Who Owns Captain Morgan?
Captain Morgan is owned by Diageo, a publicly traded British multinational alcoholic beverages company. Diageo is headquartered in London, UK, and trades on the NYSE under ticker DEO.
Parent Company
Diageo plc
Acquired
2001
Status
Publicly Traded
Headquarters
London, United Kingdom
Who Owns Captain Morgan?
- Parent Company: Diageo plc
- Ownership Type: Wholly owned
- Acquisition Year: 2001
- Company Type: Publicly Traded
- Stock Ticker: LSE: DGE
| Brand | Parent Company | Ownership Type |
|---|---|---|
| Captain Morgan | Diageo plc | Wholly owned |
History of Captain Morgan
- Founded: 1944
- Founders: Seagram Company (original production)
- Acquired by Diageo plc: 2001
Captain Morgan rum was first produced in 1944 by the Long Pond Distillery in Jamaica. The brand is named after Sir Henry Morgan (1635-1688), a Welsh privateer who raided Spanish settlements throughout the Caribbean during the 17th century. Morgan was eventually knighted by King Charles II and appointed Lieutenant Governor of Jamaica, where he lived out his final years. The brand's iconic logo depicts a swashbuckling pirate figure standing with one foot on a barrel of rum.
The brand was originally produced and distributed by Seagram Company, the Canadian spirits giant. Under Seagram's ownership, Captain Morgan grew from a regional Caribbean rum into a globally recognized spirits brand. The introduction of Captain Morgan Original Spiced Rum in the 1980s was a pivotal moment, as the spiced rum category was virtually nonexistent at the time. The warm, vanilla-forward flavor profile of the spiced variant appealed to consumers who found traditional white and dark rums too harsh, opening up the rum category to a much broader audience.
Captain Morgan's marketing has consistently leveraged the pirate theme, with campaigns featuring the tagline "Got a Little Captain in You?" and imagery of adventure, camaraderie, and celebration. The brand became particularly popular among younger legal-drinking-age consumers in the United States, where it established itself as a staple of bars, parties, and social gatherings.
When Seagram was broken up in 2001, Diageo acquired Captain Morgan along with other premium spirits brands. Under Diageo's ownership, Captain Morgan has expanded its product range to include Captain Morgan White Rum, Captain Morgan Black Spiced Rum, Captain Morgan 100 Proof, and various flavored variants including Coconut, Pineapple, and Apple Smash. Diageo has also invested in premium line extensions and limited-edition releases to elevate the brand's positioning.
Today, Captain Morgan is the second-best-selling rum brand in the world behind Bacardi, and the number-one selling spiced rum globally. The brand generates over $1 billion in annual retail sales and is distributed in more than 150 countries worldwide.
About Diageo plc
What does Diageo own?
Diageo owns a portfolio of approximately 200 alcoholic beverage brands including Johnnie Walker Scotch whisky, Guinness stout, Smirnoff vodka, Don Julio tequila, Baileys Irish cream, Captain Morgan rum, Crown Royal Canadian whisky, Tanqueray gin, Bulleit bourbon, and Cîroc vodka. The company also holds a 34.2% stake in Moet Hennessy, the wines and spirits division of LVMH, giving it indirect exposure to the Hennessy cognac and Moet & Chandon champagne brands. Diageo's brands are sold in nearly 180 countries.
Is Diageo publicly traded?
Yes, Diageo plc is listed on the London Stock Exchange under ticker DGE and on the New York Stock Exchange as an American Depositary Receipt under ticker DEO. The company has been publicly listed since its formation in 1997 through the merger of Grand Metropolitan and Guinness. Diageo does not have a controlling shareholder, and its shares are held primarily by institutional investors.
Who founded Diageo?
Diageo was formed on 17 December 1997 through the merger of Grand Metropolitan plc and Guinness plc. Grand Metropolitan was a British conglomerate that owned Smirnoff, Baileys, and J&B, among other brands. Guinness plc owned the Guinness stout brand, Johnnie Walker, and a portfolio of other spirits. The merged entity was named Diageo, a name derived from Latin and Greek roots intended to convey global reach.
Where is Diageo headquartered?
Diageo is headquartered in London, United Kingdom. The company maintains its registered office and principal executive offices in London. Diageo's operational footprint spans the United Kingdom, Ireland, the United States, Scotland, Jamaica, Mexico, India, and Canada, among other countries. The company's Scotch whisky operations are centered in Scotland, where it operates numerous distilleries.
How many brands does Diageo own?
