Forbes (American business magazine)

Origins and development

Forbes was founded by financial journalist B. C. Forbes (Bertie Charles Forbes) in 1917. Over the decades it grew from a family-founded magazine into a diversified media company, expanding into digital publishing, conferences and syndication. Its editorial leadership has included members of the Forbes family alongside professional editors; the magazine's headquarters are located in Jersey City, New Jersey (headquarters).

Typical content and notable lists

Reporting in Forbes covers market news, company profiles, personal finance, small business and technology. The title is particularly identified with ranked lists that use public data and reporting to compare people, companies and economies. Prominent series include:

• Forbes 400 – an annual list of the wealthiest individuals in the United States.
• Forbes Global 2000 – a ranking of the world’s largest public companies by composite metrics.
• Forbes World's Billionaires and 30 Under 30 – lists that focus on global wealth and rising young leaders.

Distribution, audience and influence

The magazine maintains both a print edition and a significant online presence, with Forbes-branded websites and social channels that reach a global audience. Print circulation has historically been in the hundreds of thousands, while digital readership and social reach have expanded the brand’s influence among investors, executives and entrepreneurs.

Operations and public profile

Forbes positions itself at the intersection of business reporting and ranking-driven journalism. It partners with advertisers and event sponsors and operates editorially separate sections for opinion and contributor content. The magazine and its lists are frequently cited by other media, used as reference points in business research and discussed in financial and cultural commentary. Learn more about the publication and its offerings on its official pages (Forbes overview, digital properties) or read about its leadership including Steve Forbes.