No, the Forbes family no longer holds a majority ownership stake in Forbes.
The Forbes media company, a prominent name in business journalism, was founded in 1917. For a remarkable 97 years, the Forbes family maintained full ownership and control, meticulously publishing Forbes Magazine and later expanding their reach significantly with the launch of Forbes.com. This long period established Forbes as a true family-run media empire.
However, a pivotal change occurred in 2014. The Forbes family made the decision to sell a majority stake in their company. This controlling interest was acquired by Integrated Whale Media Investments (IWM), a firm based in Hong Kong. While members of the Forbes family may still retain a minority stake or have some ongoing involvement, the operational and strategic control of the company shifted significantly with this transaction. This marked the end of an era for the family's direct majority stewardship of the renowned publication.
Key Ownership Milestones for Forbes
To illustrate the shift in ownership, here's a brief timeline:
| Year | Event | Primary Ownership Status |
|---|---|---|
| 1917 | Forbes media company founded. | Forbes Family Owned |
| 1917-2014 | Forbes family published Forbes Magazine and launched Forbes.com. | Forbes Family Majority Ownership |
| 2014 | Majority stake sold to Hong Kong-based Integrated Whale Media Investments (IWM). | Integrated Whale Media Investments (Majority) |
This change reflects a common trend in the media industry where long-standing family businesses transition to new ownership structures, often involving international investors.
