The Story of Yael Cohen — From Personal Pain to Global Purpose

A Defining Moment Becomes a Mission

Yael Cohen Braun, born on November 4, 1986, in South Africa — a detail that reveals her birthday and birthdate — has carved a deeply impactful path, transforming personal adversity into widespread activism and influence.

Raised in Canada, Yael Cohen’s life pivot happened when her mother was diagnosed with breast cancer. Confronted with fear, grief, and uncertainty, she created a simple but powerful act: a T-shirt emblazoned with the blunt message “F*ck Cancer.” That act, meant for her mother, resonated beyond her family, marking the start of a movement. 

From that bold gesture grew F*ck Cancer — a nonprofit aimed not just at awareness, but at changing the way society talks about cancer: with honesty, urgency, and hope. Through frank messaging, activism, and outreach to younger generations, Cohen helped dismantle stigma and encourage early detection.

Reinventing Philanthropy: Purpose With Personality

What makes Cohen’s journey distinct is the way she merged entrepreneurship, personal loss, and activism — redefining philanthropic engagement for millennials. With a background in finance and business, she understood the power of branding and communication, and she translated that into advocacy. 

Over the years, Cohen has appeared on major stages — from health conferences to global events — and has been invited as a keynote speaker to discuss health, entrepreneurship, and social change. Her voice brought a new tone to philanthropy: candid, urgent, and unapologetic.

Through F*ck Cancer, she pushed boundaries. For example, a collaboration in 2016 with jewelry designer Jennifer Fisher helped raise funds and awareness for cancer patients — showing how activism and fashion/branding can intertwine for impact.

Personal Life, Relationships, and Transitions

Cohen’s personal narrative was long intertwined with her marriage to Scooter Braun, the famed music manager known for guiding the careers of major pop stars. The two married on July 6, 2014, and over time, they welcomed three children.

For years, their union was perceived as a blend of philanthropic influence and music-industry power — Cohen bringing activism and social conscience, Braun bringing entertainment clout. Together, they attended high-profile events and fundraisers, blending worlds of advocacy and pop culture.

But in July 2021 the couple separated, and their divorce was finalized in September 2022. Publicly, at least, the split seems rooted in personal evolution: in a 2025 interview, Braun reflected that both parties contributed to the end of their marriage — describing it as a mutual “breaking of the foundation.”

Despite the divorce, Cohen continues her advocacy and public work — her identity no longer tethered to her former spouse, but defined increasingly by her own mission.

Estimating Worth: Influence Beyond Dollars

Quantifying net worth for social entrepreneurs — especially those whose value lies in ideas, influence, and activism — is tricky. That said, some sources estimate Yael Cohen’s net worth at around US$ 100 million. 

That figure likely blends inheritance (her family has been described as “extremely wealthy,” with a background in mining and resource industries) alongside the value derived from her foundation, speaking engagements, public appearances, and entrepreneurial ventures.

Independent of a dollar figure, Cohen’s real “wealth” may lie in something more enduring: the cultural shift she helped engineer — creating a space where frank conversations about cancer, wellness, prevention, and early detection are normalized, especially among younger generations.

Why Her Story Resonates: More Than a Biography

What sets Yael Cohen apart is not just activism — but transformation. She took a painful chapter in her personal life and turned it into a global mission. Her journey highlights how individual grief can seed collective change. It reflects the power of combining personal narrative with entrepreneurial savvy and social conscience.

In a world where nonprofit work can sometimes feel clinical or detached, Cohen reintroduced humanity, voice, and urgency. She showed that advocacy doesn’t have to be somber — it can be bold, candid, and even irreverent, while remaining deeply respectful of the cause.

For anyone tracing the arc from personal pain to public purpose — or studying how modern philanthropy can harness branding, media, and authenticity — Yael Cohen’s trajectory offers a powerful blueprint.