Does any of the Ford family still own Ford?
The Ford family still controls Ford Motor Company through a dual-class share structure that concentrates voting power in family hands, even as their direct ownership stake is relatively small.
How ownership and voting power are structured
The company operates a two-class stock system that separates voting rights from economic ownership, a setup designed to preserve family influence over the long term.
The following points summarize how control is maintained and why the family remains influential today:
- Class B shares carry much greater voting power than Class A shares and are primarily held by members of the Ford family.
- The Ford family collectively controls a substantial portion of voting power—commonly cited around 40% of the total voting rights—even while owning a minority of the company’s outstanding equity.
- Public investors own the majority of Class A shares, which trade on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker F, while Class B shares are not broadly traded and remain with the family as a controlling block.
- This structure enables the family to influence major corporate decisions and board appointments despite a relatively small economic stake.
- Ford’s dual-class arrangement has persisted for decades to safeguard continuity of leadership and strategic direction across generations.
The points above illustrate that control at Ford is driven more by voting rights than by outright ownership of the stock.
Current family involvement on Ford's board
Family representation has long been a feature of Ford’s governance, with several descendants serving in leadership or advisory capacities, helping to shape the company’s strategic course alongside independent directors and professional managers.
- William C. Ford Jr. (Bill Ford) has served as executive chairman, maintaining a central role for the family in governance.
- Edsel Ford II has been a longstanding family representative on Ford’s board.
- Other Ford relatives, including younger generations such as Henry Ford III, have been involved with the company in various board or advisory capacities over the years.
Board composition can change over time, but the Ford family’s presence on the governance side remains a defining feature of the company’s structure.
What this means for ownership today
Two broad implications shape today’s reality: the separation of control from pure ownership and the ongoing balance between family influence and public ownership.
- Economic ownership is a minority: the family holds a relatively small percentage of Ford’s total outstanding shares, typically described as a few percent.
- Voting power is concentrated: the family controls a sizable portion of voting rights, enabling influence over major decisions and board elections.
- The company remains publicly traded: Class A shares are widely held and traded, while Class B voting shares are concentrated in family hands.
- Governance remains long-term oriented: the dual-class structure is designed to preserve strategic continuity across generations, reducing the likelihood of hostile takeovers or rapid shifts in direction.
Investors should understand that Ford’s control dynamics are driven more by who can vote than by who owns the most shares.
Summary
Yes — the Ford family continues to exert substantial influence over Ford Motor Company through a high-voting Class B share structure, even as their economic stake remains a minority of the company’s equity. This arrangement keeps family leadership at the center of strategic decisions while Ford remains a publicly traded company with a broad base of investors. The dual-class system, ongoing family board representation, and the public market framework together define Ford’s ownership and governance today.
