The Washington Post is one of the most powerful and most controversial newspapers in American history. It broke the Watergate scandal, published the Pentagon Papers, and has won 80 Pulitzer Prizes. But in 2026, the paper is making headlines not for its journalism — but for who owns it, what that owner is doing to it, and what the future holds for one of America’s most iconic institutions.
The answer to “who owns The Washington Post” is simple on the surface. But the full story involves a family dynasty, a $250 million surprise purchase, a massive subscriber exodus, and one of the most dramatic newsroom cuts in American media history.
Who Owns The Washington Post Right Now in 2026?
The Washington Post is owned by Nash Holdings LLC, the private company of Jeff Bezos, who bought the newspaper in 2013 and remains its owner as of 2026.
Nash Holdings is not a media conglomerate or a publicly traded corporation. It is simply a private holding company created by Bezos specifically to own the Post. There are no outside investors, no board of public shareholders, and no editorial committee. Jeff Bezos is the sole owner — and every major decision at the Post ultimately flows through him.
Jeff Bezos is the founder of Amazon, the world’s largest e-commerce company, and Blue Origin, the private rocket company. As of 2026, he is one of the wealthiest individuals on the planet. The Washington Post represents a tiny fraction of his overall net worth — which is precisely why his decisions about it carry such enormous weight.
Ownership and Key Stakeholders Table
| Owner / Party | Role | Stake | Key Detail |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jeff Bezos | Sole Owner | 100% via Nash Holdings LLC | Purchased for $250 million in 2013; Amazon founder |
| Nash Holdings LLC | Ownership Vehicle | 100% of Washington Post | Bezos’s private holding company; not connected to Amazon |
| Matt Murray | Editor-in-Chief | Management role | Current editor leading the Post’s editorial direction in 2026 |
| Jeff D’Onofrio | Publisher | Management role | Current publisher of The Washington Post |
| Graham Family (Historical) | Former Owners | Exited in 2013 | Owned the Post for over 80 years; sold to Bezos for $250M |
| Eugene Meyer (Historical) | Original Modern Owner | Exited 1946 | Bought the Post at bankruptcy auction in 1933 for $825,000 |
| Washington Post Company (Historical) | Former Parent | Exited 2013 | Public company that owned the Post before the Bezos sale |
The Origin Story: From Bankruptcy to Greatness
The Washington Post was founded on December 6, 1877 by Stilson Hutchins in Washington, D.C. It changed hands several times in its early decades and was in serious financial trouble by the 1930s.
The Graham family’s connection to The Washington Post began when Eugene Meyer purchased the newspaper at a bankruptcy auction in 1933. Meyer, a successful financier and public servant, wanted to create a quality publication for the nation’s capital.
His daughter Katharine and her husband Philip Graham soon became involved in the paper’s operations. After Eugene Meyer stepped down, Philip Graham took over as publisher. The couple expanded the company, acquiring Newsweek magazine and several television stations. Following Philip Graham’s tragic suicide in 1963, Katharine Meyer Graham assumed leadership of The Washington Post Company.
Katharine Graham became one of the most celebrated figures in American journalism. She made the decision to publish the Pentagon Papers in 1971 and authorized the Watergate coverage in 1972–74 that ultimately led to President Nixon’s resignation — two of the most consequential editorial decisions in newspaper history.
The $250 Million Sale That Shocked the World
In August 2013, one of the biggest surprises in American media history landed without warning.
Jeff Bezos purchased the newspaper in 2013 for $250 million through Nash Holdings LLC, his private investment company, and remains the sole owner as of 2026. Nash Holdings closed on the acquisition in October 2013, buying The Washington Post and its affiliated publishing properties from The Washington Post Company in an all-cash deal.
The sale stunned the journalism world. Nobody had seen it coming. Donald Graham, then Chairman and CEO of The Washington Post Company, said: “Jeff Bezos’ proven technology and business genius, his long-term approach and his personal decency make him a uniquely good new owner for the Post.”
Bezos himself said: “I understand the critical role the Post plays in Washington, D.C. and our nation, and the Post’s values will not change. Our duty to readers will continue to be the heart of the Post, and I am very optimistic about the future.”