Diageo owns approximately 200 alcoholic beverage brands across spirits, beer, and wine. Of these, 13 brands each generate over one billion US dollars in annual net sales. These billion-dollar brands include Johnnie Walker, Guinness, Smirnoff, Don Julio, Baileys, Captain Morgan, Crown Royal, Tanqueray, Bulleit, J&B, Buchanan's, Windsor, and Cîroc. The company also holds a 34.2% stake in Moet Hennessy, which owns additional premium brands.
Who owns Diageo?
Diageo plc is a publicly traded company with no controlling shareholder. The company's shares are held primarily by institutional investors including major asset managers and pension funds. No single shareholder holds a majority stake in Diageo. The company is incorporated in England and Wales and is subject to UK corporate governance requirements, including a board with a majority of independent non-executive directors.
What is Diageo's revenue?
Diageo reported net sales of approximately 20.2 billion US dollars for the fiscal year ended 30 June 2025, with organic net sales growth of 1.7%. The company's fiscal year runs from 1 July to 30 June. Free cash flow for FY2025 was approximately 2.7 billion US dollars. Diageo's revenue has faced headwinds from unfavorable foreign exchange movements and challenging macroeconomic conditions in key markets including the United States and Greater China.
- Founded: 1997
- Headquarters: London, United Kingdom
- Company Type: Publicly Traded
- Stock: LSE: DGE
Where Is Captain Morgan Made / Based?
- Headquarters: London, United Kingdom
- Manufacturing / Operations: U.S. Virgin Islands, Jamaica
Brands Owned by Diageo plc
- Baileys - Irish cream liqueur brand, the world's best-selling cream liqueur, produced by D...
- Crown Royal - Canadian blended whisky brand created by Seagram in 1939, now owned by British m...
- Don Julio - Mexican premium tequila brand founded in 1942, one of the world's top-selling lu...
- Guinness - Irish dry stout beer brand, one of the world's most recognized and best-selling ...
- Johnnie Walker - Scottish brand of blended Scotch whisky, the world's best-selling blended Scotch...
- Smirnoff - Global vodka brand, the world's best-selling vodka by volume, produced by Diageo...
Captain Morgan Ownership: Pros & Cons
Advantages
- +Second-best-selling rum brand globally with dominant spiced rum position
- +Strong brand recognition through iconic pirate imagery and marketing
- +Diageo's global distribution network reaches over 150 countries
- +Diverse product range spanning spiced, white, dark, and flavored rums
- +Consistent innovation with new flavors and limited editions
Considerations
- -Intense competition from Bacardi, Malibu, and craft rum brands
- -Health and regulatory trends affecting alcohol consumption
- -Dependence on U.S. market for significant portion of sales
- -Changing consumer preferences toward premium and craft spirits
- -Environmental and sustainability pressures on production
Frequently Asked Questions About Captain Morgan
Where to Buy
Disclosure: We may earn commission from purchasesCompetitors to Captain Morgan
These competing brands operate in the same categories and provide similar products or services. Compare key attributes to understand market positioning and competitive landscape.
| Brand | Parent Company | Country | Founded | Market Position | Primary Market | Gender Target |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brown Forman | USA | 1866 | Mass Market | North America | All Genders | |
| Ab Inbev | Mexico | 1925 | Mass Market | Latin America | All Genders | |
| Lvmh | France | 1765 | Luxury | Europe | All Genders | |
| Constellation Brands | Mexico | 1925 | Mass Market | Latin America | All Genders |
Learn More About Competitors

Jack Daniel's
Owned by Brown-Forman Corporation
American brand of Tennessee whiskey, one of the best-selling whiskey brands in the world.

Corona
Owned by Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV
Mexican beer brand known for its light lager served with a lime, one of the best-selling imported beers worldwide.

Hennessy
Owned by LVMH
French cognac brand renowned for exceptional quality and global prestige, owned by LVMH.

Modelo
Owned by Constellation Brands, Inc.
Mexican beer brand including Modelo Especial, America's best-selling beer since 2023.
Competitive Analysis
Market Positioning: Captain Morgan competes with 4 brands in the same categories, ranging from mass market to luxury positioning.
Geographic Distribution: Competitors are headquartered across multiple regions, indicating global competition in this market segment.
Brand Heritage: Competitor brands range from established heritage brands to newer market entrants, with founding years spanning several decades.
Diageo plc Stock Information
Jobs at Diageo plc
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