The Strength of Legacy: What Makes Companies Thrive for 100 Years?

A Legacy of Endurance: Multigenerational Companies Across the World

Across the United States, Europe, Asia, Australia, and Indonesia, a number of companies have stood the test of time—surviving economic crises, technological revolutions, shifting consumer behavior, and changes in leadership from one generation to the next. These businesses, still active today, represent powerful examples of resilience, adaptability, and the strength of long-term vision. Many are now led by the third or even fourth generation of their founding families, demonstrating that heritage and innovation can coexist.

In the United States, companies like Ford Motor Company (founded in 1903 by Henry Ford) and Hallmark Cards (established in 1910 by Joyce C. Hall) remain prominent under multigenerational stewardship. Their endurance is rooted in strong brand identity, continuous reinvention, and the ability to anticipate future trends without losing sight of their founding values.

In Europe, long-lived family enterprises are even more common. Barilla in Italy, founded in 1877 by Pietro Barilla, is now led by the fourth generation. Germany’s BMW, once a small aircraft engine manufacturer, transitioned into automotive excellence while maintaining ties to its founding families through shareholder structures. These companies survived world wars, recessions, and massive shifts in technology because they embraced innovation while preserving a culture of discipline and craftsmanship.

In Asia, generational companies form the backbone of many economies. Japan’s tradition of shinise—businesses that have lasted centuries—includes firms like Nintendo, founded in 1889 by Fusajiro Yamauchi and led by his descendants for generations before transitioning to professional leadership. In South Korea, the Samsung conglomerate began as a small trading company in 1938 under Lee Byung-chul and successfully transferred leadership across generations while evolving into a global technology powerhouse.

In Australia, long-standing companies such as Coopers Brewery—founded in 1862 and still run by the Coopers family—have sustained success through a blend of heritage, community loyalty, and product quality. Their survival highlights how strong family governance and commitment to craftsmanship can keep a company relevant across centuries.

In Indonesia, several family-owned firms have also demonstrated multigenerational resilience. Companies like Sido Muncul, founded in the 1940s by Rahmat Sulistio and now led by the third generation, have survived by modernizing production while remaining true to traditional herbal principles. Likewise, Djarum, founded in 1951 by Oei Wie Gwan, has grown from a small clove cigarette workshop into a global enterprise under the leadership of the Hartono family, showing how strategic diversification supports long-term stability.

Why These Companies Endure

Several key factors explain the longevity of generational companies worldwide:

Strong Founding Values