Who Owns Starbucks? Let’s Find Out!
Starbucks is a company that many people can own. It’s called a “publicly traded company,” which means anyone who buys its shares can own a small piece. Right now, more than 1,500 big companies, called institutional shareholders, own shares of Starbucks. The biggest owner is a company called Vanguard Group, which owns about 9.19%. There are also some important individuals, like Howard Schultz, who own parts of Starbucks too!
How Did Starbucks Begin?
Starbucks started in 1971 when three friends—Jerry Baldwin, Gordon Bowker, and Zev Siegl—opened a small coffee shop in Seattle at Pike Place Market. Back then, they only sold coffee beans and machines to make coffee. But in 1982, everything changed. Howard Schultz joined the team and had a big idea: why not sell coffee drinks too? He introduced espresso drinks and the cozy coffeehouse idea that made Starbucks super popular!
Meet the Starbucks Founders
- Jerry Baldwin – He studied history and helped manage the coffee roasting, money, and day-to-day work at Starbucks in the early days.
- Gordon Bowker – Gordon loved writing and even wrote books, but he also helped create Starbucks before moving on to other things.
- Zev Siegl – Zev used to be a history teacher before starting Starbucks. He worked there for a while and then started other businesses.
When Did Starbucks Go Public?
In 1992, Starbucks sold shares to the public for the first time. Each share cost $17, and they sold over 1.4 million shares, raising $25 million! Today, Starbucks’ shares are worth much more—each one costs over $100.
Who Are the Big Owners of Starbucks?
Some of the biggest companies that own Starbucks shares are:
- Vanguard Group – They own 9.19% of Starbucks, which is worth about $10.78 billion!
- BlackRock, Inc. – They own 6.62%, worth $7.76 billion. They care about how investments affect the environment and people.
- State Street Corporation – They own 3.83%, worth $4.49 billion.
- Bank of America – They own 2.71%, worth $3.17 billion.
- Morgan Stanley – They own 2.32%, worth $2.72 billion.
How Do Owners Help Starbucks Grow?
The people and companies that own Starbucks shares do more than just invest money. Here’s how they help:
- Giving Money to Grow – Owners provide funds to open new stores, create new drinks, and grow the business.
- Helping with Big Decisions – They vote on important choices and guide the company’s plans.
- Sharing Ideas – Owners share thoughts and advice that help Starbucks stay successful.
Starbucks Today
Starbucks is one of the biggest coffee shop chains in the world! Howard Schultz played a huge role in making Starbucks what it is today. Even though he’s no longer the CEO, he still helps the company by being on the board and advising the current CEO, Laxman Narasimhan. Thanks to both the owners and the leaders, Starbucks keeps growing and using new ideas like digital apps to make coffee-drinking fun and easy.
Now you know who owns Starbucks and how they work together to keep the coffee flowing!