The Washington Post is one of the most influential newspapers in the United States. Known for its investigative journalism and political coverage, it has played a crucial role in shaping public opinion. Many people wonder, who owns The Washington Post?
The paper has a rich history, and its ownership has changed over time. Today, it is controlled by one of the world’s most prominent business leaders.
History of The Washington Post
The Washington Post was founded in 1877 by Stilson Hutchins, a journalist and publisher from Missouri. Initially, it was a four-page newspaper aimed at Democratic Party readers. Over the years, it grew in influence, becoming one of the most trusted sources for national and international news.
In 1933, financier Eugene Meyer purchased the struggling newspaper at a bankruptcy auction. Under his leadership, the publication gained credibility and expanded its reach. Meyer later passed control to his son-in-law, Philip Graham, who helped shape the newspaper’s modern identity.
During the 1970s, The Washington Post became globally recognized for its investigative journalism. The newspaper played a crucial role in exposing the Watergate scandal, leading to President Richard Nixon’s resignation. This period solidified its reputation as a powerhouse in political reporting.
For decades, the Graham family controlled the paper. However, financial struggles in the digital age led to its sale in 2013. The new owner, Jeff Bezos, introduced innovations that helped revitalize the publication.
Who Owns Washington Post?
The Washington Post, a leading American newspaper, is owned by Jeff Bezos, the founder of Amazon. Bezos purchased the newspaper in 2013 for $250 million, marking a significant shift in its ownership.
Jeff Bezos: The Owner
Jeffrey Preston Bezos, born on January 12, 1964, in Albuquerque, New Mexico, is an American entrepreneur who played a pivotal role in the growth of e-commerce as the founder and former CEO of Amazon.
Under his leadership, Amazon evolved from an online bookstore into the world’s largest retailer, offering a vast array of products and services.
Bezos’s innovative approach and business acumen have positioned him among the world’s wealthiest individuals, with an estimated net worth nearing $230 billion as of late 2024.
Nash Holdings LLC: The Ownership Structure
To facilitate the acquisition of The Washington Post, Bezos established Nash Holdings LLC, a private investment company. This entity serves as the formal owner of the newspaper, ensuring its operations remain distinct from Amazon’s corporate activities.
Nash Holdings LLC is registered at 1301 K Street NW, Washington, DC 20071, and is primarily involved in publishing and printing newspapers. The company employs approximately 95 people at its headquarters and around 10,000 individuals across all locations.
Impact of Ownership
Since the acquisition, The Washington Post has undergone significant transformations. Bezos’s ownership has infused the newspaper with resources and a digital-first strategy, leading to a substantial increase in online readership and digital subscriptions.
The focus on technological innovation and data analytics has modernized the newspaper’s operations, aligning it with contemporary media consumption trends.
Who Controls The Washington Post?
The Washington Post operates under a structured leadership team responsible for its editorial and business functions. While Jeff Bezos, through Nash Holdings LLC, owns the newspaper, daily operations are managed by seasoned professionals.
Executive Leadership
- William Lewis (Chief Executive Officer): Appointed as CEO, Lewis oversees the newspaper’s strategic direction and business operations. His role involves steering the company towards financial stability and growth in a competitive media landscape.
- Matt Murray (Executive Editor): As the executive editor, Murray is responsible for the overall editorial direction of the newspaper. He ensures that the journalistic standards and integrity of The Washington Post are upheld, guiding the newsroom in its reporting and content creation.
Editorial Team
- Liz Seymour (Managing Editor): Seymour plays a pivotal role in managing the daily editorial operations, working closely with reporters and editors to deliver timely and impactful news coverage.
- Krissah Thompson (Editor of WP Ventures): Thompson leads WP Ventures, focusing on innovative storytelling and new journalistic ventures to expand the newspaper’s reach and engagement.
Opinion Section
- David Shipley (Opinion Editor): Shipley oversees the opinion section, curating diverse viewpoints and fostering public discourse through editorials and opinion pieces.
Business Operations
- Kathy Baird (Communications): Baird leads the communications department, managing the newspaper’s public relations and internal communications strategies.
- Stephen P. Gibson (Finance & Operations): Gibson oversees the financial health and operational efficiency of the newspaper, ensuring sustainable growth and resource management.
Jeff Bezos’s Involvement
Jeff Bezos maintains a strategic oversight role, providing guidance on long-term initiatives and digital transformation efforts. While he does not engage in daily editorial decisions, his ownership has influenced certain aspects of the newspaper’s direction.
For instance, recent reports indicate that Bezos has advocated for promoting “personal liberties and free markets” within the opinion section, leading to internal changes and staff resignations. Additionally, Bezos’s interactions with political figures have impacted the newspaper’s editorial stance, reflecting his broader business considerations.
