Quick Facts: TOMS Shoes
| Founder | Blake Mycoskie (2006) |
| Current Ownership | Private investors (post-2019 creditor restructuring) |
| Ownership Type | Private |
| Headquarters | Los Angeles, California, USA |
| Key Milestone | Sold to Bain Capital in 2014; restructured in 2019 |
| Known For | “One for One” giving model; alpargata-style shoes |
| Publicly Traded | No |
Who Owns TOMS Shoes?
TOMS Shoes is a privately held company currently owned by its institutional investors — a group of financial creditors who took control of the brand following a debt restructuring in 2019. There is no single named individual owner of TOMS today. The company was originally founded in 2006 by Blake Mycoskie, the social entrepreneur behind the famous “One for One” giving model. In 2014, Mycoskie sold a 50% stake to private equity giant Bain Capital for approximately $300 million. When TOMS ran into financial difficulties, its lenders negotiated a debt-for-equity swap in 2019, effectively transferring ownership to the creditor group. Since then, TOMS has operated under the stewardship of these financial investors while maintaining its social impact identity.
About Blake Mycoskie
Blake Mycoskie is an American entrepreneur and author best known for founding TOMS in 2006 after visiting Argentina and being inspired by the local alpargata shoe. He created the One for One model — for every pair of shoes purchased, TOMS donated a pair to a child in need. This model made TOMS a global icon of social entrepreneurship and Mycoskie a highly recognized business figure. He has since departed from operational leadership of the company as ownership passed to investors following the 2019 restructuring, but he remains respected as the brand’s visionary founder.
Key Ownership Highlights
- Blake Mycoskie founded TOMS in 2006 after a trip to Argentina — the alpargata shoe became the brand’s signature product.
- Bain Capital acquired a 50% stake in 2014, valuing TOMS at approximately $625 million at the time.
- In 2019, TOMS underwent a debt restructuring in which its creditors (lenders) effectively became the new owners through a debt-for-equity conversion.
- TOMS subsequently revised its giving model from “One for One” to directing one-third of annual profits toward community impact grants.
- The brand remains privately held with no publicly traded shares, and detailed ownership percentages are not disclosed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who owns TOMS Shoes today?
TOMS Shoes is owned by a group of private investors who became the owners after a debt restructuring in 2019. There is no single named individual owner. The company’s founder, Blake Mycoskie, is no longer in an ownership or operational leadership role.
Did Bain Capital sell TOMS?
Effectively yes. Following the 2019 financial restructuring, TOMS’ creditors converted the company’s debt into equity, transferring ownership away from Bain Capital and previous shareholders.
Is TOMS Shoes publicly traded?
No. TOMS Shoes is a private company and is not listed on any stock exchange.
Who founded TOMS Shoes?
Blake Mycoskie founded TOMS in 2006. He created the “One for One” model, in which one pair of shoes was donated to a child in need for every pair sold.
