Last checked Sep 26, 2026
Starbucks Corporationstarbucks.comStarbucks Corporation is not currently listed as private-equity-owned.
Ownership & Acquisition History
Starbucks is not private-equity-owned; it is a publicly traded company (Nasdaq: SBUX) rather than being controlled by a private equity firm or fund.
Notes
- Starbucks’ investor relations FAQ states that its stock trades on Nasdaq under ticker SBUX, consistent with a publicly traded ownership structure rather than PE sponsor control.
- Starbucks’ SEC Form 10-K similarly states the company’s common stock trades on Nasdaq under symbol SBUX.
- Starbucks’ corporate history pages state the company was founded in 1971 by Gerald (Jerry) Baldwin, Gordon Bowker, and Zev Siegl, and the origin was in Seattle’s Pike Place Market.
- Starbucks provides downloadable brand assets (logo) via its ‘About Starbucks’ media/brand assets page.
Sources
- Stock Info & Resources - Frequently Asked Questions
Starbucks Investor Relations - Publicly traded status (Nasdaq; ticker SBUX), indicating it is not controlled by a private equity sponsor.
- Starbucks Corporation Annual Report on Form 10-K (fiscal year ended September 28, 2025)
U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) - Publicly traded status (common stock trades on Nasdaq under symbol SBUX).
- Our Founders
About Starbucks (official) - Founding year (1971) and founders (Gerald Baldwin, Gordon Bowker, Zev Siegl).
- About Us
Starbucks (official) - Origin story beginning in 1971 in Seattle’s Pike Place Market (founding location context).
- Multimedia - Starbucks Brand Assets (Starbucks Logo download)
About Starbucks (official) - Official downloadable Starbucks logo asset used as the logoUrl.
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Original_Starbucks
Web search - Consulted by the research agent
- https://www.pikeplacemarket.org/market-history/
Web search - Consulted by the research agent
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Starbucks
Web search - Consulted by the research agent
- https://about.starbucks.com/history/our-name/
Web search - Consulted by the research agent
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pike_Place_Market
Web search - Consulted by the research agent
- https://www.starbucks.com/about-us/?utmx=32-20
Web search - Consulted by the research agent
- https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/March-30/first-starbucks-opens-seattle-pike-place-market
Web search - Consulted by the research agent
Ownership FAQ
Is Starbucks Corporation owned by private equity?
No. Starbucks Corporation does not currently appear to be private-equity-owned.
Who owns Starbucks Corporation?
Publicly traded Starbucks Corporation (Nasdaq: SBUX); ownership is held by public shareholders (no private equity sponsor with controlling ownership identified)
When was Starbucks Corporation last checked?
This page was last checked on Sep 26, 2026.