ref>{{cite web |title=Netflix Founder Reed Hastings on Scaling High-Trust Culture & Bold Judgment |url=https://fs.blog/knowledge-project-podcast/reed-hastings/ |publisher=Farnam Street |date=June 5, 2025 |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref>
The concept of "binge-watching" — consuming multiple episodes of a television series in a single sitting — became a cultural phenomenon closely associated with Netflix's practice of releasing entire seasons of original series simultaneously. This distribution strategy, championed under Hastings's leadership, altered audience expectations and created new patterns of media consumption.


In the education sphere, Hastings's advocacy for charter schools and his service on the California State Board of Education have made him one of the more prominent business figures to engage in education policy. His willingness to use his platform to challenge established governance structures—such as elected school boards—has placed him among a cohort of technology industry leaders who have sought to apply private-sector thinking to public institutions.<ref>{{cite news |last= |first= |date=March 14, 2014 |title=Netflix's Reed Hastings has a big idea: Kill elected school boards |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/answer-sheet/wp/2014/03/14/netflixs-reed-hastings-has-a-big-idea-kill-elected-school-boards/ |work=The Washington Post |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref>
Hastings's influence has also been felt in corporate culture. The Netflix culture document, which articulated principles of employee freedom, responsibility, and high performance, became one of the most discussed management frameworks in Silicon Valley and was studied by business leaders and academics worldwide.<ref name="fs-blog" />


His appointment to the board of Anthropic in 2025 signaled a new phase in his career, as Hastings brought his experience in scaling a global technology company to the emerging field of AI safety and governance.<ref>{{cite web |title=Reed Hastings appointed to Anthropic's board of directors |url=https://www.anthropic.com/news/reed-hastings |publisher=Anthropic |date=May 28, 2025 |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref>
His transition from active CEO to chairman and board member for AI companies such as Anthropic suggests a continued interest in the intersection of technology and society. His public statements on AI's potential impact on education and entertainment indicate an ongoing engagement with questions about how emerging technologies will reshape industries and institutions.<ref name="the74-ai" /><ref name="bloomberg-ai" />
 
In education policy, Hastings's advocacy for charter schools and his willingness to challenge established governance structures — such as his proposal to eliminate elected school boards — placed him at the center of ongoing national debates about the future of American public education.<ref name="wapo-schools" />


== References ==
== References ==
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Latest revision as of 01:51, 24 February 2026



Reed Hastings
BornWilmot Reed Hastings Jr.
8 10, 1960
BirthplaceBoston, Massachusetts, U.S.
NationalityAmerican
OccupationBusinessman, philanthropist
TitleChairman of Netflix, Inc.
Known forCo-founding Netflix, Inc.
EducationStanford University (MS)

Wilmot Reed Hastings Jr. (born October 8, 1960) is an American billionaire businessman, philanthropist, and education advocate who co-founded Netflix, Inc., the streaming entertainment service that fundamentally reshaped how audiences around the world consume film and television. Hastings served as the company's chief executive officer for more than 25 years before transitioning to the role of executive chairman in 2023.[1] Under his leadership, Netflix evolved from a DVD-by-mail rental service into a global streaming platform and major content producer. Before founding Netflix, Hastings established the software company Pure Atria. Beyond his corporate career, Hastings has been active in education reform, having served as president of the California State Board of Education and as an advocate for charter schools.[2] In recent years, he has expanded his interests into artificial intelligence, joining the board of directors of AI safety company Anthropic in 2025.[1] His career trajectory — from selling vacuums door-to-door as a teenager to serving in the Peace Corps to building a company valued at hundreds of billions of dollars — traces a distinctive arc through American business history.[3]

Early Life

Reed Hastings was born Wilmot Reed Hastings Jr. on October 8, 1960, in Boston, Massachusetts.[3] Before attending college, Hastings worked as a door-to-door vacuum salesman during his teenage years, an experience that would later be cited as an early formative episode in his entrepreneurial development.[3]

After completing his undergraduate education, Hastings joined the United States Peace Corps, serving as a volunteer teaching high school mathematics in Eswatini (then known as Swaziland) in southern Africa from 1983 to 1985.[4] The Peace Corps experience had a lasting impact on Hastings. In interviews over the years, he has described how the experience of living and working abroad shaped his worldview and his approach to problem-solving. The transition from teenage vacuum salesman to Peace Corps volunteer to eventual technology entrepreneur reflected a pattern of seeking out new challenges and unfamiliar environments that would characterize much of his subsequent career.[3]

Education

Hastings attended Bowdoin College in Brunswick, Maine, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree. He subsequently enrolled at Stanford University, where he earned a Master of Science degree in computer science.[5] His graduate education at Stanford, located in the heart of Silicon Valley, positioned Hastings within the technology ecosystem that would serve as the foundation for his later business ventures.