Editorial Independence
Despite ownership influences, The Washington Post strives to maintain editorial independence. The leadership team is committed to upholding journalistic integrity, even amidst internal challenges and external pressures.
Recent events, such as the resignation of opinion editor David Shipley and editor Ruth Marcus over editorial disagreements, highlight ongoing debates about the balance between ownership influence and editorial freedom.
The Washington Post Controversies
The Washington Post, a prominent American newspaper, has encountered various controversies throughout its history, spanning journalistic integrity, employee relations, and editorial decisions.
“Jimmy’s World” Fabrication
In September 1980, reporter Janet Cooke published a front-page story titled “Jimmy’s World,” depicting the life of an eight-year-old heroin addict. Despite internal doubts about the story’s authenticity, the editors defended it, and assistant managing editor Bob Woodward submitted it for Pulitzer Prize consideration.
Cooke was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for Feature Writing in 1981; however, the story was later revealed to be entirely fabricated, leading to the return of the Pulitzer Prize.
Lawsuit by Covington Catholic High School Student
In 2019, Nick Sandmann, a student from Covington Catholic High School, filed a defamation lawsuit against The Washington Post. The suit alleged that the newspaper had libeled him in its coverage of the January 2019 Lincoln Memorial confrontation.
A federal judge dismissed most of the claims but allowed for an amended complaint on specific statements. In 2020, The Washington Post settled the lawsuit for an undisclosed amount.
Employee Relations and Internal Disputes
The Washington Post has faced internal challenges concerning employee relations:
- Overtime Pay Lawsuit (1986): Five employees sued the newspaper for overtime pay, claiming budget constraints were cited to deny rightful compensation.
- Open Letter to Jeff Bezos (2018): Over 400 employees signed a letter to owner Jeff Bezos, demanding fair wages, benefits, and job security, highlighting “shocking pay practices” despite the newspaper’s growth in subscriptions.
- Felicia Sonmez Incident (2020-2022): Reporter Felicia Sonmez was suspended in 2020 after tweeting about a past rape allegation against Kobe Bryant following his death. She was reinstated after colleagues criticized the suspension. In 2021, Sonmez sued The Post for workplace discrimination; the case was dismissed in 2022. Later that year, she was terminated after public disputes with colleagues on social media, leading to debates about workplace collegiality and free speech.
Fossil Fuel Advertising
Investigations have revealed that The Washington Post is among the leading media outlets publishing advertisements for the fossil fuel industry. This practice has raised concerns among the newspaper’s climate reporters about potential conflicts of interest and the credibility of their reporting on climate change.
Leadership Controversies
In July 2024, CEO Will Lewis was accused in a London courtroom of deceiving police during investigations into Rupert Murdoch’s British tabloids involved in a major scandal. Additionally, incoming editor Robert Winnett withdrew from his position, opting to remain in the U.K., further unsettling the newspaper’s leadership dynamics.
Annual Revenue and Net Worth of The Washington Post
The Washington Post has experienced notable financial fluctuations in recent years. In 2024, the newspaper reported an annual revenue of approximately $5 billion. However, the same year saw a significant loss of $100 million, marking a 30% increase in losses compared to 2023.
These financial challenges have been accompanied by a decline in digital revenue, which decreased by 14% since 2021, and a 50% drop in audience numbers since 2020. Additionally, advertising revenue fell from $190 million to $174 million.
Despite these setbacks, The Washington Post continues to implement strategic initiatives aimed at reversing these trends and ensuring long-term sustainability.
The Washington Post Market Share and Competitors
The Washington Post holds a strong position in the U.S. media landscape. It competes with major newspapers like The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal.
The Washington Post has over 3 million digital subscribers and a significant print circulation. Its market share in the U.S. digital news industry is around 10% to 12%.
The major competitors include:
The New York Times
The New York Times is a leading newspaper known for its comprehensive coverage of national and international events. In February 2025, nytimes.com garnered approximately 616.1 million visits, making it one of the most visited news websites globally.
The publication’s commitment to investigative journalism and in-depth reporting has solidified its reputation over the years.
The Wall Street Journal
The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) is among the largest daily U.S. newspapers, boasting over 3.9 million subscribers. This includes more than 3 million digital subscribers and approximately 649,000 print subscriptions.
Reuters
Reuters is an international news organization recognized for its timely and accurate reporting. In February 2025, reuters.com attracted around 109.8 million visits. Reuters’ extensive global network enables it to provide coverage on a wide array of topics, from financial markets to general news.
