The Miss Universe Organization (MUO) is a privately-held company that runs the annual global beauty pageant Miss Universe (first held in 1952). The organization is headquartered in the United States and operates globally across many countries, organising national franchises and the final international competition.
Its mission has evolved to emphasise empowerment, diversity, and global cultural exchange.
Ownership Status of Miss Universe
There is no single individual who wholly owns MUO. Instead, the ownership is held via corporate entities and joint ventures.
Major Ownership Events
- In October 2022, Thai media company JKN Global Group PCL (led by businesswoman and transgender entrepreneur Anne Jakrajutatip) acquired the Miss Universe Organization for about US$20 million.
- In January 2024, JKN announced that it sold a 50% stake in the entity owning the Miss Universe brand (via a subsidiary) to Mexican-U.S. business group Legacy Holding Group USA Inc., led by businessman Raúl Rocha Cantú.
- Thus, MUO is effectively co-owned by JKN Global (Thailand) and Legacy Holding (USA/Latin America) on a roughly 50/50 basis.
Ownership Table
| Entity / Person | Ownership Stake | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| JKN Global Group (Thailand) | ~50% | Acquired MUO in 2022; sells half stake in 2024. |
| Legacy Holding Group USA Inc. | ~50% | Entered in 2024 via Raúl Rocha Cantú’s business group. |
| Remaining shares | None major disclosed | Other minor investors, if any, are not publicly detailed. |
Key Shareholder Highlights
Anne Jakrajutatip
As the CEO of JKN Global and co-owner of MUO, Anne brought the pageant under Thai ownership and emphasised inclusivity and modernisation of the brand. She remains CEO of MUO and co-owner through JKN Global.
Raúl Rocha Cantú
Raúl Rocha Cantú is the Mexican businessman behind Legacy Holding Group USA Inc. By Raúl Rocha Cantú in January 2024, he became co-owner and now serves as President of MUO.
Here is a more focused paragraph on him: Raúl Rocha Cantú was born in Monterrey, Nuevo León (Mexico) and built his business career across multiple industries, including industrial manufacturing, aviation, entertainment, real-estate and energy. In January 2024 he became co-owner of the Miss Universe Organization when his company bought a 50% stake, signalling a major shift in the pageant’s global structure: Latin America / USA (via Legacy Holding) takes equal ownership alongside Thailand (via JKN). His vision for MUO reportedly includes turning the brand into more than “just a pageant”—expanding into products, entertainment and global markets.
Raúl Rocha Cantú’s Net Worth
Estimating Raúl Rocha Cantú’s net worth is challenging because many of his businesses are privately held and detailed audited financials are not publicly disclosed. However, available sources provide some commentary:
- Some articles refer to him as a “Latin American billionaire” in the context of his acquisition of MUO.
- A deeper profile notes that while he has significant holdings across industries (energy, aviation, real-estate, entertainment) the exact figure is elusive and remains “multi-million dollar” range rather than precise multi-billion.
- For example, one article summarises: “He has business interests spanning a remarkable range of sectors… making a precise assessment of his net worth a complex undertaking.”
In short, while he is clearly very wealthy and owns or controls substantial assets, there is no verified public figure for Raúl Rocha Cantú’s net worth. Claims of “billionaire” status remain unconfirmed in reliable, audited disclosures.
Recent Developments in Ownership
- The entry of Raúl Rocha Cantú in January 2024 marks a significant shift – MUO now has shared ownership across continents (Thailand / Latin America & USA).
- In June 2025, despite speculation about a change in leadership, the organization officially confirmed that Anne Jakrajutatip remains CEO and Raúl Rocha Cantú remains President; no changes to the executive structure were announced.
- Observers note that the brand is facing broader challenges: one article noted that MUO’s parent (JKN Global) had financial difficulties, and that the sale of 50% stake may reflect efforts to stabilise the business.
FAQs
1. Who is the current owner of Miss Universe?
The Miss Universe Organization is not owned by a single person. Ownership is split approximately 50/50 between JKN Global Group (Thailand) and Legacy Holding Group USA Inc. (USA/Latin America) via Raúl Rocha Cantú.
2. Is Miss Universe publicly traded or privately owned?
It is a privately-owned company. Its parent entities are private firms, not publicly listed for the MUO brand.
3. Who founded Miss Universe?
The Miss Universe pageant was originally founded in 1952 by the company Pacific Mills in the United States. Over time, ownership changed multiple times (e.g., various media companies, Donald Trump, Endeavor Group Holdings) until the current ownership.
4. Has the ownership changed recently?
Yes — in January 2024, the 50% stake transaction to Raúl Rocha Cantú’s Legacy Holding was publicly disclosed.
5. Does Raúl Rocha Cantú own all of Miss Universe?
No — he owns approximately half (through his company) and serves as President of the organisation; the other half is owned by Anne Jakrajutatip’s JKN Global Group.
The Miss Universe Organization is co-owned by two major entities: JKN Global Group (Thailand) and Legacy Holding Group USA Inc. (USA/Latin America), led by Raúl Rocha Cantú. This shared ownership structure, along with executive roles of Anne Jakrajutatip (CEO) and Raúl Rocha Cantú (President), represents the current governance of the pageant brand
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