NameRichard Hendricks
CompanyPied Piper
CategoryThe Nobel Prize
Executive SummaryRichard Hendricks (played by Thomas Middleditch) was the CEO and founder of Pied Piper as well as PiperNet, and is currently a Gavin Belson Professor of Ethics in Technology at Stanford. Before founding Pied Piper, Richard was an employee of Hooli. At work he was often an antagonist to the brogrammers. While at Hooli, Richard worked on the Pied Piper algorithm. However, even though Richard created one line of code on the algorithm on a Hooli laptop which would mean that Pied Piper would be property of Hooli, Richard's contract with Hooli was void due to a clause preventing him from leaving. Richard continued to work on Pied Piper until its demise, but still was involved with Pied Piper projects such as PiperChat and PiperNet until the company would be shut down in 2019.
DescriptionThroughout most of the series, Richard is determined to make Pied Piper a company different from the dreary Hooli and the condescending, aloof Gavin Belson, but as the series progresses, it becomes clear that the many trials and tribulations of trying to get his business to succeed have made him cynical, narcissistic and unappeasable, in much the same vein as the man from whom he once sought to distinguish himself. This is exemplified in the season 5 premiere, wherein Richard uses Gavin's tactic of spending large amounts of company money and resources to bankrupt two weaker, recently merged companies, ostensibly to acquire their coders, but in reality to get petty vengeance on the two CEOs, who had tried to screw him over. Richard has also grown more aggressive and outspoken toward his friends, even insulting Gilfoyle without fear. However, Richard has also grown more competent and prideful in business by season 5, effectively using Gavin's ego to stall his 51% attack on Pied Piper and gain back 51% of the company, allowing Richard to finally release PiperNet the way he wants it without more interference.