Does the Ford family still own Ford?
Yes. The Ford family still controls Ford Motor Company through a dual-class voting structure that concentrates voting power in their hands, even though their economic stake is a minority. This arrangement has persisted for decades and continues to shape the company's governance and strategic direction. As of 2025, there has been no public move to relinquish that control.
How ownership and voting power work
Ford operates a two-class system designed to keep decision-making in the hands of the family and a small circle of insiders. Class A shares carry one vote per share, while Class B shares carry a significantly larger number of votes per share. The Ford family holds a substantial portion of the Class B shares, giving them outsized influence over board elections and major corporate moves, even though their total equity stake is comparatively small. Public investors typically own Class A shares and have limited voting influence relative to the family’s Class B stake.
Key features of the structure and its implications are summarized below:
- Two classes of stock with different voting rights: Class A (1 vote per share) and Class B (many votes per share, historically 40).
- The Ford family maintains a controlling voice through the Class B shares, enabling influence over leadership, strategy, and capital decisions.
- Non-family directors participate on the board, but major decisions reflect family governance through voting power.
- Class A shares are publicly traded and represent the bulk of the company's public float, with far less voting influence than Class B.
These dynamics give the Ford family durable control while Ford remains publicly traded.
What this means for governance
Investors should understand that voting rights, not just ownership, drive governance. Public investors can participate economically through Class A stock, but the family’s high-vote Class B shares shape elections and strategic direction.
Historical context and current status
The Ford family's influence dates back to the company's founding and has been preserved through a governance structure that separates voting power from economic ownership. The dual-class system remains in place, and as of 2025 there has been no credible public move to dismantle it.
For readers who want a quick snapshot:
- There are two stock classes with distinct voting rights; the family controls the higher-vote Class B shares.
- The family’s control stems from voting power rather than a majority of equity.
- Public investors mainly own Class A shares with limited influence on major decisions.
The arrangement illustrates how governance structures can separate control from ownership, shaping Ford's strategy and leadership choices over the long run.
Summary
The Ford family remains the controlling force at Ford Motor Company through its high-vote Class B shares, even as the family holds only a minority of the company's equity. No move has been publicly announced to dismantle this dual-class structure, and the arrangement continues to influence Ford's leadership and strategic decisions.
Are the Lions still owned by the Ford family?
Sheila Ford Hamp, 72, is the current Lions principal owner. She is one of four children of William Clay Ford Sr. and Martha Firestone Ford, born in 1951. She has three sons and resides in Ann Arbor with her husband, Steve.
Who is the current owner of Ford?
No single individual or entity "owns" Ford; it is a publicly traded company. However, the Ford family, through a special class of stock, maintains control, while the largest institutional shareholders are asset management firms like Vanguard and BlackRock. William Clay Ford Jr. is the current Executive Chairman of the Board.
- Control: The Ford family controls the company despite owning only a small percentage of the total stock. This is because they hold a majority of the voting power through a special class of "Class B" shares.
- Largest institutional shareholders: As of late 2024, the largest shareholders are institutional investors who own a significant portion of the company's stock, with Vanguard and BlackRock being the top two.
- Executive leadership: William Clay Ford Jr. is the Executive Chairman.
- CEO: Jim Farley is the current CEO.
Is the Ford family still involved in the company?
The company is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the single-letter ticker symbol F and is controlled by the Ford family. They have minority ownership but a plurality of the voting power.
How much does the Ford family still own Ford?
The Ford family controls Ford Motor Company through a dual-class stock structure, owning approximately 2% of the company's equity but holding 40% of the voting power. This is achieved because the family holds all of the company's Class B stock, which has superior voting rights compared to the publicly traded Class A shares.
- Voting Power: The family's Class B shares give them control over 40% of the board of directors, ensuring their influence over the company's direction.
- Equity Ownership: Despite the voting control, the Ford family's stake in the company's total equity is small, around 2%.
- Stock Structure: The dual-class system was established when the company went public in 1956 to allow the family to maintain control even as ownership was dispersed among public shareholders.
- Individual Ownership: The largest individual shareholder is William Clay Ford Jr., the great-grandson of Henry Ford, who holds both common and Class B shares.
