'Robinhood' CEO Sells Hundreds of Millions in Stock... Plans New $1.5 Billion Share Buyback

On April 6, 2026, Robinhood Markets, Inc. (NASDAQ: HOOD) CEO Vladimir Tenev converted 375,000 Class B common shares into Class A shares and, under a Rule 10b5-1 trading plan established in September 2025, sold them all at approximately $69–$70 per share, raising about $26 million (roughly ₩350 billion). According to the filing, Tenev still holds tens of millions of Class A shares directly and via a lifetime trust. The board also approved a new $1.5 billion (about ₩2 trillion) share repurchase program to replace the existing authorization; previously, Robinhood spent about $1.1 billion (over ₩1.5 trillion) between 2024 and 2025 to buy back tens of millions of Class A shares. Moreover, on March 20, 2026, Chief Technology Officer Jeffrey Chibi Pfiner sold a portion of his holdings in open-market transactions under a 10b5-1 plan, raising about $415,000 (around ₩500 million), and still holds tens of thousands of shares, the company said.

Recently, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) approved on April 14, 2026, a proposal to eliminate the $25,000 minimum equity requirement for pattern day traders. Robinhood’s stock—widely used by small retail investors—has risen more than 10% this week as investors price in the expected benefits from the regulatory change.

Founded in 2013, Robinhood is a U.S. fintech brokerage offering commission-free trading of stocks, ETFs, options and cryptocurrencies via a mobile-first app. It earns revenue from customer cash balances, securities lending and margin loans. Since its Nasdaq listing, the company has expanded into prediction markets, venture investment funds and credit cards, while addressing regulatory and litigation challenges through large share buybacks, as detailed in recent filings, court records and company announcements.