Rick Schwartz Comes In First for Greatest Domainer of All Time

by

Greatest Domainer of All Time ?

Two years ago when we asked who was Greatest Domainer of All Time ? Frank Schilling was the runaway winner.

Fast forward to today and Rick Schwartz wins going away. Rick garnered 36% of the vote, 98 out of 273 votes. Frank Schilling was 29 behind at 69. Yun Ye won bronze getting 23 votes or 8%. Thanks to everyone who voted in the poll.

Full results below:

Rick Schwartz
98
   36%
Frank Schilling
69
   25%
Yun Ye
23
     8%
Michael Berkens
16
     6%
Igal Lichtman
12
     4%
Kevin Ham
10
     4%
Mike Mann
9
     3%
Castello Brothers
8
     3%
Turakhia Brothers (Directi, Radix)
7
     3%
Andrew Rosener
7
     3%
Rob Grant
3
     1%
John Xu (Owner 4.CN)
2
     1%
Bob Parsons
2
     1%
George Kirikos
2
     1%
Scott Day
2
     1%
Chris Chena
1
     0%
Thunayan Al-Ghanim
1
     0%
Eric Borgos
1
     0%
Mike Zappy Zapolin
0
     0%
Anything.com
0
     0%

About Raymond Hackney

Raymond is a writer, domain trader and consultant based in Pennsylvania. Raymond is the founder of 3Character.com and TLDInvestors.com.

Comments

  3. thelegendaryjp says

    It amazes me how grown and elderly men revert to childish exercises. Many great people missing from that list, perhaps because they are quieter and less child like.

    jmo

    • Domain says

      Really ? Who would be above Rick or Frank ? These quiet dignified men ? And who is elderly ? Certainly not anyone on that list. The world keeps score in every category in this category Rick wins.

  4. The Late Great Domain Pundit says

    I think Rick deserves extra credit because he has achieved the highest gross margin having minimized his expenses with a very small portfolio compared to the others that was 100% paid for by revenue streams.

    • VR says

      Spot on analysis and I echo the sentiments of @Domain, who are the other people in the shadows that top Rick ? Cheers to yun ye for third place.

      • thelegendaryjp says

        My use of the word childish was clearly spot on.
        You do realize we are talking about a poll with 200+ votes right?
        Where many industry successes are missing.
        There is no doubt that at least 6 at the top deserve to be there but there are just as many not mentioned at all and some of those on the top of the list have partners who’s names you don’t even know and never will.

        The list is again imo a childish exercise with 2XX votes and while the top comes close again many missing and if we based it solely on wallet size and not mouth size the order would change.

        You can disagree with me all you like but unless we broke it down by category and polled thousand(s) in the industry the title Greatest Domainer of all time is just a childish exercise.

        • Domain says

          Thousands never reply to polls or contests. I have seen smaller. And everyone could vote. And please don’t tell me who knows what. I know guys who stake out and investigate many in the business. Hopefully a story will come out about all this work. But please lessendary tell us who hiding in the shadows greater than Rick ?

  5. Eric Borgos says

    One question to consider would be could a domain investor who almost nobody has heard of be considered the greatest domainer of all time? In other words, does doing things in the industry (like having a blog, commenting on domain blogs, going to domain shows, running a domain company, etc.) count as much as how many domains, or what quality domains, the investor has bought and sold? I am not saying either way is correct, I am just bringing the question up.

    • thelegendaryjp says

      In short, yes and no lol I see what you mean but the answer truly is yes and it is yes even if no one knows because while unknown can still be and potential is true if based on sales.

      Some on the list mentioned are fairly private yet have had enough public trades, story they are honored for that. SOme have had great big sells and have as big a mouth. Potentially meaning if the mouth wasn’t so big they may not be as high on the list.

      I am not saying a loud voice is bad but when it appears to be as self serving as possible it is not just embarrassing but negates one’s achievements, imo.

      I cringe and wished that some of the biggest names on that list who have jumped head long into .whatever extensions etc would not make some statements they do, it is clearly based on money and not a true or real thought. It hurts the image one has of their hero’s.

