Meet the billionaire family behind Tyson Foods, the beef, pork, and chicken juggernaut whose heir apparent has battled legal troubles

Dominick Reuter,Katie WarrenMay 11, 2023, 00:28 IST

Tyson Foods CEO John H. Tyson speaks to employees in 2002.Greg Smith/Corbis via Getty Image

Tyson Foods owns brands including Jimmy Dean and Hillshire Farm, producing roughly 20% of America's beef, chicken, and pork.
The Arkansas-based company made $53.6 billion in sales last year and has been family-run for generations.

Tyson Foods is one of the top four meat companies in the US, selling one out of every five pounds of beef, pork, and chicken eaten by American consumers.

The company has been family-run ever since it was founded in 1931, with chairman John H. Tyson — grandson of founder John W. Tyson — and his relatives controlling a majority of the company's stock. The Tysons are worth $2.3 billion, per Forbes.

Here's a look at the massive beef, pork, and poultry company and the billionaire family behind it.

Tyson Foods is an Arkansas-based meat company that produces about one fifth of the meat consumed in the US. Among the brands that Tyson owns are Jimmy Dean, Hillshire Farm, and Aidells.

Tyson Foods brands include Jimmy Dean sausages, Ball Park hot dogs and Tyson chicken strips. Tyson processes chicken, beef and pork products.Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

Tyson Foods is an Arkansas-based meat company that produces about one fifth of the meat consumed in the US. Among the brands that Tyson owns are Jimmy Dean, Hillshire Farm, and Aidells.

The business has been family-run through four generations, making the Tyson family one of the wealthiest in the US. Their combined net worth is more than $2.3 billion.

Don Tyson (left) and his son, John H. Tyson.Tyson Foods

The company's origins trace back to the Great Depression, when in 1931 John W. Tyson started a business delivering chickens around the Midwest.

Tyson Foods

By the 1940s, demand for poultry had grown, and Tyson moved into raising chicks and grinding feed for local chicken farmers, incorporating his business as Tyson Feed and Hatchery Inc.

Tyson Foods

By the 1940s, demand for poultry had grown, and Tyson moved into raising chicks and grinding feed for local chicken farmers, incorporating his business as Tyson Feed and Hatchery Inc.

In 1952, John W. Tyson's son, Don Tyson, joined the company as a general manager right out of college. The company opened its first processing plant six years later in Arkansas at a cost of $90,000.

Tyson Foods

In 1952, John W. Tyson's son, Don Tyson, joined the company as a general manager right out of college. The company opened its first processing plant six years later in Arkansas at a cost of $90,000.

The company went public as Tyson Foods in 1963 and began a series of acquisitions. In 1966, Don became president of the company before taking over his father's role a year later as chairman and CEO.

Tyson Foods

The company went public as Tyson Foods in 1963 and began a series of acquisitions. In 1966, Don became president of the company before taking over his father's role a year later as chairman and CEO.

Tyson Foods continued to grow throughout the '70s and '80s, moving into new corporate offices and acquiring companies such as Mexican Original, a flour and corn tortilla company. Between 1984 and 1989, the company doubled in size.

Tyson Foods

Tyson Foods continued to grow throughout the '70s and '80s, moving into new corporate offices and acquiring companies such as Mexican Original, a flour and corn tortilla company. Between 1984 and 1989, the company doubled in size.

In the late '90s, Don Tyson retired, and his son, John H. Tyson, took over as chairman of the board, becoming the third generation of Tysons to lead the company. He was named CEO in 2000.

John H. Tyson in 2001.AP Photo/Pat Crowe II

In the late '90s, Don Tyson retired, and his son, John H. Tyson, took over as chairman of the board, becoming the third generation of Tysons to lead the company. He was named CEO in 2000.

As CEO from 2000 to 2009, John H. Tyson oversaw Tyson Foods' $4.6 billion acquisition of meatpacking company IBP Inc., as well as the construction of a company "innovation center." Although he stepped down as CEO in 2009, Tyson remained chairman of the board — a role he still holds to this day.

John Tyson, then-CEO of Tyson Foods, at a food summit in Chicago in 2005.Reuters

As CEO from 2000 to 2009, John H. Tyson oversaw Tyson Foods' $4.6 billion acquisition of meatpacking company IBP Inc., as well as the construction of a company "innovation center." Although he stepped down as CEO in 2009, Tyson remained chairman of the board — a role he still holds to this day.

According to Tyson Foods, Don Tyson remained on the board of directors and stayed active in the company for many years until his death in January 2011 at age 80.

don tyson 1991Steve Jennings/The LIFE Images Collection via Getty Images/Getty Images

The company made headlines in 2020 during the early months of the coronavirus pandemic due to outbreaks at some of its US meat processing plants, though the company said the "vast majority" of facilities across the US had no cases.

A Tyson Foods pork processing plant in Indiana.Michael Conroy/AP Photo

The company made headlines in 2020 during the early months of the coronavirus pandemic due to outbreaks at some of its US meat processing plants, though the company said the "vast majority" of facilities across the US had no cases.

The family connections go beyond John H. Tyson's father and grandfather — his aunt, Barbara Tyson, also sits on the company's board of directors following a career with the company as a director and vice president.

