10 iconic American companies owned by Chinese investors (2024)

Lilly Lawrence | Getty Images

Chinese conglomerates have been buying stakes in U.S. companies and real estate for several years. But that still didn't mute the shock in March when word spread that the country's HNA Group was in talks to buy a controlling stake in the publisher of Forbes magazine.

In fact, HNA was one of two Chinese companies reportedly mulling a bid. But the idea of a company from a communist country owning a U.S. news organization caught many people off guard.

Chinese companies, though, own part or all of a number of companies that impact American lives on a daily basis, and many people aren't aware of it. Whether you're going to the movies, washing your clothes or preparing dinner, there's a good chance some of the money you spent to do so eventually found its way to China.

Here's a look at some of the bigger business names that are owned by Chinese companies.

Chicago Stock Exchange

Jarkko Laine | Flickr Creative Commons

While this deal is still pending, it cleared a notable hurdle in late December, getting the green light from the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States. The group said it had "no unresolved national security concerns" over the deal, despite some concerns raised in Congress. China's Chongqing Casin Enterprise Group (which says it has no ties to the Chinese government) reportedly wants to use the exchange to give more Chinese companies access to the U.S. market. (The deal is still under review by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.) The price for the exchange was not publicly revealed, but Bloomberg has reported it to be under $100 million.

AMC

The nation's largest movie theater chain was bought by Dalian Wanda Group in 2012 for $2.6 billion. Chinese businessman Wang Jianlin, who runs Dalian, has a taste for Hollywood, having also bought a major film studio (see below). And last November, AMC added Carmike Cinemas to its holdings for $1.2 billion. Jianlin also tried to buy a controlling stake in Paramount Pictures last year, but parent firm Viacom rejected the offer.

Smithfield Foods

Bloomberg | Getty Images

This $7.1-billion-dollar deal, completed in 2013, remains the largest purchase of an American firm by a Chinese company. Virginia-based Smithfield Foods has been an icon of the American food industry and is best known for its hams (especially its holiday ham). The deal spurred controversy and concern at the time, but Smithfield has thrived, adding jobs and hitting a sales record in 2014.

Legendary Entertainment Group

A still image from the movie "Jurassic World"

Source: Jurassic World

After getting a taste of show business with the AMC purchase, Dalian Wanda bought a movie studio to go with its theaters in 2016. The $3.5 billion deal put Dalian in charge of the co-financer of "Jurassic World," "Warcraft" and "Pacific Rim." Initially, the company planned to fold Legendary into its conglomerate but decided to operate it independently for a while, until the studio can show a steady stream of profits.

GE Appliances

A Sears customer shops near General Electric appliances in Schaumburg, Illinois, September 8, 2014.

Jim Young | Reuters

Stoves, refrigerators, washers and dryers from General Electric have been around for more than 100 years, but starting last year, the appliance division of the iconic company has been Chinese owned. The $5.4 billion deal by Qingdao Haier was China's largest acquisition of an overseas electronics business. GE Appliances remains headquartered in Louisville, Kentucky, and still operates as an independent unit.

The Waldorf Astoria

Chinese investment in the U.S. economy is soaring, with such high-profile deals as China's Anbang Insurance purchase of the Waldorf-Astoria hotel in New York City for $1.95 billion.

Getty Images

Anabang Insurance Group, the buyer of this well-known Manhattan hotel, was unknown in 2014, when it paid nearly $2 billion for the establishment. But it has since become a more common name to investors, buying U.S. insurer Fidelity & Guaranty Life last fall and attempting to buy Starwood Resorts, only to lose out to Marriott at the last minute.

Despite that high-purchase profile, it's one of the more mysterious Chinese acquirers, as the leadership at the company is unclear to outsiders. (The company told the Wall Street Journal it is owned by more than 30 corporate investors, but the Journal was unable to verify that.)

Strategic Hotels & Resorts

The Four Seasons hotel in Austin, Texas

Four Seasons

Anabang's interest in the hotel sector wasn't limited to the Waldorf and Starwood. Last year Blackstone Group sold its line of luxury hotels to the Chinese company for $3.93 billion (roughly $6 billion, including debt). The deal put Anabang in charge of 16 properties, including assorted Ritz-Carlton locations in California, the Fairmont Scottsdale in Arizona and the Four Seasons Resort in Jackson Hole, Wyoming.

