The Atlantic is majority-owned by Emerson Collective, the investment-and-philanthropy organization founded by Laurene Powell Jobs, widow of Apple co-founder Steve Jobs. Emerson Collective acquired its stake from longtime owner David G. Bradley in 2017, and by 2025-2026 corporate disclosures, holds roughly 70% of The Atlantic Monthly Group — giving Powell Jobs effective controlling power over the publication.
Nicholas Thompson serves as CEO, running day-to-day operations. Powell Jobs’s role is described as strategic rather than operational — she doesn’t manage the newsroom directly or interfere in editorial decisions, functioning more as a long-term financial backer committed to sustaining serious journalism than as an active publisher.
Quick Facts
| Publication | The Atlantic |
|---|---|
| Majority Owner | Emerson Collective (Laurene Powell Jobs), ~70% |
| Acquired From | David G. Bradley, 2017 |
| CEO | Nicholas Thompson |
| Founded | 1857, Boston, Massachusetts |
Ownership History
| Year | Development |
|---|---|
| 1857 | The Atlantic founded in Boston |
| 1999 | David G. Bradley acquires The Atlantic |
| 2017 | Laurene Powell Jobs’s Emerson Collective acquires a majority stake from Bradley |
| 2020s | Nicholas Thompson leads the publication as CEO, overseeing its digital growth and subscription strategy |
| 2026 | Emerson Collective holds roughly 70% ownership, with Powell Jobs maintaining a strategic, largely hands-off role in daily editorial operations |
Key Ownership Highlights
- Emerson Collective’s model — treating The Atlantic as a long-term mission-driven investment rather than a typical for-profit media acquisition — reflects Powell Jobs’s broader philanthropic approach across her portfolio.
- The 2017 ownership change from Bradley to Powell Jobs came at a moment when many legacy magazines were struggling financially, making Emerson Collective’s continued investment notable within the media industry.
- Powell Jobs’s deliberately hands-off approach to editorial decisions has been specifically highlighted by media commentators as a point in her favor compared to owners who interfere directly in newsroom independence.
Related Ownership Profiles
For another iconic magazine’s ownership story, see who owns Vogue.
FAQ
Who owns The Atlantic?
Laurene Powell Jobs’s Emerson Collective holds roughly 70% of The Atlantic, acquired from David Bradley in 2017.
Does Laurene Powell Jobs control The Atlantic’s editorial content?
No. While she holds majority ownership, her involvement is described as strategic rather than operational — she doesn’t manage daily operations or interfere in newsroom decisions.