LONDON — In a seismic shift for one of the world’s most influential media outlets, the Rothschild family is preparing to divest its entire 26.7% stake in The Economist Group, valuing the storied publisher at up to £800 million ($1.07 billion) and marking the biggest ownership change since 2015. Led by British-American philanthropist Lynn Forester de Rothschild, the move—initially flagged for a partial sale—signals a broader portfolio reconfiguration for the banking dynasty, amid a resurgent appetite for premium journalism assets in an era of digital subscriptions and geopolitical flux.
The transaction, which kicked off formally in London on October 6, is being orchestrated by investment bank Lazard and targets a mix of U.S. and U.K. buyers, including family offices, high-net-worth individuals, and strategic investors committed to preserving the publication’s editorial independence. Sources close to the process, speaking to Axios and Bloomberg, indicate the family’s holding—encompassing about 20% of voting shares, the maximum allowed under The Economist’s governance safeguards—could fetch up to £400 million ($537 million). That implies a full valuation for the 182-year-old Economist Group, encompassing the weekly magazine, Economist Intelligence Unit, podcasts, and apps, at the high end of £800 million, down from the £1.1 billion implied in the 2015 deal but reflecting steady growth in its subscriber base.
Founded in 1843 as a bastion of free-market liberalism, The Economist has navigated digital disruption with resilience. Its latest annual report, for the year ended March 31, 2025, showed revenue climbing 2% to £368.5 million ($495 million), driven by a 3% rise in subscriptions to 1.25 million—66% digital-only, up from 44% in 2021. Operating profit held at around £48 million, with North America contributing 40% of revenue, followed by greater Europe (21%), the U.K. (20%), and Asia (14%). The group employs 1,540 staff across 26 countries, from its London headquarters to outposts in the U.S., China, India, and the UAE, underscoring its global footprint in an industry where print circulation has plummeted but premium content thrives.
The Rothschilds’ involvement dates to 2002, when they acquired the stake through E.L. Rothschild LLC, becoming key backers of the Economist Educational Foundation and its critical-thinking initiatives for students. Forester de Rothschild, who assumed a more prominent role after her husband Sir Evelyn’s death in 2022, has framed the sale as part of a strategic review of holdings spanning real estate, wealth management, and agriculture. A spokesperson for the family and the company emphasized their “long-term” commitment, noting ongoing collaboration to ensure a seamless transition that upholds the outlet’s independence, protected by a unique structure of ordinary, special (A and B), and trust shares policed by independent trustees.
Exor, the Agnelli family’s investment vehicle and the largest shareholder at 43.4%, is not involved in the sale, nor is the remaining 29.9% held by entities like the Cadbury and Schroder families and the company itself. The 2015 pivot, when Pearson offloaded its 50% stake for £469 million to Exor (with The Economist repurchasing the balance for £182 million), ended nearly six decades of the education giant’s stewardship and valued the group at £1.1 billion. That transaction cemented Exor’s influence while reinforcing safeguards against any single owner exceeding 20% voting control—a bulwark against corporate overreach that has kept The Economist free from advertiser sway or political meddling.
Interest in the stake is expected to be brisk, echoing recent high-profile acquisitions like Nikkei’s $1.3 billion purchase of the Financial Times in 2015, the $150 million sale of Fortune to Thai billionaire Chatchaval Jiaravanon in 2018, and Hong Kong’s Integrated Whale Media’s takeover of Forbes in 2014. In a fragmented media landscape, where ad revenues falter but subscriptions to trusted voices like The Economist surge—digital starts now comprise 85%—the asset offers rare entree to a brand synonymous with incisive global analysis. Potential buyers, per reports, prioritize those who will champion its ethos amid rising Asian demand for English-language outlets.
Neither the Rothschilds nor The Economist responded to requests for comment by press time, but the process is slated for completion by year-end, barring shifts in market dynamics. For the media sector, grappling with AI-driven content threats and audience fragmentation, this divestiture spotlights enduring value in editorial integrity. As one industry analyst noted on X, “In a post-truth world, The Economist’s stake isn’t just ink—it’s influence gold.” Whether it draws a media mogul or a discreet family office, the deal could redefine stewardship of a publication that has chronicled—and shaped—economic epochs for nearly two centuries.