Update on Who Owns the Genealogy Companies

I had to hesitate about even writing about this subject because of the readers who will read only part of the post and spread the rumor further. But here it goes anyway.

THIS RUMOR IS NOT TRUE!!!!
I just had someone send me an email who had heard comments that the FamilySearch had bought Ancestry.com.
THIS RUMOR IS NOT TRUE!!!!

Maybe marking the text like that will give the right message? Unfortunately, rumors resist correction. They seem to have a life of their own. This particular rumor likely arises from the recent announcements about sharing arrangements between FamilySearch.org and the other three large online genealogical databases. Here is a list of some of the larger genealogy companies and their current ownership:

• Ancestry.com is owned by a European private equity firm called Permira Funds. 
• MyHeritage.com is privately owned and is an Israeli company.
• FamilySearch.org is wholly owned by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
• findmypast.com is part of D.C. Thomson Family History formerly known as brightsolid and is owned by D. C. Thomson & Co. Ltd., a privately owned company in the U. K. 
• Geni.com is owned by MyHertitage.com
• GeneaNet is a privately owned French company 
• FindAGrave.com is owned by Ancestry.com
• Archives.com is owned by Ancestry.com
• Genealogy.com is owned by Ancestry.com
• Fold3.com is owned by Ancestry.com
• Genes Reunited is owned by D. C. Thomson Family History
• WorldVitalRecords.com is owned by MyHeritage.com

I could go one but you get the idea. The agreements reported recently have no bearing on the ownership of any of the companies involved. If you hear someone say otherwise, please correct them immediately.