You’ve probably seen the ads. Ryan Reynolds, looking effortlessly charming, pitching you a wireless plan that costs less than a decent steak dinner. For years, Mint Mobile was the ultimate disruptor—a feisty little company that lived on the internet and used T-Mobile’s towers to keep its prices in the basement.
But things changed. Big time.
If you’re looking for a quick answer: Yes, T-Mobile officially owns Mint Mobile. The deal didn’t just happen overnight, though. It was a long, bureaucratic slog through federal regulators and boardroom negotiations that finally crossed the finish line in May 2024.
Honestly, the whole thing felt a bit like a "if you can't beat 'em, buy 'em" move. T-Mobile saw a company eating its lunch in the prepaid market and decided to bring them into the family.
The $1.35 Billion Handshake
The numbers behind this are kind of staggering. T-Mobile shelled out up to $1.35 billion to acquire Ka’ena Corporation. That’s the parent company that owned Mint Mobile, along with Ultra Mobile (which focuses on international calling) and a wholesaler called Plum.
It wasn't all cash, either.
T-Mobile structured the deal with roughly 39% cash and 61% stock. This meant the founders and investors—including Ryan Reynolds—ended up with a massive payday and a stake in the "Un-carrier" itself. Reynolds reportedly owned about 25% of Mint, which likely netted him somewhere in the neighborhood of $300 million. Not a bad day at the office for a guy who started out as the brand's "Chief Creative Officer" largely because he liked the product.
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Why did T-Mobile want Mint?
It wasn't just about the subscribers, though Mint has millions of them. It was about the marketing engine.
Mint Mobile mastered the art of direct-to-consumer sales. They didn't have expensive retail stores or pushy salespeople. They had a website, an app, and a very funny movie star. T-Mobile’s CEO, Mike Sievert, has been pretty vocal about wanting to bottle that "Mint magic" and apply it to other parts of T-Mobile’s massive business.
Is Mint Still "Mint" Under T-Mobile?
This is the part everyone worries about. Usually, when a giant corporation swallows a cool startup, the startup's soul gets crushed. Remember what happened to some of your favorite apps after they got bought? It’s a valid fear.
So far, T-Mobile has been playing it smart. They’re running Mint as an autonomous brand.
This means Mint still has its own app, its own distinct green branding, and its own customer service. The founders, David Glickman and Rizwan Kassim, actually stayed on to keep running the show. Even Ryan Reynolds stayed on in his creative role. If you go to Mint’s website today, it doesn't look like a T-Mobile site. It still feels like that scrappy underdog, even though the billionaire "Un-carrier" is the one signing the checks now.
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The "$15 Guarantee"
One of the biggest concerns was whether prices would skyrocket. Mint's whole identity is built on that $15-a-month entry point.
To calm everyone down, T-Mobile made a public commitment. They promised to keep a $15-a-month plan available for both new and existing customers. Now, there's always a catch—you still have to pay for several months upfront to get that rate—but the price point itself hasn't vanished. In fact, in 2025, we saw them actually increase data allotments on some plans while keeping the prices steady, likely to keep people from jumping ship to competitors like Visible or US Mobile.
What Changed for the Average User?
If you're a Mint customer, you might not have even noticed the transition. But there are a few subtle "magenta" perks that have started to bleed through.
- Scam Shield: Mint users now get access to T-Mobile’s "Scam Likely" technology. If a sketchy number calls you, the network flags it automatically.
- Roaming in Canada: T-Mobile opened up some free roaming for Mint users across the border.
- Faster Unlocking: Per the FCC's requirements for the merger, Mint now has a 60-day unlocking policy. If you buy a phone through them, it's easier to take it elsewhere after two months.
The network itself is the same. Mint was always an MVNO (Mobile Virtual Network Operator) that used T-Mobile’s towers. The coverage you had two years ago is the same coverage you have now—it’s just that the relationship is "official" instead of a rental agreement.
The Regulatory Hurdles
It wasn't a total slam dunk. The FCC and the DOJ didn't just rubber-stamp this. They were worried about competition. When you have fewer independent players in the market, prices usually go up.
That’s why T-Mobile had to make those promises about the $15 plan and the phone unlocking. Regulators wanted to make sure that budget-conscious families wouldn't get squeezed. It’s also worth noting that this happened around the same time T-Mobile was looking at other acquisitions, like parts of UScellular, as they continue to consolidate their lead in the 5G space.
The "MVNO" Reality
We should talk about "deprioritization."
This is the fancy word for what happens when a cell tower gets crowded. Even though T-Mobile owns Mint, Mint users are still on a lower "priority" tier than someone paying $90 a month for a T-Mobile Go5G Next plan.
If you're at a sold-out Taylor Swift concert or a crowded NFL stadium, your Mint data might crawl while the guy next to you on a flagship T-Mobile plan is posting 4K videos. This hasn't changed with the ownership. Mint is still the budget option, and that comes with some trade-offs in peak congestion.
Actionable Steps for Current or Future Users
If you’re trying to decide if Mint is still the right move now that they’re part of the T-Mobile empire, here is how you should play it:
- Check Your Usage: Use the Mint app to see how much data you actually use. If you’re consistently under 15GB, Mint is still one of the best deals in wireless, regardless of who owns it.
- Look for the "T-Mobile Essentials" Upsell: Lately, some Mint users have reported getting emails suggesting they switch to T-Mobile’s "Essentials" plan. Be careful here. Often, these plans are nearly double the price of Mint for very similar service. Unless you need domestic roaming in very rural areas, you're usually better off staying put.
- Take Advantage of the 60-Day Unlock: If you need a new phone, Mint often has great hardware deals. Knowing you can get that phone unlocked in just 60 days gives you a lot more freedom than the old 12-month requirements.
- Monitor the Prepaid Landscape: T-Mobile now owns Metro, Mint, and Ultra. Keep an eye on Verizon-owned Visible or AT&T’s Cricket. If T-Mobile does eventually start nudging Mint prices up, the competition is ready to pounce.
At the end of the day, Mint Mobile is a T-Mobile brand now. It's no longer the independent "little guy," but as long as they keep the $15 price point and Ryan Reynolds keeps making those self-deprecating commercials, most people probably won't care who the parent company is.