GameStop CEO Targets $35 Billion Payout Amid Massive Store Closures

GameStop has been facing some serious challenges lately, but CEO Ryan Cohen might come out of this situation relatively unscathed. Thanks to recent insights, it appears he stands to gain a whopping $35 billion if the company reaches a $100 billion market cap—a tall order considering its current valuation is about ten times lower.

So, how does Cohen plan to achieve this ambitious goal? Reports indicate that he aims to close hundreds of stores while enticing customers with a 20 percent trade-in bonus through a QR code. While exact figures on store closures are still unclear, a blog dedicated to tracking GameStop’s operations suggests that nearly 400 locations have either shut down this month or are slated to close soon.

The trade-in coupon has sparked some controversy, especially after a user on the official GameStop Reddit shared their frustration about finding it on the closure sign of their local store. They expressed their discontent by calling the situation “a fucking joke,” and others chimed in, mentioning they’ve started canceling their pre-orders.

Additionally, GameStop’s SEC filing from December 2025 revealed that the company closed 590 stores in 2024 and plans to shutter even more in fiscal 2025. This fiscal year ends on January 31, 2026, suggesting that additional closures could happen sooner rather than later. The company has also exited operations in several countries, including Austria, Ireland, and Switzerland, and closed its German stores while selling off its Italian subsidiary.

Despite the wave of closures, GameStop has been actively trying to regain attention. They’ve partnered with popular influencers like Casey Neistat and Mega64, as well as Rilie Huntley, who gained fame from a Best Buy ad. Recently, they hosted a “trade anything day,” where customers brought in a variety of items, including some unexpected ones. Just days prior, their card loot program achieved a record-breaking $30,000 in trade-ins.