Who owned Ford after Henry died?
After Henry Ford died in 1947, Ford Motor Company remained under the ownership and influence of the Ford family. The family preserved control through a voting-heavy class of shares, even as the company grew into a broad public company with many shareholders. The long arc of leadership passed from Edsel Ford to Henry Ford II, who became the pivotal steward of the family’s role in the business.
The story of ownership after Henry Ford’s death is linked to Edsel Ford’s earlier passing and to the way Ford Motor Company is structured. Edsel died in 1943, leaving Henry Ford to steer the company’s direction while grooming the next generation of leadership. Henry Ford II then rose to prominence and led the firm for decades, cementing the family’s ongoing governance role. Central to this arrangement is Ford’s dual-class share structure, which keeps voting power within the family even as ownership becomes more widely distributed among public investors.
A family-controlled enterprise
Here are the major steps in the transfer of ownership and control after Henry Ford's death and how ownership was structured.
- Edsel Ford dies in 1943; Henry Ford remains the controlling force, and Edsel’s death accelerates a transition toward the next generation.
- Henry Ford II assumes growing leadership roles and becomes the dominant manager, guiding the company through modernization and expansion.
- The Ford family maintains control through a dual-class stock system: Class B shares carry substantially more voting power (10 votes per share) than Class A shares (1 vote per share), allowing the family to control the board and major strategic decisions even with a smaller equity stake.
- Today Ford Motor Company is publicly traded, but the family’s voting power ensures that the Ford lineage continues to influence corporate direction.
Thus, after Henry Ford's death, ownership and control remained in the hands of the Ford family, with Henry Ford II serving as a central figure in sustaining family stewardship for decades.
Today: structure and influence
The family’s influence today rests on Ford’s dual-class stock arrangement. Class B shares give the Ford family the majority of voting rights, while Class A shares are publicly traded. This structure has preserved family governance even as ownership has dispersed among public investors.
Summary
In the years since Henry Ford’s passing, Ford Motor Company has remained a family-led enterprise. The Ford family retains control through voting rights embedded in its stock structure and through sustained leadership, while the company operates as a large, publicly owned automaker with broad ownership among investors.
Who inherited Henry Ford's wealth?
Henry Ford left the bulk of his wealth to the Ford Foundation and ensured his family maintained control of the Ford Motor Company. He passed control of the company to his grandson, Henry Ford II, in 1945, who then inherited the role after his death in 1947. While the Ford Foundation received most of the cash, the family's control of the company continued through the generations.
- Company Control: Henry Ford passed control of the Ford Motor Company to his grandson, Henry Ford II, in 1945.
- Charitable Donation: Most of his vast wealth was left to the Ford Foundation.
- Family Legacy: While the foundation received the bulk of his fortune, his family was structured to maintain control of the company permanently.
- Surprise Discovery: Upon Henry Ford's death, his family was shocked to find nearly $700 million in cash in the company vault, which had been built without using banks or investors.
Did Ford give Edison $750,000?
At 67 years old, the damage was too extensive for insurance to cover. Before the ashes were cold, Henry Ford handed Edison a check for $750,000 with a note saying Edison could have more if needed. In 1916, Ford relocated his home next to Edison's.
What is Lee Iacocca most famous for?
Lee Iacocca is most famous for two major achievements in the automotive industry: developing the Ford Mustang at Ford and reviving Chrysler from near bankruptcy as its CEO. He is also remembered for being one of the first celebrity CEOs, appearing in his own TV commercials, and for his 1984 best-selling autobiography.
At Ford
- Ford Mustang: Iacocca was the key executive who championed and helped develop the original Ford Mustang, creating one of America's most iconic automobiles.
At Chrysler
- Company turnaround: He is credited with saving the Chrysler Corporation from bankruptcy in the late 1970s and 1980s.
- Government loan: He secured the largest federal loan guarantee ever given to a private corporation at the time to help fund the company's revival.
- Product innovation: Under his leadership, Chrysler introduced successful products like the K-car, the Dodge Aries, and the Chrysler minivan.
As a public figure
- Celebrity CEO: Iacocca became one of the most recognizable business leaders in the U.S. due to his public presence and famous commercials for Chrysler.
- "If you can find a better car, buy it": He was well-known for this advertising slogan, which he often delivered himself in the Chrysler commercials.
- Autobiography: His 1984 memoir, Iacocca: An Autobiography, was a massive bestseller, spending 38 weeks on the list.
Is the Ford Bloodline still alive?
Yes, the Ford family is still alive, with descendants like William Clay Ford Jr. still active in the company, but the direct grandchildren of Henry Ford have all passed away. While the original founder's grandchildren have died, his great-grandchildren, such as William Clay Ford Jr., continue to control a significant portion of the company's voting power through a special class of stock.
- Direct descendants: Henry Ford's only son, Edsel, had four children, all of whom have passed away. William Clay Ford Sr., the last surviving grandchild, died in 2014.
- Current leadership: William Clay Ford Jr., Henry Ford's great-grandson, is the executive chairman of the Ford Motor Company, holding significant control through the family's special Class B stock.
- Other family members: Many other family members, including William Clay Ford Jr.'s siblings and cousins, are involved in the family's business and philanthropic endeavors, such as the Detroit Lions and the Ford Foundation.