Career

Early Career and Pure Atria

After completing his graduate studies at Stanford, Hastings entered the software industry. He founded Pure Software in 1991, a company that developed tools for troubleshooting software. The company grew through both organic development and acquisitions. Pure Software merged with Atria Software to form Pure Atria Corporation, which became one of the larger software companies in Silicon Valley during the mid-1990s. Pure Atria was eventually acquired by Rational Software in 1997.[6] The experience of building and eventually selling Pure Atria provided Hastings with both the financial resources and the managerial experience that would inform his next venture.

Founding of Netflix

In 1997, Hastings co-founded Netflix, Inc., which initially operated as a DVD-by-mail rental service. The company launched its website in 1998, offering DVD rentals and sales through the internet with a model that eliminated late fees — a feature that distinguished it from the dominant brick-and-mortar rental chain Blockbuster Video.[7] Netflix introduced a subscription-based model that allowed customers to rent a set number of DVDs at a time for a flat monthly fee, with no due dates or late charges.

The company went public in 2002. In its early years as a public company, Netflix faced intense competition and skepticism from industry observers who questioned the long-term viability of the DVD-by-mail model.[8] Hastings, however, had from the company's earliest days anticipated a transition to digital delivery of content, a vision reflected in the company's name — "Netflix" being a portmanteau of "internet" and "flicks."

Transition to Streaming

In 2007, Netflix launched its streaming video service, initially as a complement to its existing DVD-by-mail business. Subscribers could watch a limited library of films and television shows streamed directly to their computers as part of their existing subscription. This move placed Netflix at the forefront of a fundamental shift in media consumption.[9]

Under Hastings's leadership, Netflix aggressively expanded its streaming library and invested in technology to deliver content across an expanding array of devices, including smart televisions, gaming consoles, tablets, and smartphones. The company's growth was rapid, and by the early 2010s, Netflix had become one of the largest sources of internet traffic in North America.

A significant strategic shift occurred when Netflix began producing original content. The company's move into original programming, beginning with series such as House of Cards and Orange Is the New Black, transformed Netflix from a content distributor into a content creator and studio in its own right.[10] This strategy of combining a technology-driven distribution platform with proprietary content became a model that competitors — including Disney, Apple, Amazon, and Warner Bros. — would subsequently attempt to replicate.

Leadership Style and Corporate Culture

Hastings became known for developing a distinctive corporate culture at Netflix, characterized by high levels of employee autonomy, transparency in decision-making, and an emphasis on performance. The company's culture document, sometimes referred to as the "Netflix Culture Deck," gained widespread attention in Silicon Valley and the broader business world for its articulation of principles such as "Freedom and Responsibility."[11]

Central to the Netflix management philosophy under Hastings was the concept of a high-trust culture. Hastings described a system in which employees were given substantial latitude to make decisions, with an emphasis on bold judgment rather than rigid adherence to process. The company's approach to severance — using generous severance packages as a management tool to maintain a high-performance workforce — was another distinctive element of the Netflix culture that Hastings discussed publicly.[11]

Hastings served as CEO of Netflix for more than 25 years. In January 2023, he transitioned from the role of co-CEO to executive chairman, with Ted Sarandos and Greg Peters taking over as co-CEOs.[1] In this capacity, Hastings continued to be involved in the company's strategic direction while stepping back from day-to-day operations.

Netflix's Theatrical Strategy and Expansion

Even after stepping down as CEO, Hastings continued to weigh in on significant strategic questions facing Netflix. In early 2026, following comments by CEO Ted Sarandos about Netflix's ambition to compete at the theatrical box office, Hastings offered a more nuanced perspective. According to reporting by The Hollywood Reporter, Hastings expressed some uncertainty about the company's theatrical ambitions, suggesting a degree of internal strategic debate about the extent to which Netflix should pursue traditional theatrical releases versus its core streaming model.[12]

By late 2025, Netflix had grown into a company valued at approximately $440 billion. In a significant expansion, the company moved to acquire Warner Bros. and HBO, a transaction that would represent one of the largest media deals in history and consolidate Netflix's position as a dominant force in global entertainment.[3]

Board Service and AI Interests

Throughout his career, Hastings has served on the boards of directors of several prominent technology companies. In 2011, he was named to the board of directors of Facebook (now Meta Platforms).[13] He served on the Facebook board until 2019, when he departed.[14] In 2012, he joined the board of directors of Microsoft.[15]

