Centuries-Old Companies Thrive Amidst Modern Failures

As the United States approaches its 250th anniversary, several of its largest corporations are marking even older milestones. The 2026 Fortune 500 list includes companies with roots stretching back to the 18th century. The Bank of New York, for instance, traces its history to 1784, with Cigna Group and State Street Corporation founded in 1792, as the young republic developed its financial systems.

Molson Coors Beverage Company, a global brewer, has origins even further back to 1774 in England, and later established Canada's oldest brewery in 1786. Now headquartered in Chicago, Molson Coors ranks No. 390 on the Fortune 500 with over $11 billion in revenue.

Experts attribute the longevity of these firms to choosing resilient industries and strong leadership that avoids pitfalls. Financial institutions like banks and insurance companies, including BNY, State Street, JPMorgan Chase, and Citigroup, frequently appear among the oldest continuously operating businesses. Their endurance through significant historical events and technological disruptions highlights a remarkable contrast to today's high business failure rates, where nearly half of companies cease to exist within five years.