Can GameStop Really Buy eBay?

GameStop CEO Ryan Cohen has launched an audacious $56 billion bid to acquire eBay, aiming to transform the commerce giant into a massive conglomerate. Cohen intends to replicate his "GameStop playbook"—a strategy defined by aggressive cost-cutting and operational restructuring—to significantly increase eBay’s profitability and scale. Despite his vision of leveraging GameStop’s physical infrastructure to enhance eBay’s authentication and intake processes, the proposal faces intense skepticism. Financial analysts and industry insiders question the feasibility of the acquisition, given the massive valuation gap and lack of clear financing. While eBay remains non-committal, Cohen signals a readiness to pursue a hostile takeover if necessary, framing the move as a critical step toward building a diversified empire modeled after Berkshire Hathaway.