Bertelsmann is a German private multinational conglomerate active across media, services and education, headquartered in Gütersloh, Germany. The company traces its origins to 1835, when Carl Bertelsmann founded a publishing business for Christian literature. It remains privately held and family-owned, with no external funding rounds disclosed. Revenue in the 2025 financial year reached €19 billion, and the group employs more than 76,000 people in approximately 50 countries.
Its operations are organised into several divisions. RTL Group is an entertainment company spanning broadcast, streaming, content and digital. Penguin Random House is the world's largest trade book publisher, while BMG is a global music company. Arvato Group provides internationally operating services, complemented by Bertelsmann Marketing Services. The portfolio is rounded out by the Bertelsmann Education Group and Bertelsmann Investments.
The group states that it stands for creativity and entrepreneurship, emphasises sustainability, and accepts responsibility towards employees, society and the environment. It reports a strong commitment to compliance and ethical business practices.
