Fidelity Investments is owned by the Johnson family and its employees. It is one of the largest privately held financial services companies in the world, with no publicly traded shares and no outside corporate owner.
Fidelity Investments is privately owned. The Johnson family holds approximately 40% of the company, with current and former employees owning roughly 60%. Abigail P. Johnson, granddaughter of founder Edward C. Johnson II, serves as Chairman and CEO. Fidelity reported record 2025 revenue of $37.7 billion, manages $7.1 trillion in assets, and employs approximately 80,000 people globally.
Fidelity Investments was founded in 1946 in Boston, Massachusetts by Edward C. Johnson II. Its official corporate name is FMR LLC (Fidelity Management and Research). The company is headquartered in Boston and operates worldwide. Abigail Johnson’s estimated net worth of $32.7 billion makes her one of the wealthiest people in the United States and among the top 10 richest women in the world.
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Who Actually Owns Fidelity Investments?
The ownership of Fidelity Investments is split between the Johnson family and employees. The Johnson family holds approximately 40% of the company, primarily through Abigail Johnson’s stake. Current and former employees own the remaining roughly 60%.
This structure is unusual for a company of Fidelity’s scale and sets it apart from competitors like Charles Schwab or BlackRock, which are publicly traded. Because Fidelity is private, it does not issue quarterly earnings reports or face pressure from public market shareholders to hit short-term financial targets.
Abigail Johnson, who was born in 1961 and holds a Harvard Business School MBA, became CEO in 2014 and Chairman in 2016. She is the third generation of the Johnson family to lead the firm her grandfather founded.
What Is the History of Fidelity Investments?
Edward C. Johnson II founded Fidelity Management and Research Company in 1946 in Boston, initially focused on actively managed mutual funds. His son Edward C. Johnson III, known as Ned Johnson, became CEO in 1977 and led the company through its most transformative decades, pioneering discount brokerage and online trading.
In 1969, the company expanded internationally with the creation of Fidelity International Limited, now a separate entity based in Bermuda. By 1982, Fidelity entered the retirement plan market with 401(k) products, which became one of its most significant long-term growth drivers.
Under Abigail Johnson’s leadership, Fidelity launched zero-expense Fidelity ZERO Funds in 2018, disrupting the industry’s fee structure, and launched Fidelity Digital Assets to provide institutional cryptocurrency custody and trading services. The company’s 2025 annual report confirmed record revenue of $37.7 billion, up 15% year over year.
How Big Is Fidelity Investments in 2025 and 2026?
Fidelity Investments is one of the largest financial services companies in the world by assets. In 2025, it managed $7.1 trillion in assets and administered $18 trillion in total customer assets, an increase of 19% year over year. Average daily trades by Fidelity customers reached 4.4 million in 2025, up 31% from the prior year.
The company employs approximately 80,000 people globally as of 2025. Operating income was $12.7 billion in 2025, up 24% year over year. These figures make Fidelity larger by revenue than BlackRock, though BlackRock manages more total assets.
Fidelity vs Vanguard vs Charles Schwab vs BlackRock: How Do They Compare?
Fidelity, Vanguard, and Charles Schwab are the three dominant retail brokerage and mutual fund platforms in the US, each with a distinct ownership structure that shapes its business philosophy.
Vanguard operates under a unique client-owned mutual structure where the funds own the company and fund investors collectively own the funds. This structure drives Vanguard’s relentless focus on minimizing fees, as any profit is effectively returned to investors through lower expense ratios.
Charles Schwab is publicly traded (NYSE: SCHW), making it accountable to quarterly earnings expectations from external shareholders. Fidelity’s private ownership gives it a structural advantage in making long-term technology investments, as Abigail Johnson demonstrated with Fidelity’s early cryptocurrency infrastructure built nearly a decade before it became mainstream.
For individual investors, the practical choice between these platforms comes down to specific products, fee structures, and platform features rather than ownership differences. Fidelity’s ZERO expense ratio index funds eliminated the fee floor that Vanguard had long held as a competitive advantage.
What Products Does Fidelity Investments Offer?
Fidelity offers brokerage accounts with commission-free stock and ETF trading, a vast mutual fund and index fund library, retirement accounts including IRAs and 401(k) plans, and wealth management services. It is one of the largest retirement plan administrators in the US, overseeing tens of millions of workplace retirement accounts.
Fidelity Digital Assets provides institutional-grade Bitcoin and cryptocurrency custody and trading services. The company also offers annuities, life insurance, donor-advised funds, and cash management accounts with competitive interest rates.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Fidelity Investments publicly traded?
No. Fidelity Investments is entirely private. Its shares are not listed on any stock exchange and cannot be purchased by the public. Ownership is held by the Johnson family (approximately 40%) and current and former employees (approximately 60%).
Who is the CEO of Fidelity Investments?
Abigail P. Johnson is the Chairman and CEO of Fidelity Investments. She has served as CEO since 2014 and Chairman since 2016. She is the granddaughter of founder Edward C. Johnson II and the third generation of the Johnson family to lead the company.
Is Fidelity safe for my money?
Yes. Fidelity Brokerage Services is regulated by the SEC and FINRA. Customer accounts are protected by SIPC coverage up to $500,000, including $250,000 for cash. Fidelity also provides its own Customer Protection Guarantee against unauthorized account activity. Its 80-year history, $18 trillion in total assets under administration, and strong regulatory standing make it one of the most stable financial institutions in the US.
Does the Johnson family still control Fidelity?
Yes. The Johnson family, primarily through Abigail Johnson, holds approximately 40% of Fidelity Investments. Combined with the employee ownership stake, this private structure has been maintained since the company’s founding in 1946. There are no current indications of plans to take Fidelity public.
I am Jack Neel, a mechanical engineer, researcher, and writer. I created this website to share my knowledge about different brands and products with you. I research the manufacturers behind the brands and provide you with the information you need to make smart buying decisions.