CNN
CNN is a major news network offering 24-hour news coverage. Its website, cnn.com, received approximately 487.2 million visits in February 2025. CNN’s multimedia approach, including video content and live reporting, appeals to a broad audience seeking immediate news updates.
ABC News
ABC News is a division of the American Broadcasting Company, providing news coverage across various platforms. Its online presence, abcnews.go.com, is among the top news websites, though specific visit numbers for February 2025 are not detailed in the available data. ABC News covers a wide range of topics, from politics to entertainment.
The Guardian
The Guardian is a British news outlet with a significant international readership. Its U.S. edition offers in-depth reporting on American and global issues. While specific visit numbers for February 2025 are not provided, The Guardian remains a key competitor in the digital news space.
HuffPost
HuffPost, formerly known as The Huffington Post, is an American news aggregator and blog. It covers a variety of topics, including politics, entertainment, and lifestyle. HuffPost’s diverse content appeals to a wide audience, making it a notable competitor in the online news industry.
Politico
Politico focuses on politics and policy, offering in-depth coverage of political events and governmental affairs. Its specialized content attracts readers interested in detailed political analysis, positioning it as a significant competitor to traditional news outlets.
Brands Owned by The Washington Post
The Washington Post primarily focuses on its core brand but has expanded its digital reach through several platforms:
The Washington Post Writers Group
Established in 1973, The Washington Post Writers Group (WPWG) is a syndication service that distributes a variety of content, including opinion columns, editorial cartoons, comic strips, and other features.
Operating as a division of The Washington Post News Service & Syndicate, WPWG extends the reach of The Post’s content by providing high-quality journalistic material to other media outlets. This syndication enhances the newspaper’s influence and presence beyond its primary readership.
Arc XP
Arc XP is a digital platform developed by The Washington Post to offer publishing solutions for news organizations and other content creators. It provides a comprehensive suite of tools designed to enhance digital storytelling, audience engagement, and monetization strategies.
Arc XP has been adopted by various media outlets, including the Chicago Tribune and the Los Angeles Times, showcasing its effectiveness and versatility in the digital publishing landscape.
Express (Washington, D.C., Newspaper)
Express was a free daily newspaper published by The Washington Post from 2003 until its final edition on September 12, 2019. Targeting commuters in the Washington, D.C., area, Express provided a concise summary of news, entertainment, and sports.
At its peak, it had a daily circulation of approximately 180,000 copies. The publication served as a quick-read alternative for busy readers, complementing The Post’s more in-depth coverage.
Launcher
Launched on October 15, 2019, Launcher is The Washington Post’s dedicated section for video gaming and esports coverage. It provides in-depth reporting on gaming culture, industry trends, and esports competitions.
The section aims to offer insightful analysis of the people, companies, teams, and trends that comprise the gaming industry.
Launcher features feature stories, updates on gaming trends, coverage of competitive gaming events, tips from professional gamers, gameplay updates, and reviews of major and indie titles.
The Lily
Launched on June 12, 2017, The Lily was a pioneering publication by The Washington Post, targeting millennial women and focusing on gender and identity issues.
Named in homage to the first U.S. newspaper for women, published between 1849 and 1853, The Lily aimed to elevate essential stories about gender and identity.
Final Words
Jeff Bezos, through Nash Holdings, owns The Washington Post. While he provides financial resources, the newspaper operates independently with a strong leadership team. Under Bezos’ ownership, The Washington Post has expanded its digital presence, competing with top media organizations. Its focus on investigative journalism and digital innovation ensures its continued influence in the media industry.
FAQs
Who owns The Washington Post?
Jeff Bezos owns The Washington Post through his private investment firm, Nash Holdings.
Did Amazon buy The Washington Post?
No, Amazon does not own The Washington Post. Jeff Bezos personally owns it through Nash Holdings.
How much did Jeff Bezos pay for The Washington Post?
Jeff Bezos purchased The Washington Post for $250 million in 2013.
Does Jeff Bezos control the editorial content of The Washington Post?
No, Jeff Bezos does not interfere in the editorial decisions of The Washington Post. The newsroom operates independently.
What is The Washington Post’s annual revenue?
The Washington Post generates an estimated annual revenue of over $1 billion.
Does Jeff Bezos own the Washington Post?
Yes, Jeff Bezos owns The Washington Post through his private company, Nash Holdings LLC. He purchased the newspaper in 2013 for $250 million.
Who owned the Washington Post before Jeff Bezos?
Before Jeff Bezos, The Washington Post was owned by the Graham family. Katharine Graham and later her son, Donald Graham, led the newspaper under The Washington Post Company, which was later renamed Graham Holdings Company.