Riot Games

Source: Riot Games

"League of Legends" is one of the biggest titles in the video game world and is responsible, in part, for the boom in eSports of the past eight years. It's a billion-dollar franchise, but creator Riot Games started as an independent game developer.

In 2011, though, Chinese holding company Tencent bought a majority stake in Riot for $400 million and in 2015 bought the rest of the company for an undisclosed amount. Tencent also holds investment stakes in Activision-Blizzard and "Gears of War" creator Epic Games.

Ingram Micro

Apple iPhones 7 and 7 Plus are seen in an Apple store.

Sefa Karacan | Anadolu Agency | Getty Images

Ingram Micro's name may be a bit less familiar to consumers, but the company distributes everything from Apple's iPhone to Cisco's network equipment. Last year China's HNA Group (the same group bidding on Forbes) bought the company for $6 billion.

When the deal was finalized in December, it ended public trading of Ingram's shares, but the company remains headquartered in Irvine, California, with the same CEO.

Motorola Mobility

ChinaFotoPress | Getty Images

Motorola was an early leader in the telecommunications space, dating back to 1928. As mobile devices began to dominate the industry, it spun its handset division off into the independent Motorola Mobility, which was bought by Google in 2012. Two years later, though, the search giant announced it was selling the unit to China-owned Lenovo for $2.9 billion, making Lenovo the world's third-largest smartphone maker.

10 iconic American companies owned by Chinese investors (2024)

FAQs

10 iconic American companies owned by Chinese investors? ›

Summary: Linked here is table of Chinese companies listed on the New York Stock Exchange, NASDAQ, and NYSE American, the three largest U.S. exchanges. As of January 9, 2023, there were 252 Chinese companies listed on these U.S. exchanges with a total market capitalization of $1.03 trillion.

What 7 US companies are owned by China? ›

  • General Electric (GE) ...
  • AMC Theatres. ...
  • Smithfield Foods. ...
  • Legendary Entertainment Group. ...
  • The Waldorf-Astoria. ...
  • Strategic Hotels & Resorts. ...
  • Riot Games. ...
  • Sheraton Universal Hotel, Marriott Downtown Los Angeles.

How many Chinese owned companies are in the United States? ›

Summary: Linked here is table of Chinese companies listed on the New York Stock Exchange, NASDAQ, and NYSE American, the three largest U.S. exchanges. As of January 9, 2023, there were 252 Chinese companies listed on these U.S. exchanges with a total market capitalization of $1.03 trillion.

How much of US stocks are owned by China? ›

As an estimate, Chinese securities account for less than 2% of the total portfolio of U.S. investors.

Are there any American owned companies in China? ›

Restaurant brands like KFC, McDonald's, and Starbucks have been expanding rapidly in China. Some companies, such as AT&T and GE, have been in China for 20 or 30 years. Walmart, Target, and other large retailers now have a presence in China.

What major American companies are owned by China? ›

Keep reading to see which U.S. giants are backed by foreign conglomerates.
  • AMC. Popular cinema company AMC, short for American Multi-Cinema, has been around for over a century and is headquartered in Leawood, KS. ...
  • General Motors. ...
  • Spotify. ...
  • Snapchat. ...
  • Hilton Hotels. ...
  • General Electric Appliance Division. ...
  • 49 Comments.
Jan 12, 2021

How many Fortune 500 companies does China own? ›

In 2020, China for the first time had the largest number of companies of any country represented on the Fortune Global 500 List. The Trustee Chair team analyzed the 124 Chinese companies on the list that year and compared their performance with companies from other countries.

What are the 5 Chinese companies leaving USA? ›

Five Chinese companies listed on the New York Stock Exchange said they intend to delist their American depositary shares. The firms include China Life Insurance, PetroChina, China Petroleum & Chemical, Aluminum Corp. of China and Sinopec Shanghai Petrochemical.

