If you’ve picked up a copy of The Atlantic lately, or scrolled through their famously sleek website, you might’ve noticed something. It feels different. There's a certain "new money" polish on a 169-year-old institution.
So, who actually calls the shots?
The short answer is Laurene Powell Jobs. Yes, the widow of Steve Jobs. She owns the magazine through her organization, the Emerson Collective.
But wait. It’s not just a simple bill of sale. The transition from the old guard to the new era has been a wild ride of billionaire philanthropy, "Signalgate" scandals, and a surprising financial turnaround that nobody in the media industry saw coming.
The Big Handover: From David Bradley to Laurene Powell Jobs
For nearly two decades, David Bradley was the face of the magazine. He bought it in 1999 for $10 million from real estate tycoon Mort Zuckerman.
Bradley loved the place. He spent millions of his own fortune—earned from his consulting businesses—to keep it afloat when print was dying. But as he approached 70, he started looking for a "steward." He didn't just want a buyer; he wanted someone who would treat the magazine like a public trust.
In 2017, he found that person in Laurene Powell Jobs.
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Initially, her Emerson Collective bought a 70% majority stake. The plan was always for Bradley to stick around as a minority owner for a few years before she took full control. Fast forward to 2026, and the transition is basically complete. Powell Jobs is the boss.
Why does a billionaire want a magazine?
Honestly, it's not for the profit margins. Magazines are notoriously hard ways to make money.
For Powell Jobs, it’s about "philanthrocapitalism." That's a fancy word her team uses to describe using for-profit business models to achieve social impact. She wants to protect the kind of long-form, "slow" journalism that helps a democracy function.
You’ve probably seen the shift. Since she took over, the newsroom has exploded. They’ve hired over 100 new staffers, including dozens of writers. They aren't just surviving; they’re expanding.
The Power Players: Who Runs the Day-to-Day?
While Powell Jobs owns the thing, she isn't sitting in the editor's chair choosing which fonts to use. She’s famously hands-off.
The real power couple at the top consists of Jeffrey Goldberg and Nicholas Thompson.
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- Jeffrey Goldberg (Editor-in-Chief): He’s been the editorial engine since 2016. He’s the guy who landed the "Signalgate" scoop in 2025—where he was accidentally added to a Signal group chat with national security officials. That story was a massive moment for the mag.
- Nicholas Thompson (CEO): The former Wired editor-in-chief came on board in 2020. His job was to fix the math.
When Thompson arrived, the magazine was losing roughly $20 million a year. It was a bloodbath. He had to lay off nearly 20% of the staff early on. But he pivoted. He leaned into a "freemium" subscription model and pushed for higher quality over higher quantity.
By March 2024, they hit a milestone that seemed impossible: 1 million subscribers. They actually turned a profit.
Who Owns The Atlantic Mag? The Full Ownership Structure
Even though Powell Jobs is the primary owner, the structure has some nuance. It's not just a private bank account.
- Emerson Collective: This is a Limited Liability Company (LLC), not a traditional foundation. Because it’s an LLC, it doesn't have the same transparency requirements as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. It can lobby, it can donate to political campaigns, and it can own for-profit companies like The Atlantic.
- David Bradley: He still holds a tiny "minority stake" and carries the title of Chairman Emeritus. He’s the link to the past, but the steering wheel is firmly in Laurene’s hands.
- Atlantic Media: This was Bradley’s old umbrella company. Over the years, he’s sold off almost everything else—Quartz, CityLab, Government Executive. The Atlantic was the crown jewel, and now it stands mostly on its own under the Emerson umbrella.
Is the magazine biased because of its owner?
This is the question everyone asks.
Laurene Powell Jobs is a well-known Democratic donor. She didn’t show up to the last inauguration, and she hasn't made any effort to "kiss the ring" of the current administration.
Critics say this makes the magazine a partisan mouthpiece.
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However, Goldberg insists they have total editorial independence. He’s on record saying she is the "brave" owner every editor dreams of. She stands by them when they publish controversial investigations, like the recent deep dives into Trump’s national security circle.
The magazine has stayed true to its 1857 founding manifesto: to be "of no party or clique." Whether you believe they’re achieving that depends on your own political lens, but as far as the internal culture goes, the editors claim there's no "top-down" interference from the Emerson offices in Palo Alto.
What’s Next for The Atlantic?
Looking ahead, the ownership seems stable. Unlike the Washington Post or the LA Times, where billionaire owners (Bezos and Soon-Shiong) have faced internal revolts over editorial decisions, The Atlantic has remained remarkably steady.
They’ve moved to a four-tier subscription model:
- Digital: The basic access.
- Print & Digital: For those who still like the smell of paper.
- Premium: Ad-free and expensive (around $120/year).
- Events: Access to the Aspen Ideas Festival and other live talks.
Actionable Takeaways for Readers
If you're following the media landscape or just wondering if your subscription is going to a good place, keep these things in mind:
- Check the Masthead: In the world of media, the owner's "mission statement" matters more than the balance sheet. Read the Emerson Collective’s site to see what else they fund (immigration reform, climate change, etc.) to understand the owner's worldview.
- Watch the Paywall: The Atlantic is betting its life on you paying for content. Expect fewer "clickbait" articles and more 5,000-word essays.
- Follow the Talent: Keep an eye on writers like Anne Applebaum and Michael Scherer. When a magazine is healthy, it poaches talent. When it’s dying, the big names leave first.
The reality is that who owns the atlantic mag matters because media is becoming a playground for the ultra-wealthy. In this case, the ultra-wealthy owner seems content to let the journalists lead the way—at least for now.
Actionable Next Steps:
To get the most out of your interaction with this publication, consider setting up a Google Alert for "Emerson Collective" to see how their other investments might overlap with the magazine’s coverage. If you’re a subscriber, dive into their "Atlantic 57" consulting arm to see how they’re helping other brands tell stories; it's a huge part of how they stay profitable in 2026.