Rich Silverstein Has Retired From His Iconic Agency
The 76-year-old cofounder ends a 58-year career after building a creative powerhouse in San Francisco's Chinatown.
Updated on Sept. 29, 2026 in Advertising
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Rich Silverstein, the advertising veteran who cofounded Goodby Silverstein & Partners, has announced his retirement. The 76-year-old leaves behind a legacy of transformative work that defined the industry in the Bay Area and beyond.
Why it matters
Silverstein's influence helped shape the city's creative reputation by blending design with pop culture. His departure marks the end of an era for the agency that once operated from the heart of Chinatown.
Silverstein concludes a 58-year career in advertising, an tenure that saw his agency manage high-profile projects like a $2 million ETrade Super Bowl spot. His professional footprint spans from an art director role at Rolling Stone to his 1983 agency launch.
The players
Rich Silverstein
The 76-year-old Rincon Hill resident who cofounded the iconic San Francisco advertising agency Goodby Silverstein & Partners.
The details
Silverstein cofounded his agency in 1983, a pivotal year that also saw his work involve Electronic Arts, then known as Amazin' Software. Known for prioritizing design and subverting archetypes, the agency famously tapped rock n' roll photographers to market early game developers as artists. While Silverstein prepares to step away, he is currently shifting his creative focus toward writing a musical about the Cuban missile crisis.
Timeline
1967: Silverstein moved to the Bay Area.
1983: Silverstein cofounded the agency.
1993: The agency released the first got milk? campaign.
2000: The agency produced a Super Bowl commercial for ETrade.
- 2026-09-29
News of the retirement was published.
Across the Bay
Silverstein's career is anchored by the 1993 launch of the got milk? campaign, which established the agency as a global creative force. His departure follows decades of work that helped solidify San Francisco as a hub for non-traditional advertising.
While the agency remains a fixture in Chinatown, residents who have followed the local creative scene will note the transition of its namesake cofounder. Silverstein is expected to pivot his focus toward his upcoming musical project.
The takeaway
Silverstein demonstrates that a career in design and subversion can leave a lasting impact on local business and global culture. Keep an eye on local theater listings for news regarding his new musical about the Cuban missile crisis.
Further reading
For more on the industry that defines the city's creative economy, visit Advertising.
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