  6. Friend says

    Domaining industry is huge, but there is a small group that like to cheer each other and such same names year by year, event by event, blog by blog take all prizes and all attention. While many newbies accept this group as a top domainers, many better investors that achieve way better results without any publicity just smile and let these childish pros to feel happy, important and “powerful” with no disturbance. Last, but not least, we all know that it is about money and that blogging is business (with a profit from advertisement), conferences is business that bring opportunities to make nice money, etc. None of these “big” or “top” guy is here to help you. They are here to help them (to make money on you). Period.

    • Domain says

      Domaining is not huge number one there are less than 500 people making a full time living. Not some newb selling a llll.org for $30 on Namepros.

      Who is in the shadows that achieved way better results than Rick ? The guy has sold like only 20 names in 20 years.

      • thelegendaryjp says

        I can think of 3 just in Canada and I would bet you have never heard of them, in fact I myself stumbled into them. Will I name them, no but if you take my word for it these people exist! Rick has done very very well, others you have never heard of have done better.

        • Raymond Hackney says

          I think I can name them JP, I get your point, but yes a couple guys should have been on the list like Mr.Chernoff to be honest when I was putting the list together I thought I had Garry and Nat down when I clicked publish on the poll, so that was my error. A couple of the more private guys I figured not many would know, heck Elequa only got one vote and I think his portfolio at its peak was top 10 in the world.

          We run many polls here, and it is a reflection of our readers just like when polls are on Namepros. A poll there would probably see different results, and I think it is an interesting exercise. I actually thought about doing one on Namepros same topic just to see how the numbers would skew.

          Thanks for reading.

          • Jens says

            Raymond no need to explain yourself. This was very interesting and entertaining. Point being the outspoken people like Rick have helped the industry… these shadow lurkers have done nothing for anyone but themselves. Rick – Frank – Mike B have helped many, they have earned their place.

    • thelegendaryjp says

      @Charles, you are a smart man 🙂

      @Ray, no harm in a poll for fun and I do enjoy your articles I just wanted to share my thoughts.

  8. steve says

    The Yun Ye story is fascinating, as he hasn’t followed the domain industry since 2002.

    He started “domaining” in 1997, at the age of 25, picking up dropped key word domains to make “parking revenues” by putting up a 12 sites a day. With more parking revenues, more key word domains.

    His wife helped Yun Ye negotiate his $164 million sale to Marchex in 2001-2002.

    Then he retired, at the age of 30, having worked only 3 years of his life, after graduating with a CS degree.

    With real estate in Hong Kong, Singapore and Vancouver, Yun Ye has kept a very low profile. You wonder if he even knows about the GTLDs, let alone any of the launches of other extensions — .me, .mobi, .
    co,….

    He probably could have become a billionaire with the domain frenzy in China during 2014-2015. But he also probably realizes — how much money do you really need, especially if you’re an introvert and prefer not to be in any limelight.

  9. Joe says

    I read your mention to and not whether to laugh or mourn, envies persist in some of your comments, not so be smart and hardworking to achieve their goals

    Remember that and Horward were those who create the TRAFFIC Florida event, where all domaniers lis and other vip, glamor wish to be seen next to some known and photographed with them and they, in this market and industry would gather ..

    Rick I write what escrbir to know that I have problems with Moniker His answer was Joe, immediately out of here. others have learned from Rick, and I write them emails as well: Moniker.com is one of the best registrars around the world. Even being with Moniker to save the most important thing I have my domain- names Com

    Listen to most and I lose.

    Who was right expetiencia pioneer or the other, you can close your eyes and listen to his voice the other no longer are. I do not defend well known Rick the same every day.

    I believe that when reading your post from their blog or interviews who be the best or who work in this market all do different ones like Frank Shillinhg has a way of valuing own domains that do not have Rick and without knowing, Yun can only tell you from here I would have liked tenee a wife like yours trading and selling domain names for $ 164 million goes to Marchex in 2001-2002.

     Rick porno.com buy per $ 16.000 and leave domain parking to make money and sell porno .com I Congratulations Rick the reply email, Thanks Joe,

    Many ls to the last list does not respond ..

    What harm do if Rick and teaching sell many of you and you ought to have one day respect and abide by the final result and write from here:

    Congratulations Rick Schwartz traffic you’ve got to win the rest being the best. This 2016 ……

    Rick also talk to them.The losers and are friends of their experiences that they can tell what many of us never can know that Rick is honest to me we me it was always.