ABSTRACT The tumor necrosis factor (TNF)‐receptor superfamily 8 receptor CD30 molecule is expressed in all tumor cells of Hodgkin lymphoma and anaplastic large cell lymphoma but is only weakly expressed in a small subset of large lymphoid cells in normal peripheral lymphoid tissues. This makes this molecule an important target for the diagnosis and treatment of CD30‐expressing lymphomas. We describe the road to the discovery of the CD30 molecule and the way CD30 has contributed to more precise diagnosis and classification of lymphomas. Moreover, we address how anti‐CD30 immunotherapy was developed and the impact of the anti‐CD30‐auristatin conjugate and anti‐CD30 CAR‐T cells in treating CD30‐expressing lymphomas.