Who owns Wordle?
Wordle is owned by The New York Times (the United States, NYSE: NYT), which has owned the brand since 31 January 2022.[1] Wordle was founded in 2021 in the United Kingdom and was independent until 2022.
Key facts
- Current owner
- The New York Times Company verified
- Owned since
- Previous owner
- Independent (2021–2022)
- Owner HQ
- 🇺🇸 United States, New York, New York
- Origin
- 🇬🇧 United Kingdom
- Founded
- 2021
- Category
- Internet & digital › Platforms & devices › Games & gaming platforms
- Parent ticker
- NYSE: NYT
- Last verified
- · 1 sources
About Wordle
Wordle was written by a Welsh software engineer for his partner and released free with no advertising in 2021. The New York Times bought it in 2022 for a price in the low seven figures, and it now anchors a games subscription.
Ownership timeline of Wordle
- 2022 – present The New York Times [1] verified
Where Wordle sits in The New York Times
Controlling ownership as of . Brands grouped under the entity that owns them; large groups are collapsed.
Open the full The New York Times ownership tree →
Other brands owned by The New York Times
Latest news about Wordle
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Frequently asked questions
Who is the parent company of Wordle?
The parent company of Wordle is The New York Times, a publicly listed company headquartered in the United States.
Is Wordle British or American?
Wordle originated in the United Kingdom in 2021, but it is owned today by The New York Times, which is headquartered in the United States. So Wordle is a British-origin brand under American ownership.
Since when has The New York Times owned Wordle?
The New York Times has owned Wordle since 31 January 2022.
Who owned Wordle before The New York Times?
Wordle was an independent company from its founding in 2021 until The New York Times acquired it in 2022.
Is Wordle still owned by The New York Times?
Yes. As of 8 September 2026, Wordle is still owned by The New York Times. 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] The New York Times Company Annual Report on Form 10-K filed 2026-02-27 — SEC EDGAR, SEC Form 10-K, published 27 February 2026; retrieved 8 September 2026.
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