Tyson Foods

The family connections go beyond John H. Tyson's father and grandfather — his aunt, Barbara Tyson, also sits on the company's board of directors following a career with the company as a director and vice president.

The fourth generation of the family, John R. Tyson, joined the C-suite as chief sustainability officer in 2019, and has since been promoted to chief financial officer. He is presumed to be next in line for the chairmanship of the company.

Getty Images

The fourth generation of the family, John R. Tyson, joined the C-suite as chief sustainability officer in 2019, and has since been promoted to chief financial officer. He is presumed to be next in line for the chairmanship of the company.

Earlier this year, the younger Tyson pleaded guilty to charges of public intoxication and criminal trespassing, after he allegedly was found asleep in the bed of a woman who didn't know him. He paid the requisite fines and apologized to Tyson's investors and employees.

John R. TysonTyson Foods

Earlier this year, the younger Tyson pleaded guilty to charges of public intoxication and criminal trespassing, after he allegedly was found asleep in the bed of a woman who didn't know him. He paid the requisite fines and apologized to Tyson's investors and employees.

Rising costs for wages, grain, and livestock led Tyson to raise prices in 2022, which also boosted its profits. But shoppers appear to be pushing back, causing prices to slide, and in April 2023, the company announced layoffs and plant closings. A month later, Tyson surprised investors with its first quarterly loss in 14 years.

Greg Smith/Corbis via Getty Images

Rising costs for wages, grain, and livestock led Tyson to raise prices in 2022, which also boosted its profits. But shoppers appear to be pushing back, causing prices to slide, and in April 2023, the company announced layoffs and plant closings. A month later, Tyson surprised investors with its first quarterly loss in 14 years.

"I can't remember a time when our business faced the highly unusual situation that we're currently seeing, where all three of our core protein categories, beef, pork and chicken are experiencing market challenges at the same time," current CEO Donnie King told investors.

Joe Raedle/Getty Images

"I can't remember a time when our business faced the highly unusual situation that we're currently seeing, where all three of our core protein categories, beef, pork and chicken are experiencing market challenges at the same time," current CEO Donnie King told investors.

The Tyson family is sure to feel the hit to the company's share price, as they own more than 70% of Tyson stock through the Tyson Limited Partnership.

AP Photo/Toby Talbot, File

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Meet the billionaire family behind Tyson Foods, the beef, pork, and chicken juggernaut whose heir apparent has battled legal troubles

Tyson Foods is an Arkansas-based meat company that produces about one fifth of the meat consumed in the US. Among the brands that Tyson owns are Jimmy Dean, Hillshire Farm, and Aidells.

The business has been family-run through four generations, making the Tyson family one of the wealthiest in the US. Their combined net worth is more than $2.3 billion.

The company's origins trace back to the Great Depression, when in 1931 John W. Tyson started a business delivering chickens around the Midwest.

By the 1940s, demand for poultry had grown, and Tyson moved into raising chicks and grinding feed for local chicken farmers, incorporating his business as Tyson Feed and Hatchery Inc.

In 1952, John W. Tyson's son, Don Tyson, joined the company as a general manager right out of college. The company opened its first processing plant six years later in Arkansas at a cost of $90,000.

The company went public as Tyson Foods in 1963 and began a series of acquisitions. In 1966, Don became president of the company before taking over his father's role a year later as chairman and CEO.

Tyson Foods continued to grow throughout the '70s and '80s, moving into new corporate offices and acquiring companies such as Mexican Original, a flour and corn tortilla company. Between 1984 and 1989, the company doubled in size.

In the late '90s, Don Tyson retired, and his son, John H. Tyson, took over as chairman of the board, becoming the third generation of Tysons to lead the company. He was named CEO in 2000.

As CEO from 2000 to 2009, John H. Tyson oversaw Tyson Foods' $4.6 billion acquisition of meatpacking company IBP Inc., as well as the construction of a company "innovation center." Although he stepped down as CEO in 2009, Tyson remained chairman of the board — a role he still holds to this day.

According to Tyson Foods, Don Tyson remained on the board of directors and stayed active in the company for many years until his death in January 2011 at age 80.

The company made headlines in 2020 during the early months of the coronavirus pandemic due to outbreaks at some of its US meat processing plants, though the company said the "vast majority" of facilities across the US had no cases.

The family connections go beyond John H. Tyson's father and grandfather — his aunt, Barbara Tyson, also sits on the company's board of directors following a career with the company as a director and vice president.

The fourth generation of the family, John R. Tyson, joined the C-suite as chief sustainability officer in 2019, and has since been promoted to chief financial officer. He is presumed to be next in line for the chairmanship of the company.

Earlier this year, the younger Tyson pleaded guilty to charges of public intoxication and criminal trespassing, after he allegedly was found asleep in the bed of a woman who didn't know him. He paid the requisite fines and apologized to Tyson's investors and employees.

"I can't remember a time when our business faced the highly unusual situation that we're currently seeing, where all three of our core protein categories, beef, pork and chicken are experiencing market challenges at the same time," current CEO Donnie King told investors.

The Tyson family is sure to feel the hit to the company's share price, as they own more than 70% of Tyson stock through the Tyson Limited Partnership.