Is TikTok owned by China? ›

Fact: TikTok's parent company ByteDance Ltd. was founded by Chinese entrepreneurs, but today, roughly sixty percent of the company is beneficially owned by global institutional investors such as Carlyle Group, General Atlantic, and Susquehanna International Group.

Does China own GM? ›

Shanghai GM holds a 50 percent stake and oversees management. GM China and SAIC each hold 25 percent stakes in the facility, which is located in Shenyang, Liaoning.

Who owns most of the US stock market? ›

Our new analysis shows that foreign investors owned about 40 percent of US corporate equity in 2019, up substantially over the last few decades. Retirement accounts of US households owned about 30 percent in 2019, and the taxable accounts of US investors owned about 25 percent, which is most of the rest.

What percentage of US property is owned by China? ›

China owns less than 1 percent of all foreign-owned land in the United States and, according to an Auburn University associate professor studying the issue, does not own any land in Alabama. And in 2021, 17 countries owned more land in the U.S. than China, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Does China own stock in Dollar General? ›

Does China own Dollar General? Dollar General is not owned by China. However, the company buys a large portion of its merchandise from China. Its competitor Dollar Tree also buys a large portion of its goods from China.

Is Amazon China owned? ›

Amazon.com, Inc. (/ˈæməzɒn/ AM-ə-zon UK also /ˈæməzən/ AM-ə-zən) is an American multinational technology company focusing on e-commerce, cloud computing, online advertising, digital streaming, and artificial intelligence.

Is Whirlpool owned by China? ›

8 Million. (Yicai Global) March 29 -- Antitrust regulators around the world have approved Chinese home appliance manufacturer Galanz Group's acquisition of the Chinese unit of US white goods maker Whirlpool.

Does China own Burger King? ›

Burger King is an American multinational chain of fast-food restaurants that is headquartered in Miami, Florida.

What US companies rely on China? ›

Household-name consumer brands like Starbucks, Nike and Under Armour have a large customer base in China. Tech and automobile giants like Intel, Apple (AAPL), Tesla (TSLA), General Motors and Ford not only rely on Chinese consumers, but also have huge manufacturing networks in the country.

What companies belong to China? ›

Notable firms
NameIndustryHeadquarters
AigoConsumer goodsBeijing
Air ChinaConsumer servicesBeijing
Alibaba GroupTechnologyHangzhou
Aluminum Corporation of China LimitedBasic materialsBeijing
67 more rows

Does China overtake the US in the Fortune 500? ›

China is home to 136 companies on this year's Global 500, eclipsing the U.S., which was home to 124 firms.

Who is the largest employer in China? ›

China's largest private employer is Foxconn, a subsidiary of Taiwan's Hon Hai Precision Industry Company (commonly known as Foxconn).

Who owns the most money to China? ›

Which Country Owes the Most Money to China? Venezuela is the country with the greatest sovereign debt exposure to China, in terms of direct lending (excluding portfolio holdings), according to AidData's 2021 study, totaling $74.7 billion.

Which Chinese companies are blacklisted in US? ›

The six entities are Beijing Nanjiang Aerospace Technology Co., China Electronics Technology Group Corporation 48th Research Institute, Dongguan Lingkong Remote Sensing Technology Co., Eagles Men Aviation Science and Technology Group Co., Guangzhou Tian-Hai-Xiang Aviation Technology Co., and Shanxi Eagles Men Aviation ...

Which major Chinese company recently got deleted in the US? ›

In November last year, US President Joe Biden signed the law to ban Chinese tech companies like Huawei and ZTE from getting approval for network equipment licences in the country.

Which big companies are leaving China? ›

Samsung is making similar decisions on its China production. Volvo rejected China for a new factory and will build it in Slovakia, while Adidas and other shoe and apparel makers have long since left China for Vietnam and other venues. Japanese firms have begun to bring some of their production home from China.

Is there a dark side of TikTok? ›

A study from the University of Minnesota reveals that TikTok's unique algorithm can both provide a sense of community and self-discovery for users, while also potentially exposing them to harmful content that can negatively impact mental health.

Is Facebook ban in China? ›

Bans or former bans by country

Although not blocked in China, Hong Kong, and Macau.

