Who owns Mint Mobile? It’s actually more complicated than you think
Spoiler: it’s partly Ryan Reynolds
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[Editor’s note]This just in! T-Mobile has announced that it’s looking to acquire Mint Mobile ina recent blog postfor a whopping $1.35 billion. According to the press release, all management (including Ryan Reynolds) still stay on board for the foreseeable future - with the takeover set for late 2023. Original article from 2021 follows….
Mint Mobilehas really blossomed in popularity over the past few years thanks to the company’s association with Deadpool star and gin connoisseurRyan Reynolds. Of course, it also happens to offer some of thebest cheap cell phone plansaround right now, but its affiliation and supposed co-ownership with an A-lister has really helped it stand out in the often-too-corporate world ofcell phone plans.
However, It’s left many of us wondering - is Ryan Reynolds really the owner of Mint Mobile? Well, the answer is yes - sort of. To be more specific, the actor bought a part-ownership stake in the popular prepaid carrier back in 2019 in a highly publicized manner, which raised more than a few eyebrows.
Ryan Reynolds is, therefore, at least a major player and stakeholder in the company and not just the ‘public face’ who pops up now and again in one of the company’s increasingly elaborate and off-the-wall adverts. That said, as you’d imagine, the company didn’t start with him solely, and there are plenty more movers and shakers behind the scenes, especially since Mint Mobile’s origins lie in another prepaid carrier altogether.
A little Mint Mobile history lesson
Mint Mobile was, in fact, founded back in 2015 as a subsidiary of another prepaid carrier - Ultra Mobile. Interestingly enough, Ultra was a relatively new carrier, having been established itself in 2011 by co-founder David Glickman, who’s still a key figure at both companies. To this day, Mint Mobile technically operates as a subsidiary of Ultra Mobile, even though we assume it’s just as, if not more, popular these days.
Of course, while linked, both Mint Mobile and Ultra Mobile operate as separate companies and cater to different markets. Mint tends to be more online-based and, on the whole, offers more bang-for-the-buck for domestic users. On the other hand, Ultra Mobile offers a really cheap way to get free international calling, and its SIM cards are readily available at stores like 7-Eleven.
If you’re currently researching Mint Mobile and are thinking about trying the carrier out, we’ve included details on the Mint Mobile free trial just below.
The best Mint Mobile deals this weekend
Mint Mobile:7-day free trial now availableGet yourself 250MB of 5G data, 250 minutes, and 250 texts free of charge with the new Mint Mobile free trial. With cell phone plans as little as $15 a month, plus excellent coverage on the T-Mobile network makes Mint Mobile an extremely competitive choice for those on a budget. Previously you had to pay $5 upfront to get yourself a starter kit, so this is a great way to try out this excellent prepaid carrier for less this week.
Mint Mobile introductory offer:3-months at yearly rateIf you’re new to Mint Mobile, the carrier will automatically enroll you at the best rate possible for your first three months, regardless of which plan you go for. Note - after this, you’ll have to buy your plan in ayearlyinstallment to get the same rate as previously, so bear this in mind before you work out your costs.
For more Mint-related content, see ourMint Mobile plansguide, the bestMint Mobile phones, or save some bucks with this week’sbest Mint Mobile deals.
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Alex is TechRadar’s deals editor, specializing in getting our readers the bang bang for the buck on the tech that we know and love. He’s a dab hand at covering retailer events like Black Friday and Amazon Prime Day having over seven years of e-commerce experience at Future PLC; including bylines at our sister sites T3 and GamesRadar. Alex’s expertise touches on most areas of TechRadar but he has a particular love for phones, laptops, and cameras, being an avid photographer. Outside of work, you’ll find him indulging his love for street and travel photography, at home working on music, or down at the local climbing gym.
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