In May 2025, Hastings was appointed to the board of directors of Anthropic, an AI safety and research company. The announcement described Hastings as bringing "deep experience in scaling technology companies and navigating complex strategic decisions" to the AI company's governance.[1] Hastings's interest in artificial intelligence extended to public commentary on the technology's potential societal impact. In a December 2025 conversation with Bloomberg, he discussed AI and the future of television.[16]

Education Reform Advocacy

Beyond his business career, Hastings has been a prominent figure in American education policy, particularly in the area of charter school advocacy. He served as president of the California State Board of Education.[17]

Hastings has been a significant financial supporter of charter school initiatives and has advocated for structural changes to public education governance. In 2014, The Washington Post reported on Hastings's proposal to eliminate elected school boards, arguing that they were inefficient governing structures for public education systems.[18] The proposal generated significant debate among education policy experts, with supporters pointing to the potential for more professionalized school governance and critics raising concerns about democratic accountability.

In November 2025, Hastings spoke publicly about the potential impact of artificial intelligence on education. In an interview with The 74, an education news outlet, he predicted that the role of teachers would shift significantly as AI tools became more prevalent in classrooms. "I think the teacher's role is going to move more towards a social worker focusing on social emotional learning," Hastings stated, suggesting that AI would increasingly handle the delivery of academic content while human educators focused on students' emotional and social development.[19] Hastings has donated substantial sums to education-related causes over the years, making him one of the more influential philanthropists in the education reform space.

He has also contributed to political campaigns related to education. Campaign finance records from California show contributions made through committees associated with his advocacy efforts.[20]

Personal Life

Hastings has maintained a relatively private personal life compared to many technology industry figures of comparable prominence. He has resided in the Santa Cruz, California area.[21]

In terms of political activity, Hastings was among a group of business leaders who endorsed Hillary Clinton during the 2016 United States presidential election, as reported by Politico.[22]

Outside of his technology and education interests, Hastings has pursued recreational activities including skiing. In early 2026, it was reported that Hastings had acquired a stake in Powder Mountain, a ski resort in Utah. Reporting by Ski Magazine described Hastings as having "local roots and a true love for its slopes and vibe," and noted that his investment in the resort reflected a genuine personal interest in skiing rather than a purely financial transaction.[23]

Political and Civic Engagement

Hastings's civic engagement has extended beyond education reform. He made political donations in California, including to Republican-aligned causes in the state, as documented by the Los Angeles Times.[24] His political contributions have crossed party lines over the years, reflecting an approach to political engagement focused on specific policy issues — particularly education — rather than strict partisan affiliation.

His NPR interview from 2004 provided further insight into his views on public policy and the intersection of technology and education.[25]

Legacy

Reed Hastings's impact on the entertainment industry has been substantial and measurable. Netflix, under his leadership, grew from a small DVD-by-mail startup into one of the most valuable media companies in the world, with a valuation reaching approximately $440 billion by late 2025.[3] The company's streaming model catalyzed a broader transformation of the media landscape, prompting established studios and technology companies to launch their own streaming platforms in what industry observers came to call the "streaming wars."

The concept of "binge-watching" — consuming multiple episodes of a television series in a single sitting — became a cultural phenomenon closely associated with Netflix's practice of releasing entire seasons of original series simultaneously. This distribution strategy, championed under Hastings's leadership, altered audience expectations and created new patterns of media consumption.

Hastings's influence has also been felt in corporate culture. The Netflix culture document, which articulated principles of employee freedom, responsibility, and high performance, became one of the most discussed management frameworks in Silicon Valley and was studied by business leaders and academics worldwide.[11]

His transition from active CEO to chairman and board member for AI companies such as Anthropic suggests a continued interest in the intersection of technology and society. His public statements on AI's potential impact on education and entertainment indicate an ongoing engagement with questions about how emerging technologies will reshape industries and institutions.[19][16]

