Key Stats
T-Mobile US acquired Mint Mobile in May 2024 for up to $1.35 billion in a mix of cash and stock.
Mint Mobile prepaid plans start at $15 per month with no long-term contracts.
Ka’ena Corporation brands (Mint, Ultra Mobile, Plum) collectively serve an estimated 2 to 3 million subscribers.
Ryan Reynolds received approximately $300 million for his 25% stake in the company.
Mint Mobile is owned by T-Mobile US (NASDAQ: TMUS), which completed its acquisition of the brand’s parent company, Ka’ena Corporation, on May 1, 2024. The deal, valued at up to $1.35 billion, brought Mint Mobile, Ultra Mobile, and wholesale provider Plum under the T-Mobile umbrella.
Since the acquisition closed, Mint Mobile operates as a separate direct-to-consumer brand within T-Mobile’s prepaid portfolio. Plans start at $15 per month. T-Mobile added perks for Mint customers, including scam call screening and free Canada roaming. Srini Gopalan, who became T-Mobile’s CEO in November 2025, oversees all subsidiaries including Mint Mobile.
Who Owns Mint Mobile?
T-Mobile US holds complete ownership of Mint Mobile following the May 2024 acquisition of Ka’ena Corporation. The transaction combined 39% cash and 61% T-Mobile stock. Before this deal, Mint Mobile’s ownership was split between Ka’ena Corporation (75%) and actor Ryan Reynolds (25%).
T-Mobile’s Ownership Structure
T-Mobile itself is majority-owned by Deutsche Telekom AG, the German telecommunications company, which holds approximately 51.4% of T-Mobile US shares. This means Deutsche Telekom indirectly controls Mint Mobile. The remaining T-Mobile shares trade publicly on NASDAQ under the ticker TMUS. Major institutional investors like Vanguard Group and BlackRock also hold positions in T-Mobile, giving them indirect exposure to Mint Mobile.
Operational Independence
Despite the ownership change, Mint Mobile functions as an autonomous brand — similar to T-Mobile’s 2013 acquisition of MetroPCS. Founders David Glickman and Rizwan Kassim joined T-Mobile and continue running Mint’s operations. Ryan Reynolds stayed on in a creative advisory capacity.
Largest Shareholders of Mint Mobile
Because Mint Mobile is a wholly owned subsidiary, its shareholder structure is tied directly to T-Mobile US. Anyone who owns TMUS stock holds a fractional interest in Mint Mobile.
Deutsche Telekom AG
Deutsche Telekom is the single largest shareholder of T-Mobile US with a 51.4% stake. The Bonn-based telecom giant also holds a voting rights agreement that gives it control over roughly 67% of T-Mobile’s voting shares. Tim Höttges, Deutsche Telekom’s CEO, chairs the T-Mobile board. Through this chain of ownership, Deutsche Telekom is the ultimate controlling entity behind Mint Mobile.
Institutional Investors
Among public shareholders, Vanguard Group holds the largest institutional position in T-Mobile, followed by BlackRock. These firms manage index funds that include TMUS in their portfolios, giving them some influence over T-Mobile’s corporate governance through proxy voting.
Ryan Reynolds (Former Shareholder)
Reynolds held a 25% stake in Mint Mobile from November 2019 until the T-Mobile acquisition closed in 2024. He received approximately $300 million for his interest. While he no longer holds an ownership position, Reynolds continues in a creative role for the brand. His marketing campaigns helped Mint Mobile grow from a lesser-known carrier into one of the fastest-growing MVNOs in the country, making the brand an attractive acquisition target for carriers like Verizon and T-Mobile.
Mint Mobile Acquisition Deal Breakdown ($1.35B)
T-Mobile Stock
~$823M
Cash
~$527M
Who Is on the Board of Directors for Mint Mobile?
Mint Mobile does not maintain a separate board. As a T-Mobile subsidiary, its governance falls under the T-Mobile US board.
Tim Höttges — Chairman and Telecom Strategy
Höttges has chaired the T-Mobile board since 2013 and serves as CEO of Deutsche Telekom. His dual role ensures Deutsche Telekom’s strategic interests align with T-Mobile’s direction, including decisions affecting Mint Mobile.
