The NoPhone Net Worth 2025: How a Plastic Block Made a Statement and Keeps Selling

If someone told you a block of plastic could be the antidote to smartphone addiction, would you believe it? That’s exactly what Van Gould, Chris Sheldon, Ingmar Larsen, and Ben Langeveld set out to prove with The NoPhone ,a satire product turned pop-culture phenomenon. But did the world take them seriously? And more importantly, what is The NoPhone worth today?

The NoPhone Net Worth in 2025: A Gag Product’s Financial Legacy

While NoPhone LLC operates as a small-scale venture in 2025, a realistic estimate based on verified sales figures, product pricing, and market history suggests the brand’s lifetime gross revenue is around $200,000 to $300,000, with potential for more due to ongoing sales. The estimated net worth (valuation) of NoPhone LLC in 2025 is approximately $100,000 to $150,000, reflecting its limited scalability but enduring niche appeal.

How Gross Revenue and Profit Were Calculated:

Kickstarter Revenue:

• The initial Kickstarter campaign in 2014 raised $18,316 from 915 backers, with additional campaigns (2014–2016) contributing roughly $30,000 total.

Product Sales:

• Estimated over 15,000 units sold (at least 10,000 shipped by 2021, per sources).
• Pricing ranges from $13 (Original without packaging) to $22 (Selfie), with an average sale price of ~$15.
• Estimated Gross Revenue: 15,000 units × $15 = $225,000.
• Ongoing sales via the active website and Amazon likely push revenue toward $300,000.

Manufacturing Cost:

• Estimated cost per unit: $2.95.
• Manufacturing cost: 15,000 × $2.95 = $44,250.
• Estimated Gross Profit: $225,000 – $44,250 = ~$180,750.

How Net Worth Was Calculated:

The net worth (or valuation) of NoPhone LLC in 2025 is estimated using a multiple of net profit approach, commonly used for small businesses with limited assets and no significant investor backing. Here’s the logic:

• Net Profit Estimate:
  • Start with gross profit: ~$180,750 (from above).
  • Subtract operating expenses (e.g., website hosting, marketing, shipping, taxes, and miscellaneous costs). For a lean operation like NoPhone, with no full-time staff or physical office, expenses are estimated at ~$50,000–$70,000 over its lifetime (2014–2025), based on typical e-commerce overheads.
  • Estimated Net Profit: $180,750 – $60,000 (average expenses) = ~$120,750.
• Valuation Multiple:
  • Small novelty businesses with low growth potential typically receive a valuation multiple of 1x to 1.5x net profit, as they lack recurring revenue or scalable assets.
  • Applying a 1x to 1.25x multiple to $120,750 yields a valuation range of $120,750 to $150,938. Rounded for simplicity, the net worth is $100,000 to $150,000.
• Adjustments for Ongoing Sales:
  • The active website and Amazon sales suggest continued (albeit limited) revenue, potentially adding $10,000–$20,000 annually. However, stagnant social media and no retail partnerships limit growth, capping the valuation.
  • Higher valuations (e.g., $1M–$15M in some sources) are speculative and lack evidence, as NoPhone has no patents, proprietary tech, or investor interest.

Final Valuation Perspective: With no major retail partnerships or investor backing, NoPhone LLC’s net worth in 2025 likely ranges from $100,000 to $150,000, balancing its modest profits with its niche market presence. Its active website and continued sales as a gag gift show it’s not faded, remaining a flash-in-the-pan success with a lasting impression in the cultural conversation about screen addiction

From Rooftop Realization to Product Satire

The idea was born on a New York rooftop. Van Gould, Chris Sheldon, Ingmar Larsen, and Ben Langeveld are advertising creatives at Barton F. Graf and noticed everyone, including themselves, was glued to their phones instead of talking. That realization sparked The NoPhone: a phone-shaped piece of plastic that did absolutely nothing.

Their goal wasn’t to change the tech world but to mock it, while offering a low-tech nudge against smartphone addiction. And people paid attention.

Shark Tank Appearance: Laughter Without a Deal

In Season 7 of Shark Tank (2016), Gould and Sheldon pitched, asking for $25,000 in exchange for 15% of their company. Armed with satire and genuine charm, they delivered one of the show’s quirkiest pitches, as seen in episode 23.

• Sales at the time: 3,100 units (~$42,000 revenue).
• Cost per unit: $2.95.
• Sales channels: Direct-to-consumer via website and Amazon.
• Investor interest: Zero.

