Forget Amazon and Facebook: What Companies Are Actually Running The World?
Part 1: A close look at a company that feeds billions but is known by few.
Every day, headlines bombard us with tales of tech giants reshaping our world: Amazon’s unstoppable expansion, Bezos’s tax and labor controversies, and the paradox of the TikTok CEO shielding his children from the platform while millions globally can’t seem to stop scrolling (or is it swiping? As a millennial, I’m genuinely asking!). We’ve seen Zuckerberg sweat under Congress’s grilling, and Elon Musk’s tweets wreak havoc on the stock market.
Yet, beyond this familiar noise, there is a quieter ensemble comprised of entities wielding enormous power from the shadows. How do these stealthy players remain under the radar? I’m not a conspiracy theorist or an investigative journalist, but my curiosity is relentless: Why aren’t these monumental architects of the global landscape plastered on daily newsfeeds?
Armed with a growing curiosity — and yes, I’ve been reading up on defense companies too — I want to dive into the depths of these hidden figures. My mission? To learn about what they do, the scale of their operations, and their media footprint — or lack thereof.
Join me on this ongoing adventure as I peel back the layers of the business world, revealing the true powerhouses we don’t see on the nightly news. No conspiracy theories here — just an honest quest to spotlight the movers and shakers pulling strings behind the curtain.
I don’t believe this subject can be fully covered in one article. So, I’ll be writing and publishing in bite-sized pieces, allowing us to grow and evolve our understanding as I dig deeper and explore one company at a time. My curiosity is already bubbling over with names that are itching to be shared. We’ll start with one and keep the momentum going, uncovering more giants with each new piece. First things first, we’re delving into the heart of our survival — agriculture. A close look at a company that feeds billions but is known by few.
Who They Are
Cargill is more than just a company; it’s an empire in the realm of agribusiness, with roots burrowing deep into the global agriculture, trade, and industry soils for over 150 years. As the largest privately held company in the U.S. by revenue, it stands as a testament to the secretive, yet immensely wealthy Cargill family, home to 21 billionaires. Yep, that’s more billionaires than any other family on Earth, which pretty much makes them the Avengers of agribusiness, minus the capes — and they don’t have Dr. Strange either. Too bad, even the Avengers could use a little magic to navigate the complex world of global trade!
What They Produce
Cargill’s reach is vast, covering everything from animal feed and agricultural commodities to food ingredients and bio-industrial products. They’re behind the scenes in grocery stores, in the feed of livestock, and even in the production of biofuels and pharmaceuticals. Their global operations weave a complex web that feeds billions, quietly underscored by their pivotal role in our daily bread… and steaks… and vegan milk.
How Much Is Their Revenue
Let’s talk numbers. Cargill’s 2023 revenue hit a whopping $177 billion. To put that in perspective, that’s like hosting a garage sale and ending up buying a small country. For comparison, Coca-Cola popped open revenues of about $41.3 billion; McDonald’s served up around $23.2 billion; and Nestlé dished out approximately $87.1 billion. And yes, I’ve been watching dad jokes on Instagram — and maybe too much Netflix. These figures paint Cargill not just as a giant in agribusiness but as a titan that dwarfs many in the broader food industry.
Controversies Around Them
Despite its undeniable impact on global food systems, Cargill’s operations are not without significant controversies, as highlighted in “Cargill: The Worst Company In the World” by Henry Waxman. This report casts a critical light on the company, detailing various environmental, social, and ethical issues without necessarily offering a balanced view of the operational challenges such a vast entity might face. It serves as a pivotal source for those looking to understand the depth of the criticism directed at Cargill, underscoring the complex relationship between corporate giants and sustainable practices.
Media Footprint
Cargill’s media footprint is paradoxically both vast and minimal. While they have a robust website with tons of information, and their business dealings and partnerships make headlines in industry publications, the Cargill family’s ability to maintain a degree of privacy and avoid mainstream media spotlights is remarkable. This low profile contrasts sharply with their omnipresence in the food chain, underscoring a deliberate strategy to influence from the shadows.
Conclusion: The Paradox of Visibility and Influence
This exploration of Cargill underscores a perplexing paradox: a company foundational to global agriculture and food production remains largely outside the public discourse, despite its colossal size, revenue, and the controversies that shadow its operations. How does Cargill manage to maintain such a low profile amidst widespread influence and numerous controversies?
The answer may lie in the nature of Cargill’s business — operating within the supply chains that feed the world, yet one step removed from the consumer-facing brands that populate our daily lives. This distance from the public eye, combined with private ownership that eschews the spotlight of public stock exchanges, allows Cargill to wield its considerable influence more quietly than its publicly traded counterparts.
In a world increasingly attuned to the sources of its sustenance and the sustainability of its supply chains, the story of Cargill is a compelling study in the dynamics of visibility, influence, and the quest for accountability. It’s a reminder that the true power behind our global systems often resides in places least visible.
