BuzzFeed

Method

Jonah Peretti and John Johnson start BuzzFeed in New York in 2006 as a viral content lab paid by native advertising, later Tasty video licensing and commerce. NBCUniversal invests 400 million dollars across 2015 and 2016, BuzzFeed buys HuffPost in 2020 and Complex in 2021, and lists through a SPAC in December 2021 at 1.5 billion dollars. It shuts BuzzFeed News on April 20, 2023 with about 180 layoffs, sells Complex in 2024 and First We Feast in December 2024, and falls from 1,700 staff in 2017 to 925 in 2023. On May 27, 2026 Byron Allen's family office completes a 120 million dollar purchase of about 51 percent, paid with 20 million cash and a 100 million dollar note, making Allen chief executive while Peretti runs BuzzFeed AI. The rung that breaks is platform distribution: Facebook traffic that funded the newsroom disappears.

Open on the map Directory Suggest a correction

The path: money and goods moving

• spawnedThe Try GuysThe Try Guys start as BuzzFeed staff in September 2014 and leave with the brand in 2018.2014 to 2018
• backed byComcast NBCUniversalNBCUniversal invests 200 million dollars in BuzzFeed in August 2015 and another 200 million dollars in November 2016.2015 to 2016
• spawnedWatcher EntertainmentRyan Bergara, Shane Madej and Steven Lim leave BuzzFeed's video unit to found Watcher in late 2019.2019
• acquiredComplex NetworksBuzzFeed buys Complex in June 2021 for 300 million dollars and sells it in February 2024 for 108.6 million.2021 to 2024
• acquiredFirst We Feast (Hot Ones)BuzzFeed keeps First We Feast after selling Complex and sells it in December 2024 for 82.5 million dollars in cash.2021 to 2024
• acquired byAllen Media GroupByron Allen's family office buys about 51 percent of BuzzFeed for 120 million dollars, closing May 27, 2026.2026