Rick Cohen Net Worth, Relationships, Age/Birthdate & Birthday

The Quiet Architect Behind Retail's Modern Backbone

Few business stories combine generational legacy with cutting-edge innovation quite like that of Richard B. "Rick" Cohen. Born July 25, 1952, into a family embedded in America's grocery wholesale business, Rick Cohen transformed the modest beginnings of his forebears into a multibillion-dollar empire — while quietly revolutionizing how groceries reach store shelves. His journey is a testament to long-term vision, technological ambition, and a commitment to operational excellence. 

From Worcester Roots to National Grocery Powerhouse

Cohen’s story begins in Worcester, Massachusetts, where his family’s company, C&S Wholesale Grocers (C&S), was founded in 1918 by his grandfather.  Growing up amid loading docks and supply orders, Rick was immersed in the business from a young age. After finishing high school, he went on to study accounting — earning a degree from The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania in 1974. 

He joined C&S full-time that same year, when annual sales hovered at just $14 million. Over the next decades, under his leadership, the company underwent a remarkable transformation. When his father retired in 1989, Cohen took the helm and began expanding aggressively — relocating headquarters in 2003 to Keene, New Hampshire, and scaling operations nationwide. 

Under his watch, C&S grew from a regional supplier into the largest wholesale grocery distributor in the United States, servicing thousands of stores across the country. 

Reimagining Distribution: Robotics, Automation, and the Birth of Symbotic

But Cohen didn’t stop at traditional wholesale. Faced with the logistical challenges of serving a sprawling retail network, he began to explore automation and robotics. That ambition gave birth to Symbotic — a warehouse automation company founded by Cohen that leverages AI-enabled robotics to streamline supply chains. 

Symbotic’s rise represents a strategic pivot: turning legacy supply problems into a technology-driven business opportunity. Over time, Symbotic secured major partnerships — most notably with Walmart, automating dozens of its regional distribution centers. 

In 2022, Symbotic went public through a $5.5 billion SPAC deal — a move that dramatically expanded Cohen’s influence beyond grocery wholesaling, into the cutting edge of industrial robotics. 

Wealth Reimagined: From Wholesale to Automation Fortune

The dual engines of C&S and Symbotic have powered a dramatic expansion of wealth for Cohen and his family. According to Forbes’ real-time tracking (November 27, 2025), the family’s net worth soared to approximately $38.1 billion, placing Cohen among the top 50 richest individuals worldwide. 

Even conservative estimates — such as those from Bloomberg — place his net worth in the tens of billions, with the bulk derived from his majority stake in Symbotic and ownership of C&S. 

This wealth did not arrive overnight but was built slowly over decades — through savvy reinvestment, an embrace of automation, and a willingness to modernize an industry often resistant to change.

Family, Privacy, and a Life Off the Spotlight

Despite his considerable fortune and industry influence, Rick Cohen maintains a relatively low public profile. According to available sources, he is married to Jan Cohen, and together they have three children. 

When he does engage publicly, his remarks tend to reflect humility and a work-oriented mindset rather than ostentation. As one Forbes piece puts it: “[When] walking the warehouse … I see what should have happened two minutes ago and why it didn’t happen.” 

Beyond business, Cohen and his family have also contributed philanthropically: in 2001, their support resulted in the renaming of the center for Holocaust and Genocide Studies at Keene State College. 

What Rick Cohen’s Journey Means for Industry and Legacy

Rick Cohen’s trajectory — from family-owned grocer to robotics titan — embodies a rare combination of legacy respect and forward-looking innovation. By leveraging automation technology, he not only preserved his family’s wholesale roots but also pushed them into a future of AI-driven logistics.

In an era where supply chains feel fragile and consumers demand speed, Cohen’s Symbotic offers a glimpse into the warehouse of tomorrow — one in which robots, data, and efficiencies replace manual labor and outdated systems. His path demonstrates how traditional industries can be revitalized not just by scaling, but by transformation.

For aspiring entrepreneurs and business leaders, Cohen’s story underscores the value of blending legacy business knowledge with technological foresight.