I seem to remember codeacademy being owned by someone else, a squatter or an entrepreneur who hadn't got around to doing tomething with it. If I do in fact remember this correctly, one explanation would be that they bought that domain after they'd received more investment money than they started out with.

"squatter" - although the term is commonly used in the way you used it (and always has been) the usage is an invention of the 90's media. Squatting actually involves occupying property of someone else that you don't have right to in any way (and you don't have permission) that isn't being used. The person who takes a chance and buys a name pays for it and at the time it wasn't in use by anyone else. The practice of using the derogatory word "squatting" to describe legitimate buying of a domain name with the hopes of reselling is something that should end.