Richard Kirkendall is one of the hardest working executives in the domain name space as the Founder and CEO of Namecheap. He has built Namecheap into one of the largest domain name registrars, and he recently launched a sister registrar platform, Spaceship.
This morning, the Wall Street Journal reported some massive news as it relates to Namecheap. A private equity company is reportedly close to acquiring a majority stake in the company. Here’s an excerpt from the article with the gist of the deal.
“CVC Capital Partners is closing in on buying a majority stake in Namecheap, in a deal that values the big domain registrar and web-hosting provider at about $1.5 billion including debt, according to people familiar with the matter.”
Responding to a comment on X, Richard seemingly confirmed the news:
Tried to keep it quiet but looks like the news is out. https://t.co/GSA09r6PBd
— Richard Kirkendall (@NamecheapCEO) September 12, 2025
A huge congratulations is due to Richard. Even if he sold slightly more than half the company, that huge amount would probably make him the most financially successful person in our industry. Richard seems to work around the clock on products and customer service, and he deserves the huge payday.
It’s good to see Richard is staying on board at Namecheap once the deal closes. I am sure customers will hope for the same level of support and care they have come to receive over the years.
Wow. Two words: Congratulations. Inspiring!
Yes WOW!! Big Congrats to Richard!!
Mr. Bob Parson is my hero…really admire that guy…
Remember he sold GD….that when GD went downhill….and that the rest of the story.
Really missed the GD 99 coupons
Killing elephants makes a hero?
“Express yourself via Domain Names”
That the best marketing slogan by GD and that how I got started in this BS stress free domaining hobby and having lots of fun while making big $$$$$$ and traveling all over the world…1st class..
I used the GD 99 cent coupons to hand reg… marijuanaguy.com, marijuanadealer.com,squarely com and iof course BullShitWebSites.com. And so many more and making big $$$$$…..,easy peasy
Congrats to Richard!
“about $1.5 billion including debt”
Big number but we don’t know how much of that $1.5 billion is the debt, not equity. If $1 billion is debt, the $0.5 billion for the equity is less impressive. Still impressive, but less so. Either way, congratulations to Richard and the Namecheap team!
Elliot, this is you doing one of your occasional “friend of establishment, elite, wealth and power” puff posts.
“PE” – let’s spell it out, “Private Equity” – is long well known for devouring and destroying everything it touches; for none of its intentions being good, all of its intentions being bad and to stripmine anything it comes near to enrich its eilte “stakeholders” and discard the devastated remains.
Was HostGator a “PE” deal, by the way? Might as well have been. From great to get-me-ten-million-miles-away-as-fast-as-possible in nothing flat.
Check out the tragic anti-social anti-human story of Crozer-Chester Medical Center and “PE” when you get a chance.
That said, I don’t blame Richard Kirkendall or anyone else with him getting rich in the process for taking the windfall. We all probably would do that including me. But let’s just be honest about “PE.”
P.S. I want to add a candid tale of two contrasts here as well:
1. I’ve always hated NameCheap. Don’t know what anyone ever saw in it. Possibly even the worst most unpleasant domain management software ever.
But…
2. I was doubtful at first, but Spaceship has rapidly become one of the best registrars of all time ever. Some of the best domain management software ever, possibly even the best. Sad to contemplate what the future might hold now that “PE” will have a hold, however.
What a contrast, at least while it lasts.