What is TikTok called in China? ›

Instead, there's a different version of TikTok — a sister app called Douyin. Both are owned by Beijing-based parent company ByteDance, but Douyin launched before TikTok and became a viral sensation in China. Its powerful algorithm became the foundation for TikTok and is key to its global success.

Does the Chinese own Ford? ›

Ford is not owned by any other company or by any one individual. It is a publicly-traded company that is owned by shareholders.

Does China own Toyota? ›

Toyota is a Japanese automaker, that much is certain. The Toyota nameplate has become increasingly well-known over the years because to the high quality and dependability of the vehicles it produces.

Does China own Dodge? ›

Stellantis, one of the largest automotive parent companies in the world, is 3.09% owned by the Chinese state-owned company Dongfeng Motor Corporation. As a result, brands like Dodge, Jeep, Fiat, and Alfa Romeo are connected to the Wuhan-based company.

Who is the biggest investor in US? ›

1. Warren Buffett. As one of the world's wealthiest investors, Warren Buffett almost needs no introduction. He's CEO and chairman of Berkshire Hathaway, a $665 billion conglomerate that acts as the holding company for Buffett's investments, both its wholly-owned companies and its stocks.

Who owns most of the US economy? ›

Private companies contribute 87% of the annual GDP, and Government 13%. The most important industry groups are: Manufacturing, 12% Finance, insurance, real estate, rental, and leasing, 20%

Who are the richest stock investors in USA? ›

The story of the top 5 richest investors in the world
  • Warren Buffett. Net worth: $103 Billion. Founder & CEO of Berkshire Hathaway. ...
  • Jim Simons. Net worth: $28.6 Billion. Founder of RenTech, a quantitative hedge fund. ...
  • Ken Griffin. Net worth: $27 Billion. ...
  • Ray Dalio. Net worth: $22 Billion. ...
  • Carl Icahn. Net worth: $17.5 Billion.
Apr 17, 2023

Is China buying U.S. houses? ›

Chinese buyers are returning to the U.S. housing market after a long lull, but recent efforts by several states to restrict certain foreign purchases could make homebuying harder for them. Why it matters: Chinese buyers spent $6.1 billion on existing U.S. homes last year, more than any other international homebuyers.

How much does the US owe China? ›

Top Foreign Holders of U.S. Debt
RankCountryU.S. Treasury Holdings
1🇯🇵 Japan$1,076B
2🇨🇳 China$867B
3🇬🇧 United Kingdom$655B
4🇧🇪 Belgium$354B
6 more rows
Mar 24, 2023

Are Chinese investors buying American homes? ›

Chinese investors are among the top foreign purchasers of residential real estate, along with Canadians, according to the National Association of Realtors. Other states have had concerns over foreign ownership of land and have made efforts to regulate it.

Does China own stock in Walmart? ›

No, Walmart is not owned by China, nor has it been sold to a Chinese investment group. According to USA TODAY fact check, a claim that Walmart had been sold to a Chinese firm was proven false. On Jan. 2 2021, a Facebook post claimed a Chinese business group bought out America's largest retailer.

Does Warren Buffett own Dollar General stock? ›

Warren Buffett Dollar General Corp.

Warren Buffett started to build up the position in Dollar General in Q2 2011 and continued to invest until Q3 2011. Since then they sold 4.5 Million shares. The investor completely sold their stake between Q1 2012 and Q3 2012.

What parent company owns Dollar General? ›

Jeffrey Owen is the chief operating officer. Institutional investors control about 91.45 percent of the outstanding shares of Dollar General Corporation, according to CNN Business. The largest institutional shareholder is T. Rowe Price with a 7.51 percent stake.

How much of Amazon stuff is from China? ›

In fact, by our own research, Chinese sellers make up over 63% of all third-party sellers on Amazon. In this article, we'll look at how many Chinese sellers there are more closely and the tactics being used by Chinese Amazon sellers in 2022 to manipulate the platform.

Who is Amazon rival in China? ›

Alibaba was founded on 4 April 1999 by Jack Ma as a B2B e-commerce site and soon branched out into B2C markets and various other fields. Alibaba now is quite similar to Amazon in terms of the different industries that both operate.

