You’ve probably walked through those automatic doors and been hit by that specific smell—a mix of cinnamon brooms, candle wax, and plastic greenery. Hobby Lobby is a massive presence in the American retail landscape, but it doesn't run like a typical corporation. Most big-box stores are answerable to a board of directors or a sea of faceless shareholders. Hobby Lobby is different. It's personal.
Honestly, the answer to who owns Hobby Lobby isn't just a name on a legal document; it’s a family legacy that has become synonymous with a very specific, and often controversial, brand of Christian capitalism.
The Green Family: The Power Behind the Glitter
The short answer is the Green family. Specifically, David Green, the man who started it all in a garage with a $600 loan, remains the CEO and the ultimate patriarch. But it’s not just David. Ownership is a tight-knit family affair involving his wife, Barbara, and their three children: Steve, Mart, and Darsee.
- David Green: Founder and CEO. He’s the visionary who turned miniature picture frames into a multi-billion dollar empire.
- Steve Green: The President. He handles the day-to-day operations and has been the face of the company’s expansion and its massive Museum of the Bible project.
- Mart Green: The Ministry Investment Officer. He also founded Mardel Christian & Education.
- Darsee Lett: Vice President of Art and Creative.
While David Green made headlines recently by talking about "giving away" the company, don't mistake that for a sale to a rival like Michaels. He hasn't stepped down or handed the keys to a private equity firm. Instead, he’s shifted the ownership structure into a trust. This ensures that the profits continue to fund religious ministries rather than just padding the bank accounts of future generations.
Who Owns Hobby Lobby? The "Going Purpose" Strategy
In 2022, David Green wrote a widely circulated op-ed where he mentioned he was "giving away" his ownership. It sounded dramatic. People thought the stores were closing or changing hands. That’s not quite what happened.
Green was inspired by the founder of Patagonia, Yvon Chouinard. He decided that he didn't want the company to be "sold" in the traditional sense. He wanted to ensure that Hobby Lobby would always be "owned" by God, at least in the spiritual sense, with the financial benefits directed toward charity.
Basically, the ownership has been moved into a trust. This legal maneuver keeps the family in control of the operations but limits their ability to just "cash out." It’s a way to keep the business private and focused on the family's mission. By 2026, this structure has solidified, keeping the company a "closely held" entity—a legal term that became very famous thanks to a certain Supreme Court case.
The Court Case That Changed Everything
You can’t talk about who owns Hobby Lobby without mentioning Burwell v. Hobby Lobby Stores, Inc. This 2014 Supreme Court ruling was a landmark for business owners everywhere. The Greens argued that because they owned the company so closely, the business itself should be able to exercise religious freedom.
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They didn't want to provide certain types of emergency contraception in their employee health plans. The court actually agreed, 5-4. It ruled that "closely held" for-profit corporations could be exempt from laws that its owners religiously object to if there is a "less restrictive" way to advance the law's interest.
This cemented the idea that at Hobby Lobby, the owners' personal beliefs are the company's beliefs. There is no separation. When you buy a skein of yarn there, you are interacting with the Green family’s worldview.
Why This Ownership Matters to You
Why should a shopper care who owns a craft store? Well, it dictates everything.
- Sunday Closures: Every single store is closed on Sundays. That’s a massive amount of potential revenue left on the table every week. Most public companies would have been sued by shareholders for that, but since the Greens own it, they make the rules.
- Wages: Hobby Lobby has historically set its own minimum wage significantly higher than the federal requirement. As of recent years, their full-time minimum was hovering around $18.50 an hour.
- Inventory: You won't find Halloween decor there. You will find a lot of "He Is Risen" signage. The ownership dictates the shelves.
A Massive Financial Footprint
The scale of this "family business" is hard to wrap your head around. We're talking about over 1,000 stores across 48 states. Estimates for their annual revenue often exceed $7 billion.
David Green’s personal net worth is frequently estimated at over $13 billion or $14 billion, though he’d tell you that money belongs to the "Creator." The family has funneled hundreds of millions of dollars into the Museum of the Bible in Washington, D.C., and various evangelical causes.
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The Controversies of Ownership
Ownership isn't all just success stories and philanthropy. The Green family has faced intense scrutiny. There was the 2017 "smuggling" scandal where the company had to pay a $3 million fine and forfeit thousands of ancient Iraqi artifacts that were illegally imported.
Critics often point to this as a contradiction of the family's stated values. Others find the company’s stance on LGBTQ+ issues or reproductive rights to be a dealbreaker for their shopping habits. But because the ownership is private, the Greens don't have to change their stance to appease a board of directors or a falling stock price. They answer to themselves.
What's Next for the Hobby Lobby Empire?
As we look at the company in 2026, the transition of leadership is the big question. David Green is in his 80s. While he’s still the CEO, Steve Green is essentially running the show. The "trust" structure they’ve put in place is designed to prevent a family feud or a forced sale after David passes away.
They’ve essentially "poison-pilled" the company against ever going public. It is, and likely always will be, a Green family operation.
Actionable Takeaways for Consumers and Researchers
If you're looking into Hobby Lobby for business or personal reasons, keep these points in mind:
- Check the Labels: Because Hobby Lobby is a private entity, they often source products directly through their own manufacturing arms, which is why you see so many "house brands" like Master's Touch or Spare Parts.
- Verify Sunday Hours: Don't trust Google Maps blindly—they really are closed every Sunday, without exception.
- Know the "Closely Held" Status: If you are studying corporate law, this is the gold standard for how a business can maintain a private identity despite being a multi-billion dollar giant.
- Philanthropy Tracking: If you're interested in where their profits go, look into the Signatry or the Green Collection; that's where the "ownership" wealth is primarily funneled.
Ultimately, Hobby Lobby isn't just a store; it’s a massive, family-run extension of the Green family's personal faith and business philosophy. Whether you love them or avoid them, their ownership model is one of the most unique and powerful in the history of American retail.
To see the direct impact of this ownership on their corporate culture, you can look at their public "Statement of Purpose" which is prominently displayed on their website and in many store vestibules. It explicitly states their goal is to operate in a manner "consistent with Biblical principles."