Who founded Fortune magazine and when was it established?
Fortune was founded by Henry Luce, co-founder of Time magazine, in 1929. The magazine made its official debut in February 1930, just months after the Wall Street crash of 1929.
Questions about Fortune (magazine)
Short answers, pulled from the story.
What is the Fortune 500 and when did it start?
The Fortune 500 is an annual ranking of American companies ordered by gross revenue, published by Fortune magazine every year since 1955. Fortune also publishes the Fortune Global 500, Fortune India 500, Fortune China 500, and Fortune Southeast Asia 500.
Who owns Fortune magazine today?
Fortune is published by Fortune Media Group Holdings. The magazine was sold in November 2018 to Thai billionaire Chatchaval Jiaravanon for 150 million dollars. Jiaravanon is affiliated with the Charoen Pokphand Group, a Thailand-based conglomerate with holdings in agriculture, telecommunications, retail, pharmaceuticals, and finance.
How often is Fortune magazine published?
As of 2018, Fortune is published 14 times a year. The magazine was monthly from its 1930 launch through 1978, then moved to biweekly in January 1978, and in October 2009 shifted to once every three weeks before settling at 14 annual issues.
What notable writers and photographers contributed to Fortune magazine?
Fortune's writing staff during the Great Depression included James Agee, Archibald MacLeish, John Kenneth Galbraith, and Alfred Kazin. Photographers Margaret Bourke-White and Ansel Adams contributed their work, and Walker Evans served as photography editor from 1945 to 1965.
When did Fortune magazine introduce a paywall and how large is its staff?
Fortune.com introduced a paywall in March 2020. In July 2025, the magazine laid off ten percent of its staffers; at that time it had 360 full-time employees.