Rivian CEO RJ Scaringe Loses Voting Control After Divorce

Rivian CEO Transfers Ownership in Divorce Settlement

As revealed in a recent regulatory filing, Rivian’s founder and Chief Executive Officer, RJ Scaringe, has transferred a portion of his company ownership and associated voting rights as part of the finalization of his divorce proceedings.

Share and Option Transfer Details

On July 9th, approximately 4 million shares and 6 million stock options were transferred to Scaringe’s former wife, Meagan Scaringe, as stipulated by the divorce settlement. Based on Rivian’s current share price, this transfer represents a potential value of around $130 million.

However, the actual return upon sale will be influenced by the varying exercise prices associated with the transferred options. This transfer concludes a divorce process that spanned two years, as indicated by court documentation.

Impact on Voting Power

Prior to the transfer, Scaringe held over 15 million shares of Class A stock and nearly 8 million shares of Class B stock, according to the company’s annual proxy report submitted on April 29th.

Consequently, his voting power has decreased from approximately 7.6% earlier in the year to around 4%, marking the lowest level since Rivian’s initial public offering (IPO) in 2021.

No Operational Impact

Rivian has stated that this shift in stock ownership will not affect the company’s business operations or overall performance.

A company spokesperson confirmed in a statement to TechCrunch that RJ and Meagan Scaringe have finalized their divorce and will continue to prioritize co-parenting their children.

Strategic Timing for Rivian

This settlement occurs during a crucial period for Rivian. The company is actively redesigning its R1S SUV and R1T truck models to reduce manufacturing expenses while simultaneously enhancing the performance of its core vehicle offerings.

A significant portion of Rivian’s future growth strategy relies on the successful launch of the R2 SUV, which is projected to have a starting price of $45,000. Sales of the R2 are anticipated to begin in the first half of 2026.

Evolving Ownership Structure

Rivian’s ownership landscape has undergone changes since its 2021 IPO. Initially, Amazon and Ford were among the largest stakeholders in the company.

Currently, Ford has significantly reduced its stake, while Volkswagen Group has emerged as a prominent investor.

Volkswagen Partnership

In late 2024, Rivian established a joint venture with Volkswagen, valued at $5.8 billion, focusing on software and electrical architecture development.

Rivian contributed technology and personnel to the venture, while Volkswagen provided financial support through share purchases and convertible debt.

Current Stakeholder Breakdown

As a result of this collaboration, Volkswagen now holds a 12.3% ownership stake in Rivian, as per a recent filing. This positions Volkswagen slightly behind Amazon, which owns 14.2% of Rivian as of the April 2025 proxy filing.

• Amazon currently possesses the largest voting power among shareholders, at 13.3%.
• Ford and T. Rowe Price have decreased their holdings since the IPO.

Scaringe’s Ownership and Voting Rights

Prior to the divorce settlement, Scaringe’s ownership comprised 2% of Rivian, but he controlled 7.6% of the voting power due to the Class B stock, which carries 10 votes per share.

Class A stock, in contrast, has only one vote per share. The transfer of shares and options has reduced his voting power to approximately 4%.

Despite this reduction, Scaringe maintains control over a combined portfolio of roughly 50 million shares, options, and Restricted Stock Units (RSUs). As these RSUs fully vest, his ownership stake and voting power could potentially increase.

Company History

RJ Scaringe founded Rivian in 2009 and married in 2014. The company went public in 2021.

Court records from Orange County Superior Court indicate that Scaringe filed for divorce in October 2023, with his then-wife filing a response agreeing to the separation the following month.