Ben Cohen and Jerry Greenfield are the co-founders of the ice cream company Ben & Jerry's. They met as childhood friends in a gym class in 1963 and later, in 1977, decided to start an ice cream business together. They opened their first ice cream shop in Burlington, Vermont, in 1978, which became highly successful. Ben Cohen is an American entrepreneur, activist, and philanthropist born in Brooklyn, New York, in 1951. Jerry Greenfield also has a background of activism alongside his business ventures. Ben Cohen was the CEO of Ben & Jerry's until 1996 and has been involved in philanthropy and progressive political causes. Jerry Greenfield recently resigned from the company in 2025, expressing concerns that the company's independence and commitment to social activism have been compromised under its parent company Unilever, which took over the brand in 2000. Greenfield cited frustration that the company's ability to advocate for social and political issues was being limited, which went against the values they built Ben & Jerry's upon. Together, they have left a legacy of not only building a popular ice cream brand but also championing social and political activism through their company.
