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Ted Sarandos

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Ted Sarandos is Co-CEO & President of Netflix, widely recognized as the architect of the company's original content strategy that fundamentally reshaped the global entertainment and streaming landscape. By championing massive investments in original programming — from 'House of Cards' to 'Stranger Things' to 'Squid Game' — Sarandos transformed Netflix from a DVD-by-mail and licensed-content service into the world's leading streaming platform with hundreds of millions of subscribers. His content-first philosophy and willingness to greenlight bold, data-driven bets on creators and IP redefined how premium video content is financed, distributed, and consumed globally. Sarandos joined Netflix in 2000 as Chief Content Officer, bringing deep experience from his years in home video distribution and retail. Over two decades, he built one of the most powerful content acquisition and production operations in media history, forging relationships with top-tier talent and studios while pioneering the binge-release model. In 2020, he was elevated to Co-CEO alongside Reed Hastings, and subsequently assumed the President title, cementing his role as one of the most influential executives in media. His tenure has also seen Netflix expand into advertising-supported tiers, making him a pivotal figure in the convergence of streaming and AdTech. In the AdTech and media ecosystem, Sarandos is increasingly relevant as Netflix's ad-supported tier (launched in 2022) has grown into a significant advertising platform, attracting major brand partners and reshaping connected TV (CTV) advertising. His decisions around content investment, audience targeting capabilities, and the pace of Netflix's advertising product development directly influence the broader streaming ad market, making him a key figure for advertisers, agencies, and AdTech vendors navigating the CTV landscape.

Last updated Sep 26, 2026 by ATDb automated enrichment

Role
Co-CEO & President
Company
Netflix
Based
Los Angeles, California, United States
Boards
3
Connections
1
Years in industry
25 years

Bio

Ted Sarandos is Co-CEO & President of Netflix, widely recognized as the architect of the company's original content strategy that fundamentally reshaped the global entertainment and streaming landscape. By championing massive investments in original programming — from 'House of Cards' to 'Stranger Things' to 'Squid Game' — Sarandos transformed Netflix from a DVD-by-mail and licensed-content service into the world's leading streaming platform with hundreds of millions of subscribers. His content-first philosophy and willingness to greenlight bold, data-driven bets on creators and IP redefined how premium video content is financed, distributed, and consumed globally. Sarandos joined Netflix in 2000 as Chief Content Officer, bringing deep experience from his years in home video distribution and retail. Over two decades, he built one of the most powerful content acquisition and production operations in media history, forging relationships with top-tier talent and studios while pioneering the binge-release model. In 2020, he was elevated to Co-CEO alongside Reed Hastings, and subsequently assumed the President title, cementing his role as one of the most influential executives in media. His tenure has also seen Netflix expand into advertising-supported tiers, making him a pivotal figure in the convergence of streaming and AdTech. In the AdTech and media ecosystem, Sarandos is increasingly relevant as Netflix's ad-supported tier (launched in 2022) has grown into a significant advertising platform, attracting major brand partners and reshaping connected TV (CTV) advertising. His decisions around content investment, audience targeting capabilities, and the pace of Netflix's advertising product development directly influence the broader streaming ad market, making him a key figure for advertisers, agencies, and AdTech vendors navigating the CTV landscape.

Career

  • Co-CEO & Chief Content Officer

    Netflix · 2020-2023

  • Chief Content Officer

    Netflix · 2000-2020

  • VP of Content

    Video City / ETD (home video distribution) · 1983-2000

Board memberships

Netflix (Board of Directors)Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA)Academy Museum of Motion Pictures

Expertise & education

Expertise

Streaming Media StrategyConnected TV (CTV) AdvertisingOriginal Content DevelopmentAdvertising-Supported Video on Demand (AVOD)Audience Data & TargetingContent Licensing & DistributionSubscription & Ad-Supported Business ModelsGlobal Media & Entertainment

Education

  • Attended Arizona State University (did not complete degree)

Speaking topics

The future of streaming and advertising-supported videoOriginal content strategy and data-driven creative investmentConnected TV and the evolution of the advertising ecosystemGlobal content and cross-cultural storytellingLeadership and building creative organizations at scale

Recognition

Notable achievements

  • Elevated to Co-CEO of Netflix in 2020, one of the most prominent leadership roles in global media
  • Architected Netflix's original content strategy, leading to landmark productions including 'House of Cards,' 'Stranger Things,' 'The Crown,' and 'Squid Game'
  • Oversaw the launch of Netflix's advertising-supported tier in 2022, opening a major new revenue stream and CTV advertising platform
  • Grew Netflix's content budget to over $17 billion annually, making it one of the largest content spenders in the world
  • Pioneered the binge-release model for episodic television, fundamentally changing viewer behavior globally

Awards

TIME 100 Most Influential People (multiple years)Variety Entertainment Icon AwardHollywood Reporter Power 100 (multiple years)Producers Guild of America Milestone Award
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