What Happened to The Daily Wire?
The Daily Wire, founded in 2015 by Ben Shapiro and Jeremy Boreing, has evolved from a conservative news and opinion website into a diversified media and commerce company. It expanded into podcasts, film and TV production with DailyWire+, children's content via Bentkey, and consumer products like Jeremy's Razors and Jeremy's Chocolates. As of mid-2026, the company has undergone significant leadership changes, including the departure of co-founders Jeremy Boreing and Caleb Robinson, and is navigating subscriber declines and strategic restructuring while seeking new investments and targeting a future IPO.
Quick Answer
The Daily Wire, a prominent conservative media company, has expanded significantly since its 2015 founding, moving beyond news and podcasts into film, TV, and children's entertainment with DailyWire+ and Bentkey. However, 2025 and 2026 have seen notable shifts, including layoffs, the departure of co-founders Jeremy Boreing and Caleb Robinson, and a reported decline in paid subscribers. The company recently sold its consumer brands, Jeremy's Razors and Jeremy's Chocolates, back to Jeremy Boreing's new venture, and is currently seeking substantial investment with an eye towards a future IPO, under the leadership of new CEO Mike Richards.
📊Key Facts
📅Complete Timeline14 events
The Daily Wire Launched
Ben Shapiro, Jeremy Boreing, and Caleb Robinson co-founded The Daily Wire, a conservative news and opinion website, with initial funding from Dan and Farris Wilks.
The Ben Shapiro Show Syndicated
The Daily Wire's flagship podcast, 'The Ben Shapiro Show,' began national syndication to radio stations through Westwood One, significantly broadening its audience.
Headquarters Relocated to Nashville
The Daily Wire announced its move from Los Angeles, California, to Nashville, Tennessee, a decision influenced by the company's stated desire for a more favorable political and business environment.
Film and TV Studio Announced
The company announced plans to establish a studio for TV and film production, aiming to create entertainment content that would not promote what it identified as 'leftist' causes.
Jeremy's Razors Launched
Co-founder Jeremy Boreing launched Jeremy's Razors, a subscription-based shaving product line, as a direct competitor to Harry's Razors after the latter pulled advertisements from The Daily Wire.
DailyWire+ Streaming Service Debuts
The Daily Wire launched DailyWire+, its own video-on-demand platform, to consolidate its podcasts, films, and original video series, offering a direct-to-consumer content hub.
Jeremy's Chocolate Introduced
Jeremy Boreing launched Jeremy's Chocolate, a line of chocolate bars, as another 'anti-woke' consumer product, following a controversy involving Hershey's.
Bentkey Children's Platform Launched
The Daily Wire launched Bentkey, a dedicated children's entertainment platform, with plans to invest $100 million over three years to create conservative-aligned kids' content.
Jeremy Boreing Steps Down as Co-CEO, Layoffs Occur
Jeremy Boreing stepped down from his role as co-CEO, leaving Caleb Robinson as the sole CEO. The company also implemented layoffs, affecting approximately 25% of its staff.
Further Layoffs Announced
Ben Shapiro announced another round of layoffs, impacting 13% of The Daily Wire's staff, primarily within its Nashville production operations.
Caleb Robinson Resigns, Mike Richards Appointed CEO
Caleb Robinson resigned as CEO of The Daily Wire and was succeeded by Mike Richards, who had joined the company in May 2025 as president and chief content officer.
Seeking Investment and IPO Plans Revealed
Semafor reported that The Daily Wire was in talks to secure over $100 million in investment at a $750 million valuation, with aspirations for a $2 billion IPO within 18 months, despite a reported decline in paid subscribers to 771,000.
Jeremy's Razors and Chocolates Sold to Boreing Media
The Daily Wire sold its consumer brands, Jeremy's Razors and Jeremy's Chocolates, to Boreing Media, a new company founded by former co-CEO Jeremy Boreing.
Ongoing Operations and Content Production
As of today, The Daily Wire continues to produce its core news and opinion content, including popular podcasts like 'The Ben Shapiro Show' and 'The Matt Walsh Show,' and operates its DailyWire+ streaming service, focusing on expanding editorial investment and hiring new talent.
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🔍Deep Dive Analysis
The Daily Wire was co-founded on September 21, 2015, by political commentator Ben Shapiro, film director Jeremy Boreing, and Caleb Robinson, with initial seed funding of $4.7 million from billionaire brothers Dan and Farris Wilks. Initially headquartered in Los Angeles, California, the company gained traction as a right-wing news and opinion publisher, heavily utilizing platforms like Facebook. Its flagship podcast, 'The Ben Shapiro Show,' saw national radio syndication by April 2018, significantly expanding its reach.
A key strategic shift occurred in September 2020 when The Daily Wire announced its relocation to Nashville, Tennessee, citing California's political climate and cost. The company then embarked on an ambitious expansion into entertainment, announcing a studio for TV and film production in January 2021 to create content free from what it perceived as a 'leftist' agenda. This led to the launch of its video-on-demand platform, DailyWire+, in June 2022, which quickly surpassed 1 million paid subscribers by November 2022. Further diversification included the launch of Jeremy's Razors in March 2022, a direct-to-consumer shaving brand, and Jeremy's Chocolate in March 2023, both created as 'anti-woke' alternatives to established brands. In October 2023, The Daily Wire launched Bentkey, a children's entertainment platform, backed by a reported $100 million investment over three years, aiming to compete with mainstream children's content providers.
The period of 2025-2026 has been marked by significant internal changes and challenges. In March 2025, co-CEO Jeremy Boreing stepped down, with Caleb Robinson becoming sole CEO, and the company initiated layoffs affecting approximately 25% of its staff. Further layoffs, impacting 13% of staff, occurred in May 2026, primarily in the Nashville production office. Shortly after, on May 20, 2026, Caleb Robinson resigned as CEO, and Mike Richards was appointed as his successor. These changes coincided with reports of declining subscriber numbers for DailyWire+, which dropped from over 1.1 million in early 2026 to approximately 850,000 in 2025, and further to around 771,000 by June 2026.
Financially, The Daily Wire reported over $200 million in annual revenue by the end of 2024 and approximately $250 million in 2025, with an adjusted EBITDA of $48 million in 2025. However, advertising revenue has reportedly declined every year since 2022, though it saw a 14% increase in 2026. A major development in July 2026 saw The Daily Wire sell its consumer brands, Jeremy's Razors and Jeremy's Chocolates, to Jeremy Boreing's newly formed company, Boreing Media. Jeremy's Razors alone had generated $55 million in total sales over four years. As of August 2026, The Daily Wire is actively seeking over $100 million in new investment, with a reported valuation of $750 million, and is targeting a potential $2 billion initial public offering (IPO) within 18 months, indicating a strategic pivot towards growth and financial restructuring amidst its evolving media landscape.
What If...?
Explore alternate histories. What if The Daily Wire made different choices?