Srini Gopalan — CEO and Operations
Gopalan became T-Mobile’s CEO in November 2025 after serving as COO. He was previously CEO of Deutsche Telekom Germany. His background at Bharti Airtel and Vodafone gives him experience in prepaid wireless — relevant to Mint Mobile’s positioning.
Mike Sievert — Vice Chairman and Strategic Advisory
Sievert served as T-Mobile’s CEO from April 2020 through October 2025 and now holds the vice chairman role. He oversaw the Sprint merger, the Mint Mobile acquisition, and T-Mobile’s expansion into home broadband. Sievert continues advising T-Mobile on long-term strategy.
Teresa Taylor — Lead Independent Director and Governance
Taylor has been T-Mobile’s lead independent director since 2013 and chairs the Nominating, Corporate Governance and Compliance Committee. Her background includes 24 years at Qwest Communications, where she served as COO. She also sits on the board of other major corporations.
Srikant Datar — Finance and Audit
Datar chairs T-Mobile’s Audit Committee. He is the dean of Harvard Business School and a chartered accountant. His financial oversight extends to all T-Mobile subsidiaries, including Mint Mobile.
Marcelo Claure — Compensation and Transactions
Claure, founder of Claure Group, previously served as Sprint’s CEO before the T-Mobile merger. He sits on T-Mobile’s Compensation, Executive, and Transaction Committees, bringing direct insight into the prepaid market.
History of Mint Mobile Co-founders
David Glickman
Glickman is the primary founder behind Mint Mobile. He launched Ultra Mobile in 2011, a prepaid carrier focused on affordable international calling. In 2015, Glickman spun off Mint SIM — later renamed Mint Mobile — from Ultra Mobile. The concept was selling wireless plans in bulk (three, six, or twelve months), passing savings to customers. He served as CEO of Ka’ena Corporation until the T-Mobile acquisition and now leads Mint’s operations within T-Mobile.
Rizwan Kassim
Kassim co-founded Mint Mobile alongside Glickman and handled the technical and operational side of building the company. He joined T-Mobile after the acquisition and continues working on the brand. The pair shared a vision for a digital-first wireless service that could undercut traditional carriers without sacrificing network quality.
Ryan Reynolds and the Growth Phase
Reynolds bought his 25% stake in November 2019 after connecting with Glickman through The Michael J. Fox Foundation. His viral marketing campaigns helped Mint Mobile punch above its weight against competitors with far larger advertising budgets. The brand was named the fastest-growing company in America in 2021, and by 2023, T-Mobile moved to acquire the entire operation.
Mint Mobile Ownership Timeline
2015 — Glickman and Kassim launch Mint SIM under Ultra Mobile
2019 — Mint Mobile spins off from Ultra Mobile; Ryan Reynolds acquires 25% stake
2023 — T-Mobile announces $1.35B deal to acquire Ka’ena Corporation
2024 — T-Mobile completes acquisition; Mint Mobile becomes a T-Mobile subsidiary
FAQs
Who currently owns Mint Mobile?
T-Mobile US owns Mint Mobile after acquiring Ka’ena Corporation in May 2024. Deutsche Telekom, which holds 51.4% of T-Mobile shares, is the ultimate parent company.
Does Ryan Reynolds still own Mint Mobile?
No. Reynolds sold his 25% stake when the T-Mobile deal closed in 2024, receiving about $300 million. He stays involved in an advisory and creative marketing role.
How much did T-Mobile pay for Mint Mobile?
T-Mobile paid up to $1.35 billion for Ka’ena Corporation, Mint Mobile’s parent. The deal was 39% cash and 61% T-Mobile stock.
Is Mint Mobile still a separate company from T-Mobile?
Mint Mobile operates as an independent brand within T-Mobile’s portfolio, maintaining its own website, plans, and marketing identity.
Who founded Mint Mobile?
David Glickman and Rizwan Kassim founded Mint Mobile in 2015 as Mint SIM, a subsidiary of Ultra Mobile. Both now work at T-Mobile managing the brand.
