AP
Martha Stewart started her business at 50.
- Some of the most recognizable brands were started by people who were 50 or older.
- Fast-food companies like McDonald's and KFC were founded by people who were middle-aged.
- The founders of retail companies like The RealReal and The Home Depot were also over 50 years old.
- Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.
If you think the most successful businesses today were launched by young people, you'd be wrong.
In fact, a study from the Census Bureau found that the majority of successful businesses were founded by people who are middle-aged. More specifically, a founder who is 50 years old is 2.8 times more likely to have a successful business than a person who is 25 years old.
There is evidence throughout history that this is true. Keep reading to learn how some of the most recognizable brands and most successful companies today were started by people who were middle-aged.