In education policy, Hastings's advocacy for charter schools and his willingness to challenge established governance structures — such as his proposal to eliminate elected school boards — placed him at the center of ongoing national debates about the future of American public education.[18]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 "Reed Hastings appointed to Anthropic's board of directors".Anthropic.May 28, 2025.https://www.anthropic.com/news/reed-hastings.Retrieved 2026-02-23.
  2. ↑ "State Board of Education Names Reed Hastings as New President".California Department of Education.http://www.cde.ca.gov/nr/ne/yr05/yr05rel8.asp.Retrieved 2026-02-23.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 "Netflix cofounder started his career selling vacuums door-to-door before college—now, his $440 billion streaming giant is buying Warner Bros. and HBO".Fortune.December 5, 2025.https://fortune.com/2025/12/05/netflix-cofounder-reed-hastings-rags-to-riches-vaccum-salesperson-to-self-made-billionaire-netflix-chairman-career-warner-bros-hbo-purchase/.Retrieved 2026-02-23.
  4. ↑ "Reed Hastings - Peace Corps Online".Peace Corps Online.http://peacecorpsonline.org/messages/messages/467/2019928.html.Retrieved 2026-02-23.
  5. ↑ "Reed Hastings".Stanford University News Service.April 5, 2000.http://news-service.stanford.edu/news/2000/april5/hastings-45.html.Retrieved 2026-02-23.
  6. ↑ "Netflix: Flex to the Max".Bloomberg Businessweek.September 23, 2007.https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2007-09-23/netflix-flex-to-the-max.Retrieved 2026-02-23.
  7. ↑ "Netflix CEO".USA Today.April 23, 2006.https://www.usatoday.com/tech/products/services/2006-04-23-netflix-ceo_x.htm.Retrieved 2026-02-23.
  8. ↑ The Wall Street Journal.https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB108113352739374084.Retrieved 2026-02-23.
  9. ↑ The Wall Street Journal.https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB120251714532955425.Retrieved 2026-02-23.
  10. ↑ "Outside the Box".The New Yorker.https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2014/02/03/outside-the-box-2.Retrieved 2026-02-23.
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 "Netflix Founder Reed Hastings on Scaling High-Trust Culture & Bold Judgment".Farnam Street.June 5, 2025.https://fs.blog/knowledge-project-podcast/reed-hastings/.Retrieved 2026-02-23.
  12. ↑ "Ted Sarandos Says He Wants to "Win Box Office." Reed Hastings Doesn't Sound So Sure".The Hollywood Reporter.https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/business-news/reed-hastings-comments-netflix-theatrical-movies-1236476465/.Retrieved 2026-02-23.
  13. ↑ "Facebook Names Reed Hastings to its Board of Directors".PR Newswire.http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/facebook-names-reed-hastings-to-its-board-of-directors-124429638.html.Retrieved 2026-02-23.
  14. ↑ "Netflix CEO Reed Hastings to depart Facebook board of directors".CNBC.April 12, 2019.https://www.cnbc.com/2019/04/12/netflix-ceo-reed-hastings-to-depart-facebook-board-of-directors.html.Retrieved 2026-02-23.
  15. ↑ "Reed Hastings Named to Microsoft Board of Directors".Microsoft.October 9, 2012.http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/news/Press/2012/Oct12/10-09ReedPR.aspx.Retrieved 2026-02-23.
  16. ↑ 16.0 16.1 "Bloomberg Talks: Reed Hastings Talks AI".Bloomberg.December 11, 2025.https://www.bloomberg.com/news/audio/2025-12-11/bloomberg-talks-netflix-s-reed-hastings-talks-ai-podcast.Retrieved 2026-02-23.
  17. ↑ "State Board of Education Names Reed Hastings as New President".California Department of Education.http://www.cde.ca.gov/nr/ne/yr05/yr05rel8.asp.Retrieved 2026-02-23.
  18. ↑ 18.0 18.1 "Netflix's Reed Hastings has a big idea: Kill elected school boards".The Washington Post.March 14, 2014.https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/answer-sheet/wp/2014/03/14/netflixs-reed-hastings-has-a-big-idea-kill-elected-school-boards/.Retrieved 2026-02-23.
  19. ↑ 19.0 19.1 "Netflix's Reed Hastings on the Impact of AI on Schools".The 74.November 20, 2025.https://www.the74million.org/article/netflixs-reed-hastings-on-the-impact-of-ai-on-schools/.Retrieved 2026-02-23.
  20. ↑ "Campaign Committee Detail".California Secretary of State.http://cal-access.sos.ca.gov/Campaign/Committees/Detail.aspx?id=1315905&session=2009&view=late1.Retrieved 2026-02-23.
  21. ↑ Santa Cruz Sentinel.July 12, 2006.http://www.santacruzsentinel.com/archive/2006/July/12/local/stories/03local.htm.Retrieved 2026-02-23.
  22. ↑ "Business leaders endorse Hillary Clinton".Politico.June 2016.https://www.politico.com/story/2016/06/business-leaders-endorse-hillary-clinton-224706.Retrieved 2026-02-23.
  23. ↑ "Powder Mountain Has New Leadership From an Unlikely Place".Ski Magazine.https://www.skimag.com/news/netflix-reed-hastins-buys-stake-powder-mountain/.Retrieved 2026-02-23.
  24. ↑ Los Angeles Times.http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-stategop1aug01,0,4553077.story?coll=la-home-center.Retrieved 2026-02-23.
  25. ↑ NPR.https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4112093.Retrieved 2026-02-23.

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