How many companies in the world own everything?

This article is more than 10 years old. There may be 147 companies in the world that own everything, as colleague Bruce Upbin points out and they are dominated by investment companies as Eric Savitz rightly points out . But it's not you and I who really control those companies, even though much of our money is in them.

Do big companies control everything you buy?

Despite the amount of choices in the consumer market, several big companies own a large majority of major brands, effectively controlling everything you buy. So, how much of “choice” is really controlled by big business, and how well do Americans understand which corporations have a stake in the goods and services they rely on every day?

Who owns the brands & products we use every day?

Here's a further breakdown of the companies that own the brands and products we use every day: Kellogg's 2016 revenue: $13 billion Forget Froot Loops and Frosted Flakes — Kellogg's also owns noncereal brands including Eggo, Pringles, and Cheez-It. Associated British Foods 2016 revenue: $16.8 billion