# Ryan DeLuca

> Ryan DeLuca founded Bodybuilding.com in Idaho in 1999 and led it until 2015, growing it into an online retailer, content destination, and community. After six months away from company building, he co-founded Black Box VR with Preston Lewis in 2016 and remains its CEO. His public interests include aviation, nonfiction reading, and ballroom dancing.

- **Role:** Co-founder and CEO at Black Box VR
- **Organizations:** Bodybuilding.com, Black Box VR, VR Fitness Insider, Idaho Virtual Reality Council
- **From:** Seoul, South Korea
- **Education:** High school graduate, Capital High School, Boise State University
- **Known for:** Founded Bodybuilding.com and led it from 1999 to 2015., Reports growing Bodybuilding.com to nearly $500 million in annual revenue and 800 employees., Named in Inc.’s 2006 young-entrepreneur coverage.

## Career timeline

- **1996** — Graduated from Capital High School and began experimenting with internet businesses.
- **1997** — Started wholesale-creatine.com, the predecessor to Bodybuilding.com.
- **1999** — Launched Bodybuilding.com on April 13 after buying the domain for $20,000.
- **2006** — Featured in Inc.’s young-entrepreneur coverage.
- **2008** — Liberty Media acquired a controlling stake in Bodybuilding.com; DeLuca remained CEO.
- **2009** — Received EY Entrepreneur of the Year recognition in the Utah/Idaho region.
- **2015** — Stepped down as Bodybuilding.com CEO.
- **2016** — Co-founded Black Box VR with Preston Lewis.
- **2018** — Black Box VR demonstrated its product at CES.
- **2025** — Launched the In the Arena video series with Turner Leslie.
- **2026** — Published an essay about game designers’ role in the future of gyms.

## Achievements

- Founded Bodybuilding.com and led it from 1999 to 2015.
- Reports growing Bodybuilding.com to nearly $500 million in annual revenue and 800 employees.
- Named in Inc.’s 2006 young-entrepreneur coverage.
- Received EY Entrepreneur of the Year recognition in the Utah/Idaho region in 2009.
- Co-founded Black Box VR in 2016.

## Latest updates

- **2026-03** — Published The Gyms of the Future Will Be Built by Game Designers on March 10.
- **2025-07** — Introduced In the Arena with Turner Leslie, filmed at Black Box VR in Meridian.
- **2025-05** — Announced a new personal Instagram account through his verified LinkedIn profile.

## Links

- Website: https://www.ryandeluca.com/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryandeluca/
- Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/vr
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DJo0LxWxj0v/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ryan.deluca

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Profile page: https://yespress.io/ryan-deluca
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-10-14