Chick-fil-A is 100% owned by the Cathy family, founded by S. Truett Cathy and still privately held today with zero outside investors or public shares. That’s unusual for a fast-food chain of its size — the company posted around $10.3 billion in 2025 revenue while never once selling equity to raise capital.
Leadership has now moved to the third generation. Andrew Truett Cathy, grandson of the founder, became CEO, while his father Dan T. Cathy remains chairman and other family members hold senior roles.
Quick Facts
| Company | Chick-fil-A, Inc. |
|---|---|
| Owner | Cathy family (100% private) |
| Founder | S. Truett Cathy |
| CEO | Andrew Truett Cathy (grandson of founder) |
| Chairman | Dan T. Cathy |
| Founded | 1946 (as the Dwarf Grill) |
| 2025 Revenue | ~$10.3 billion |
| Locations | 3,000+, mostly franchised |
Ownership History
| Year | Development |
|---|---|
| 1946 | S. Truett Cathy opens the Dwarf Grill (later Dwarf House) in Hapeville, Georgia |
| 1967 | First Chick-fil-A restaurant opens in an Atlanta mall |
| 2014 | S. Truett Cathy dies; son Dan T. Cathy, already serving as CEO, continues leading the company |
| 2021 | Dan Cathy transitions to executive chairman as the company begins grooming third-generation leadership |
| Recent years | Andrew Truett Cathy, Truett’s grandson, is named the third CEO of Chick-fil-A, Inc., continuing direct family operational control |
| 2025 | Company generates approximately $10.3 billion in system-wide revenue, remaining fully privately held |
Key Ownership Highlights
- Chick-fil-A has never gone public and has no outside institutional shareholders — an increasingly rare structure among restaurant chains of its scale.
- The Cathy family maintains operational control across three generations: Truett Cathy founded it, Dan Cathy expanded it nationally, and Andrew Cathy now runs it as CEO.
- Family members Bubba Cathy and Trudy Cathy White hold senior roles as well, including oversight of the original Dwarf House restaurant concept.
- Most locations operate under Chick-fil-A’s distinctive single-unit franchise model, where operators typically run only one restaurant rather than large multi-unit territories.
FAQ
Is Chick-fil-A publicly traded?
No. It remains 100% privately owned by the Cathy family, with no public shares or outside institutional investors.
Who runs Chick-fil-A today?
Andrew Truett Cathy, grandson of founder S. Truett Cathy, serves as CEO, with his father Dan T. Cathy as chairman.
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