Rati Levesque
President and chief executive of The RealReal
Rati Sahi Levesque is the president and chief executive of The RealReal, the American online luxury consignment marketplace. Described as the company's co-founder and second employee, she became interim co-chief executive in June 2022 and has since led the business as chief executive.
| Role | President and chief executive of The RealReal |
|---|---|
| Organisation | The RealReal |
| Joined | 2011, as second employee |
| Interim co-chief executive | From June 2022 |
| Known for | Luxury consignment and resale |
Who is Rati Levesque?
Rati Sahi Levesque is the president and chief executive of The RealReal, the San Francisco based marketplace for authenticated, consigned luxury goods. The company was founded in 2011 by Julie Wainwright, and Levesque is described as its second employee and a co-founder. She has spent her career building the business, from its early days to its listing on Nasdaq in June 2019.
Career
Levesque's career is closely tied to The RealReal's growth. Key steps include:
- 2011: joined The RealReal at its start as its second employee
- June 2019: The RealReal lists on Nasdaq under the ticker REAL, raising 300 million dollars
- June 2022: interim co-chief executive after the founder's departure
- By October 2024: chief executive
- 2026: president and chief executive, presenting the company's quarterly results
Commenting on the first quarter of 2026, in which the company reported double digit growth, Levesque said the strength of the platform, including its customer relationships, data, brand and scale, had been on display.
Influence on the fashion business
The RealReal pioneered a consignment model in which the company, rather than the seller, takes care of authentication, photography, pricing, listing, shipping and customer service. This made luxury resale accessible to people who would not sell items themselves and helped turn second hand luxury into a recognised channel. By mid 2023 the company reported around 38 million members and nearly 40 million items processed.
The model has also faced scrutiny. Questions about authentication, including a lawsuit filed by Chanel in 2018, have been part of the public debate around the company, making trust and verification central issues for its leadership.
Rati Levesque and technology
The RealReal uses artificial intelligence and machine learning in its pricing and operations, alongside teams of human authenticators. Levesque has pointed to the company's data as one of the strengths of the platform, reflecting how resale at scale depends on handling large volumes of unique items efficiently.
Why it matters
Rati Levesque leads one of the defining companies of the luxury resale market. Her long tenure, from second employee to chief executive, gives The RealReal continuity as it seeks profitable growth and as circular business models become more important to luxury brands and consumers.
Frequently asked questions
Who is the CEO of The RealReal?
Rati Levesque is president and chief executive of The RealReal. She joined as the company's second employee in 2011 and became interim co-chief executive in June 2022 before taking the top role.
Who founded The RealReal?
The RealReal was founded in 2011 by Julie Wainwright. Rati Levesque, its second employee, is described as a co-founder and now leads the company as chief executive.