Who is the owner of Ford car company?
Ford Motor Company is a publicly traded company with ownership spread among many investors. There is no single owner. The Ford family maintains controlling voting power through a special class of stock, while ordinary investors own the rest of the shares.
Ownership structure at a glance
Two classes of stock and voting power
Two stock classes shape control and ownership at Ford. The brief breakdown below explains how voting rights differ from economic ownership.
- Public equity trades on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker F.
- Two stock classes exist: Class A common shares with standard voting rights, and Class B shares with significantly more voting power (historically 10 votes per Class B share).
- The Ford family owns the majority of Class B shares, giving them outsized influence over board elections and major strategic decisions, representing roughly 40% of voting power.
- Most of the company’s economic ownership is held by institutional and retail investors through Class A shares.
In short, Ford is not owned by a single person. The family holds a controlling stake in voting power via Class B shares, while the broader investor base holds the economic stake.
Decision-making and governance
The board of directors, along with the executive leadership team, makes strategic and operational decisions. The dual-class structure allows the family to guide long-term strategy while the public market provides capital and liquidity. This arrangement has shaped Ford’s governance since the company’s founding by the Ford family.
Context and history
Ford’s structure has deep roots in its history. Founded by Henry Ford, the company has preserved family influence through successive generations via Class B voting shares. Although the family’s voting influence is substantial, the company remains publicly owned, with the majority of economic ownership held by a broad base of investors.
Summary
Ford Motor Company is a public corporation owned by many investors, not a single owner. The Ford family retains controlling voting power through Class B shares, enabling them to influence major decisions, while a wide array of investors holds the economic stake through Class A shares. Corporate governance is carried out by a mix of family-affiliated and independent directors, with leadership under CEO Jim Farley as of the latest reports.
Is the CEO of Ford related to Chris Farley?
Ford CEO Jim Farley is the cousin of the late comedian Chris Farley. The two share a family connection through Jim Farley's grandfather, Emmett Tracy, who was an early employee of Henry Ford and helped build the Ford Model T.
- Jim Farley and Chris Farley are cousins.
- The two have family ties through Jim Farley's grandfather, Emmett Tracy, who worked for Henry Ford.
- Jim Farley has spoken publicly about his relationship with his cousin Chris, notes this X post and this X post.
Who owns the Ford company now?
Ford Motor Company
| Ford World Headquarters in Dearborn, Michigan | |
|---|---|
| Total assets | US$285.2 billion (2024) |
| Total equity | US$44.84 billion (2024) |
| Owner | Ford family (2% equity; 40% voting power) |
| Number of employees | 171,000 (2024) |
Do any of the Ford families still own Ford?
Yes, members of the Ford family still control Ford Motor Company, not through majority ownership, but through a special class of stock that gives them 40% of the voting power. While they own less than 2% of the company's equity, this dual-class stock structure, established in 1956, ensures their control. William Clay Ford Jr., the great-grandson of founder Henry Ford, is the executive chairman.
- Control through voting power: The Ford family controls 40% of the voting power through Class B shares, even though these shares represent a small fraction of the total stock.
- Dual-class stock structure: The company has two classes of stock: common stock, owned by the public, and Class B stock, owned by the Ford family. The Class B shares have super-voting rights.
- Current leadership: William Clay Ford Jr. is the Executive Chairman and is a direct descendant of founder Henry Ford. Other family members also hold executive positions or serve on the board of directors.
How much of Ford does China own?
Changan Ford
| Company type | Joint venture |
|---|---|
| Key people | He Xiaoqing (President and CEO) Yang Dayong (Executive Vice President) |
| Products | Automobiles |
| Owner | Changan Automobile (50%) Ford Motor Company (50%) |
| Number of employees | 10,000+ |