The Sharks laughed, but they passed:

• Kevin O’Leary dismissed it as valueless.
• Mark Cuban called it “a block of plastic.”
• Lori Greiner found it funny, not fundable.
• Daymond John saw a pet rock vibe—but still opted out.

RELATED: HOW MUCH LORI HAS EARNED FROM SHARK TANK?

Despite the rejection, the product got a massive media boost, with coverage from outlets like Forbes.

RELATED: 9 REJECTED SHARK TANK PITCHES THAT MADE MILLIONS

Viral Momentum: A Plastic Joke That Resonated

The NoPhone was dubbed the “pet rock of the millennial generation,” as noted in CNET.

After Shark Tank, the company gained further attention, launching new models:

• NoPhone Original – A basic, featureless plastic phone ($15, or $13 without packaging).
• NoPhone Selfie – Includes a stick-on mirror ($22).
• NoPhone 5-Pack – Five Original units ($70).
• NoPhone Zero – A simpler model (previously sold, not currently listed).
• NoPhone Air – An empty package sold for laughs (~$6, not currently listed).

They rode a media wave, got press from Mashable, BuzzFeed, and HuffPost, and sold thousands more units, mainly to people seeking gag gifts, stocking stuffers, or a subtle nudge for screen-obsessed friends. The active website continues to offer select models, keeping the satire alive.

RELATED: TOP 4 MEMORABLE SHARK TANK PITCHES OF ALL TIME

Founders’ Next Act: Creativity Over Commerce

Van Gould, Chris Sheldon, Ingmar Larsen, and Ben Langeveld weren’t career entrepreneurs. They were ad creatives, and they returned to that world after NoPhone’s initial hype.

• Gould and Sheldon joined Anomaly, an NYC ad agency, as Creative Directors, then moved to Maximum Effort, Ryan Reynolds’ production and marketing company.
• Larsen pursued creative projects, though specific details are less documented.
• Langeveld left NoPhone in 2022 and continued in advertising, including a stint at Anomaly.

Their time with NoPhone wasn’t wasted. It showcased their knack for cultural commentary, and led them to bigger storytelling platforms.

Are Larsen and Langeveld Founders of The NoPhone?

Yes, Ingmar Larsen and Ben Langeveld are considered co-founders of The NoPhone alongside Van Gould and Chris Sheldon. All four were part of the creative team at Barton F. Graf when the idea was conceived, and sources, including the NoPhone website and media coverage, credit them as key contributors to the product’s development and early campaigns. Larsen and Langeveld were involved in the initial Kickstarter campaigns and product ideation, though Gould and Sheldon took the lead on the Shark Tank pitch.

Regarding their impact on NoPhone’s net worth:

• Contribution to Net Worth: As co-founders, Larsen and Langeveld share credit for NoPhone’s estimated $200,000–$300,000 lifetime gross revenue. Their creative input helped shape the satirical branding and viral marketing (e.g., Kickstarter videos, media outreach), which drove sales of over 15,000 units. However, there’s no evidence they held significant equity or directly influenced financial decisions beyond the creative phase.
• Post-NoPhone Roles: Like Gould and Sheldon, Larsen and Langeveld returned to advertising, with Langeveld leaving NoPhone in 2022. Their departure didn’t significantly alter the company’s trajectory, as NoPhone remained a small-scale venture reliant on e-commerce sales.
• Financial Impact: The net worth estimate remains unchanged, as it’s based on total sales and costs, not individual founder contributions. No public data suggests Larsen or Langeveld received distinct financial payouts or affected the valuation differently from Gould and Sheldon.

Public Perception: Joke, Statement, or Both?

Despite its niche status, The NoPhone succeeded in something elusive: sparking a conversation.

Reviews and public reactions included:

• “A brilliant gag with a real message.”
• “This made me realize how addicted I am.”
• “I gave it to my husband at dinner. He laughed—then put his phone away.”

It wasn’t a solution for addiction, but it highlighted the problem in a way that apps, alarms, and wellness campaigns couldn’t. Its continued availability online underscores its enduring, if small-scale, relevance, as discussed in a TEDx Talk.

Why It Stayed Niche: Limited Scope, No Retail Push

So why didn’t it scale?

• No Retail Deals: Despite Shark Tank exposure, NoPhone never landed in stores like Spencer’s or Urban Outfitters.
• No Repeat Customers: It’s a one-time novelty buy.
• No Team Expansion: The founders kept full-time jobs throughout.
• Limited Activity: Social media has been dormant since 2021, suggesting minimal marketing.

Yet, the active website shows NoPhone hasn’t fully faded. It lives, it jokes, it sells just on a smaller scale than its viral peak.