Who owns Penguin Random House?
Penguin Random House is owned by Bertelsmann (Germany).[1]
This ownership is reported in official statements but has not yet been matched to a regulatory filing.
Key facts
- Current owner
- Bertelsmann SE & Co. KGaA reported
- Owned since
- Not recorded
- Previous owner
- None recorded
- Owner HQ
- 🇩🇪 Germany, Gütersloh
- Origin
- 🇺🇸 United States
- Founded
- 2013
- Category
- Media & entertainment › Publishing › Book publishers
- Last verified
- · 1 sources
About Penguin Random House
Penguin Random House is the largest trade book publisher in the world, formed in 2013 from two of the largest houses. American courts blocked its attempt to buy Simon & Schuster in 2022, on the grounds it would depress what authors are paid.
Ownership timeline of Penguin Random House
- 2013 – present Bertelsmann [1] reported
Where Penguin Random House sits in Bertelsmann
Controlling ownership as of . Brands grouped under the entity that owns them; large groups are collapsed.
Open the full Bertelsmann ownership tree →
Other brands owned by Bertelsmann in media & entertainment
Latest news about Penguin Random House
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Frequently asked questions
Who is the parent company of Penguin Random House?
The parent company of Penguin Random House is Bertelsmann, a family-owned company headquartered in Germany.
Is Penguin Random House American or German?
Penguin Random House originated in the United States in 2013, but it is owned today by Bertelsmann, which is headquartered in Germany. So Penguin Random House is an American-origin brand under German ownership.
Is Penguin Random House still owned by Bertelsmann?
Yes. As of 8 September 2026, Penguin Random House is still owned by Bertelsmann. The ownership record was last checked against primary sources on that date.
Sources (1) & 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] Bertelsmann SE & Co. KGaA Annual Report 2025 — Bertelsmann SE & Co. KGaA, Annual report, published 31 March 2026; retrieved 8 September 2026.
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