Raffensperger, 38, is a self-described geek who enjoys a New York Giants football game as much as Dungeons & Dragons. He joined FanDuel in 2018 after stints at Amazon and DirectTV. Of late, FanDuel is surging, commanding 45% of the hotly competitive online sportsbook segment in the second quarter, parent company Flutter Entertainment reported.
“People talk about being part of rocket ship technology growth companies—this is what it feels like,” Raffensperger says. “FanDuel really has entrepreneurialism [and] technology in its DNA. Doing that around sports and sports games is just a kick-ass way to make a living.”
If you could have dinner with one person, alive or dead, who would it be and why?
My grandfather. He died before I got a chance to know him. I'm fascinated by the grit that generation had, and I feel like there is so much I could learn about him—about my family's history and life in general.
What are the top two social media sites you use on a regular basis?
I'm not big on social media, to be honest. I'm dubious about its personal utility and impact on mental health. That said, I like Twitter to pull the news of the day and I've been known to waste more than a little time watching stupid TikTok videos.
What’s currently on your bedside reading list?
‘‘Chatter: The Voice in Our Head, Why It Matters, and How to Harness It’’ by Ethan Kross. It's an intriguing and well-written guide to your inner dialogue and how it can be a boon or bane to your day-to-day life. This is pretty typical of most of the books I read: pop-scholastic studies on the human condition.
What was the last show you binge-watched?
"Loki" on Disney+. I'm a huge geek and the MCU (Marvel Cinematic Universe) makes me happy.
At what age do you hope to retire?
I'm not sure what retire means for me just yet. I want to be financially independent such that I can fill my life with people and projects that inspire me. If that's the definition of retirement, then as soon as possible!
See Ad Age's 40 Under 40 list here.