Brandtree

Who owns National Geographic?

National Geographic is owned by Disney (the United States, NYSE: DIS), which acquired the brand on 20 March 2019.[1][2] National Geographic was founded in 1888 in Washington, D.C. and was independent until 2019.

Key facts

Current owner
The Walt Disney Company verified
Owned since
· deal details
Acquisition price
$71.3 billion (enterprise value)
Previous owner
Independent (1888–2019)
Owner HQ
🇺🇸 United States, Burbank, California
Origin
🇺🇸 United States, Washington, D.C.
Founded
1888
Category
Media & entertainmentPublishingNewspapers & magazines
Parent ticker
NYSE: DIS
Last verified
· 2 sources

About National Geographic

National Geographic has published since 1888 and is owned jointly with the non-profit National Geographic Society, with Disney holding the controlling share through the Fox acquisition. Its yellow rectangle border is among the most recognised magazine devices in the world.

Ownership timeline of National Geographic

Owners of National Geographic from 2019 to 2026 Disney 2019–present Disney 201920202021202220232024202520262027
  1. 2019 – present Disney acquired 20 March 2019 [1][2] verified

Where National Geographic sits in Disney

Controlling ownership as of . Brands grouped under the entity that owns them; large groups are collapsed.

Where National Geographic sits in Disney Tree of 12 brands under Disney. Disney National Geographic 20th Century Studios ABC Disney Disney Parks Disney+ and 6 more

Open the full Disney ownership tree →

Other brands owned by Disney in media & entertainment

See the full Disney brand portfolio (12) →

Deals involving National Geographic

Acquisition closed

Disney acquires 20th Century Studios, National Geographic and Searchlight Pictures

Disney acquired most of Twenty-First Century Fox for about $71.3 billion in cash and stock, after outbidding Comcast. The film and television studios, National Geographic and the Star and Hulu stakes transferred; the Fox news, sports and broadcast assets were spun into the separate Fox Corporation.

Value
$71.3bn
Buyer
Disney
Seller
Regulatory
None recorded

Latest news about National Geographic

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Frequently asked questions

Who is the parent company of National Geographic?

The parent company of National Geographic is Disney, a publicly listed company headquartered in the United States.

Is National Geographic American?

Yes. National Geographic originated in the United States in 1888 and its owner, Disney, is also headquartered in the United States.

When did Disney buy National Geographic?

Disney completed its acquisition of National Geographic on 20 March 2019, after announcing the deal on 14 December 2017.

Who owned National Geographic before Disney?

National Geographic was an independent company from its founding in 1888 in Washington, D.C. until Disney acquired it in 2019.

Is National Geographic still owned by Disney?

Yes. As of 8 September 2026, National Geographic is still owned by Disney. The ownership record was last checked against primary sources on that date.

Sources (2) & corrections

Last verified . Every ownership fact above is backed by one of these primary documents. Numbers in brackets in the text refer to this list.

  1. [1] The Walt Disney Company Annual Report on Form 10-K filed 2025-11-13 — SEC EDGAR, SEC Form 10-K, published 13 November 2025; retrieved 8 September 2026.
  2. [2] The Walt Disney Company Form 8-K — completion of the Twenty-First Century Fox acquisition — SEC EDGAR, SEC Form 8-K, published 20 March 2019; retrieved 8 September 2026.

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