February 27, 2025
It can be said that BTS is one of the main pillars in developing HYBE into the K-pop empire it is today. Therefore, it is not surprising that the news of BTS owning the management rights of HYBE spread.
However, one thing worth is nothing is that the number of HYBE shares that BTS members are holding was revealed in the recent Q4 2024 summary meeting. After rumors about BTS selling shares of rifts in the relationship with Bang PD and HYBE, this news has cleared everything up.
Below is the detailed news about the incredible number of shares and power that BTS members own:
The predecessor of HYBE is BigHit Entertainment, which was an unknown management company and shouldered huge debts due to previous failed projects around 2007-2013. But since BTS debuted, rose to fame and achieved unprecedented success, the group has helped BigHit clear all its debts. In fact, BTS's success has brought huge economic resources and fame to turn a small company into the largest K-pop empire.
That is also the reason why BTS is different from other groups under HYBE and even President Bang Sihyuk has declared this to the media. Fans often spread the phrases "BTS owns HYBE" or "BTS rules HYBE" to talk about how important the group's members are to the company.
On the other hand, fans also often "joke" about BTS members can break HYBE's rules or become exceptions to the company's limits that no one can blame, showing their power. But that is just the "tip of iceberg"! It turns out that BTS actually had a lot of power in the company and they are also among the top 5 largest shareholders of HYBE. These were revealed through HYBE 2024 Q4 conference call.
According to HYBE's report, Bang Sihyuk is the largest shareholder of HYBE with a 32% share. The other main shareholders of HYBE are Netmarble (9.9%), National Pension Fund (6.6%), and Dunamu (5.5%). Following them, seven BTS members own a total of 1.1% share of HYBE. Therefore, BTS members have become the 5th largest shareholder of HYBE as they will exercise their votes as one. In addition, each BTS member owns much more sales than every CEO of hybe's subsidiaries. It shows that BTS members will be with HYBE and Bang Sihyuk as its owner forever.
In September 2020, while BigHit Entertainment (now HYBE) was preparing for its initial public offering (IPO), chairman Bang distributed 487,695 shares to BTS. At that time, the seven members were reported to own a total of more than 55 million USD, equivalent to 1.41% of the company's shares. Later, some members of the group sold part of their shares and currently hold 1.1%.
Previously, in 2023, there was news that all seven BTS members sold all of HYBE shares they owned, sparking rumors of discord between BTS and chairman Bang. HYBE immediately had to speak up to deny the false information. HYBE clarified that: "BTS members did not sell their shares. It just means that the special relationship is no longer applicable as the agreement between chairman Bang Sihyuk and BTS members as shareholders has ended. And this does not have any relation to the sale of charge of shares."
After HYBE's report was recently revealed, the fact that BTS members still HYBE's stocks was once again confirmed. In addition, Korean media also described BTS as HYBE's "trump card" and each member is "creator with excellent production skills" Korean media assessed that the cooperation between the two sides will grow stronger through BTS being both an artist and one of the company's largest shareholders.
Fans left their comments after the news spread:
- BTS is the reason why HYBE exist!!!
- As it should be! BTS are the reason HYBE exist afterall
- This was what I was telling everyone. People!!! They own HYBE. They don't have to sign contracts with HYBE they're HYBE
- BTS out there owning more HYBE than my bank account can ever dream of
- This is another reason to stand by BTS, BigHit, and HYBE right now
- That's why Lee Hyun (a senior singer in BigHit Music) says on TV that if he's BTS he would ask for a throne
- The people who says BTS are just employee there need to study and understand this.
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