What Chinese company is bigger than Amazon? ›

While Alibaba dominates ecommerce and cloud computing services in China, Amazon dominates those industries in most other growing markets around the world.

Is Whirlpool 100% made in America? ›

Are Whirlpool Appliances Made in the USA? Whirlpool is not only the largest American-owned and operated appliance company but also the world's largest home appliance company. They're headquartered in Benton Charter Township, Michigan. Whirlpool has factories throughout the US.

Why is Whirlpool shutting down? ›

"Our 15,000 U.S. manufacturing employees in our nine plants across the U.S. have been working tirelessly to meet consumer needs. Like other companies across the globe, Whirlpool Corporation is impacted by supply chain disruptions and constraints.

Is Maytag made in China? ›

Maytag Laundry Appliances

While Whirlpool has owned the Maytag name since 2006, Maytag is the oldest brand among laundry appliances made in the USA. Since its inception in 1893, Maytag has produced high-quality, USA made washer and dryer models.

Does China own any US food companies? ›

The most prominent foreign acquisition of an American food company in the past few years was Chinese company WH Group's 2013 purchase of Smithfield Foods for $4.7 billion. The combined company is the largest pork producer in the world.

Who owns Chick Fil A? ›

As a family-owned business, the Cathy family has been working together for 70 years. Just as Truett Cathy built Chick-fil-A alongside his wife and children, today several second and third generation Cathy family members are carrying on that tradition, while others pursue talents in other fields.

How much of McDonald's does China own? ›

The $2.08 billion deal covers the fast food chain's franchise rights for the next 20 years in mainland China and Hong Kong. Of the three parties, state-owned Citic will have the controlling stake of 52 percent. American investment firm Carlyle has 28 percent, and McDonald's has the remaining 20 percent.

What American companies are made in China? ›

See a rundown of popular so-called American brands that manufacture products elsewhere in the world.
  • L.L.Bean. ...
  • Levi Strauss & Co. ...
  • New Balance. ...
  • Radio Flyer. ...
  • Melissa & Doug Toys. ...
  • Brach's Confections, Inc. ...
  • US Major League Baseballs. ...
  • Chevy Silverado.

Does China own Walmart? ›

No, Walmart is not owned by China, nor has it been sold to a Chinese investment group. According to USA TODAY fact check, a claim that Walmart had been sold to a Chinese firm was proven false. On Jan. 2 2021, a Facebook post claimed a Chinese business group bought out America's largest retailer.

What is the name of the Chinese company like Amazon? ›

Alibaba was founded on 4 April 1999 by Jack Ma as a B2B e-commerce site and soon branched out into B2C markets and various other fields. Alibaba now is quite similar to Amazon in terms of the different industries that both operate.

Which US companies are moving out of China? ›

Apple has already moved some iPhone manufacturing to Vietnam and is planning to move some of its MacBook production to the Southeast Asian nation. Other companies that have shifted some of their production lines out of China to Vietnam are Nike, Adidas, and Samsung.

Does China own part of Ford? ›

It is a 50/50 joint venture between local Changan Automobile and US-based Ford Motor Company. The company's principal activity is the manufacture of Ford brand passenger cars for the Chinese market.

Does Tesla own China factory? ›

Its existing car factory on the outskirts of Shanghai, which the US firm owns outright, produced almost 711,000 cars last year, or 52% of its worldwide output — even with production being disrupted by the China's now-abandoned Covid Zero policy.

What famous brands come from China? ›

The Top 10 BrandZ China Top 100 Most Valuable Chinese Brands
Rank 2019BrandBrand value 2019 (US$M)
1Alibaba140,953
2Tencent138,158
3ICBC40,725
4China Mobile39,103
6 more rows

Are any cars made in China sold in the US? ›

While there aren't currently any Chinese car brands for sale in the US, the concern is that eventually, Chinese automakers could eventually make a play to upend the US market.

What famous brands are manufactured in China? ›

300+ BRANDS MADE IN CHINA
  • 3.1 Phillip Lim.
  • 7 For All Mankind.
  • 7AM Enfant.
  • Abercrombie & Fitch.
  • Aden + Anais.
  • adidas.
  • Aerie.
  • Aeropostale.
Sep 9, 2022

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