Who is the owner of Colgate?

Who Owns Colgate Today?

Colgate might seem like a brand that’s always existed on bathroom shelves, but its journey to becoming a household name has been anything but simple. Founded in 1806 by William Colgate, the company originally dealt in starch, soap, and candles. It wasn’t until 1896 that Colgate & Company made history by selling the first toothpaste in a collapsible tube—called Colgate’s Ribbon Dental Cream—a move that revolutionized oral care and set the standard for modern toothpaste packaging.

Despite its innovations, Colgate didn’t remain an independent company forever. In 1928, a major shift occurred when the firm was acquired by the Palmolive-Peet Company. This merger wasn’t just a change in ownership—it was the beginning of a corporate evolution. Palmolive-Peet was founded by B.J. Johnson, who in 1898 had perfected the formula for Palmolive soap, a blend of palm and olive oils that quickly gained popularity. The union of Colgate and Palmolive-Peet eventually led to the creation of Colgate-Palmolive, the name we recognize today.

This merger laid the foundation for a global consumer goods giant. Over the decades, Colgate-Palmolive expanded far beyond toothpaste and soap, introducing products in personal care, oral hygiene, and household cleaning. The company went public and is now traded on the New York Stock Exchange, with ownership shared among thousands of investors, including mutual funds and individual shareholders.

So while William Colgate started the legacy, it’s Colgate-Palmolive Company—born from a historic merger—that owns and operates the brand today. It’s a story of innovation, adaptation, and enduring presence in homes around the world.