For the first several years, the optimism appeared justified. The Post expanded its newsroom, invested heavily in digital technology, and grew its digital subscriber base significantly — at one point reaching over 3 million digital subscribers.
The Controversies: Endorsements, Losses, and Layoffs
The relationship between Bezos and the Post has grown dramatically more complicated in recent years — and 2026 has been the most turbulent chapter yet.
The Washington Post’s decision not to endorse a candidate in the 2024 presidential election led to public outrage and the cancellation of about 300,000 subscriptions, approximately 12 percent of its total. The Post’s editorial department had drafted an endorsement of Kamala Harris that owner Jeff Bezos refused to allow to be published.
The financial situation has been equally dire. The Post lost roughly $77 million in 2023, approximately $100 million in 2024, and more than $100 million in 2025. These are staggering losses for a news organization that once appeared to have cracked the code of digital transformation.
Then came the moment that defined 2026 for the Post. The Washington Post laid off about one in three employees across the company on February 4, 2026, dealing another big blow to a newsroom that had reached a breaking point. Post owner Jeff Bezos had no immediate comment about the cutbacks. Bezos has been pushing the Post’s management team to return the publication to profitability.
The Post cut at least 300 of its 800 journalists on February 4, 2026, drastically reducing its international, local, and sports coverage and eliminating its photo department and stand-alone book review section.
Days after the layoffs, publisher Will Lewis resigned after a turbulent two-year tenure.
What Does the Post Look Like in 2026?
After the February cuts, The Washington Post is a significantly smaller operation. The Post now has approximately 500 journalists in 2026, down from over 1,000 at its peak under Bezos.
It maintains 2.5 million digital subscribers and an average print circulation of 87,600. The paper is headquartered at One Franklin Square, 1301 K Street NW, Washington, D.C. and has won 80 Pulitzer Prizes as of 2026.
Matt Murray serves as Editor-in-Chief and Jeff D’Onofrio as Publisher, both working to stabilize and redirect the Post following the most disruptive period in its modern history.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1. Who owns The Washington Post in 2026?
Jeff Bezos owns The Washington Post through his private company Nash Holdings LLC.
Q2. How much did Jeff Bezos pay for The Washington Post?
Jeff Bezos purchased The Washington Post for $250 million in an all-cash deal that closed in October 2013.
Q3. Is Amazon the owner of The Washington Post?
No. Amazon has no ownership stake. Bezos bought the Post personally through Nash Holdings LLC, completely separate from Amazon.
Q4. Who owned The Washington Post before Jeff Bezos?
The Graham family owned the Post for over 80 years, starting when Eugene Meyer bought it at a bankruptcy auction in 1933 for $825,000.
Q5. Why did Jeff Bezos buy The Washington Post?
Bezos saw the Post as a great American institution in need of technology-driven leadership — he wanted to help it navigate the digital transformation of journalism.
Q6. How many journalists did the Washington Post lay off in 2026?
On February 4, 2026, the Post laid off approximately 300 journalists — roughly one-third of its entire newsroom.
Q7. How much money has The Washington Post lost under Bezos?
The Post lost roughly $77 million in 2023, $100 million in 2024, and over $100 million in 2025 — totaling over $277 million in three years.
Q8. Who is the current Editor-in-Chief of The Washington Post?
Matt Murray serves as Editor-in-Chief of The Washington Post in 2026, following the resignation of publisher Will Lewis after the February layoffs.
The Washington Post is owned by Jeff Bezos — personally and completely — through his private company Nash Holdings LLC. He paid $250 million for it in 2013, taking over from the Graham family that had guided the paper for over 80 years. Today, the Post is fighting for financial survival under Bezos’s direction, having cut one-third of its newsroom in February 2026 after three consecutive years of losses exceeding $100 million annually.
From a $825,000 bankruptcy auction purchase in 1933 to an $250 million sale to the world’s most recognizable entrepreneur — The Washington Post remains one of the most important and most watched institutions in American journalism.
