Who Owns Farmers Insurance?
Farmers Insurance is the flagship brand of Farmers Insurance Group, a mutual property and casualty insurer headquartered in Woodland Hills, California, founded in 1928. The brand covers auto, home, life, and business insurance sold through approximately 48,000 agents, with the exchanges owned by policyholders rather than shareholders.
Parent Company
Founded
1928
Status
Private
Headquarters
United StatesOfficial Website
Who Owns Farmers Insurance?
- Parent Company: Farmers Insurance Group of Companies
- Ownership Type: Brand division
- Company Type: Privately Held
| Brand | Parent Company | Ownership Type |
|---|---|---|
| Farmers Insurance | Farmers Insurance Group of Companies | Brand division |
Advertisement
History of Farmers Insurance
- Founded: 1928
- Founders: Thomas E. Leavey, John C. Tyler
Thomas E. Leavey and John C. Tyler founded the Farmers Automobile Inter-Insurance Exchange in Los Angeles in 1928, initially offering better auto rates to farmers and rural drivers. The reciprocal exchange model, policyholders insuring each other, has been the ownership structure since.
The brand expanded from auto into home, life, and commercial lines through the mid-twentieth century, building the exclusive agent network that became its distribution signature. It grew into one of the largest insurers in the West and then nationally.
The management company's ownership changed hands: BATUS acquired it in 1988, then Zurich Insurance Group in 1998, which is why the Zurich name appears in the structure without Zurich owning the risk or the brand.
Modern history added Foremost Insurance in 2000 and Bristol West in 2007, expanded digital capabilities as shopping moved online, and maintained the "We Are Farmers" campaign built around the agent relationship. Raul Vargas became CEO in 2023.
Advertisement
About Farmers Insurance Group of Companies
What does Farmers Insurance own?
The group comprises the three reciprocal exchanges, Farmers Insurance Exchange, Fire Insurance Exchange, and Truck Insurance Exchange, plus affiliated insurers and brands including Foremost, Bristol West, and Farmers New World Life. Policyholders own the exchanges.
Is Farmers Insurance publicly traded?
No. The exchanges are owned by policyholders and are not publicly traded. The separate management company, Farmers Group Inc., is owned by Zurich Insurance Group.
Who founded Farmers Insurance?
Thomas E. Leavey and John C. Tyler founded the Farmers Automobile Inter-Insurance Exchange in Los Angeles in 1928.
Where is Farmers Insurance headquartered?
The company is headquartered in Woodland Hills, California, in the Los Angeles area.
Advertisement
Does Zurich own Farmers Insurance?
Not exactly. Zurich owns Farmers Group Inc., the management company that runs the exchanges as attorney-in-fact. The exchanges themselves are owned by policyholders, not Zurich.
Who owns Farmers Insurance?
The insurance exchanges are owned by their policyholders. The management company is a Zurich Insurance Group subsidiary.
What brands does Farmers own?
Farmers Insurance, Foremost Insurance, Bristol West, Farmers New World Life, and affiliated companies across property, casualty, and life insurance.
- Founded: 1928
- Headquarters: Woodland Hills, California, USA
- Company Type: Privately Held
- Revenue: Approximately $15.5 billion (FY2025)
- Employees: Approximately 10,000
Where Is Farmers Insurance Made / Based?
- Headquarters: Woodland Hills, California, USA
Farmers Insurance Categories & Tags
Farmers Insurance Recalls & Controversies
Attorney-in-fact structure: The separation of policyholder-owned exchanges from Zurich-owned management draws periodic scrutiny over whether the structure serves policyholders adequately, a structural debate rather than a violation.
Advertisement
Claims disputes: The brand faces ordinary bad-faith and coverage litigation including wildfire and storm claims in exposed states, handled case by case.
Rate increases: Post-2022 catastrophe and repair cost inflation drove the same rate increases across the brand as the industry, with regulatory approval required state by state.
Farmers Insurance Ownership: Pros & Cons
Advantages
- +Policyholder-owned exchanges align risk with customers
- +Exclusive agent network creates durable local distribution
- +Multi-brand structure covers standard and nonstandard markets
- +Mutual structure allows patient underwriting
Considerations
- -Management economics accrue to Zurich rather than policyholders
- -Agent model misses direct and digital shoppers
- -A rating trails A++ mutual competitors
- -California catastrophe exposure drives rate pressure
Advertisement
Frequently Asked Questions About Farmers Insurance
Sources & Further Reading
Advertisement
Competitors to Farmers Insurance
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Auto Owners | USA | 1916 | Mass market | United states | All Genders | |
| American Family Insurance | USA | 1927 | Mass market | United states | All Genders | |
| Liberty Mutual Insurance | USA | 1912 | Mass market | United states | All Genders | |
| Nationwide | USA | 1955 | Mass market | United states | All Genders | |
| Nationwide | USA | 1929 | Mass market | United states | All Genders | |
| Allstate | USA | 2000 | Mass market | United states | All Genders |
Learn More About Competitors
InsuranceAuto-Owners Insurance
Owned by Auto-Owners Insurance Company
Flagship brand of Auto-Owners Insurance Company, the policyholder-owned mutual insurer selling auto, home, business, and life coverage through independent agents since 1916.
insurancemutual-insuranceauto-insurance
InsuranceAmerican Family Insurance
Owned by American Family Insurance Mutual Holding Company
Flagship insurance brand of the American Family Insurance mutual group, founded in 1927. Auto, home, life, farm, and business coverage sold through exclusive agents in 19 states.
insuranceauto-insurancehome-insurance
Insurance FinanceLiberty Mutual
Owned by Liberty Mutual Holding Company Inc.
Liberty Mutual is the flagship personal and commercial insurance brand of Liberty Mutual Group, the Boston mutual insurer founded in 1912.
insuranceauto-insurancehome-insurance
InsuranceNationwide
Owned by Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company
Consumer-facing insurance and financial services brand of Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company, the Columbus, Ohio mutual founded in 1926.
insurancemutual-insuranceauto-insurance
InsuranceAllied Insurance
Owned by Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company
Des Moines-founded insurance brand of Nationwide Mutual, serving independent agents and brokers for personal and small commercial lines since 1929.
insuranceindependent-agentsproperty-casualty
InsuranceEncompass
Owned by The Allstate Corporation
Personal lines insurance brand selling packaged home and auto coverage through independent agents. A subsidiary of The Allstate Corporation since 2000.
home-insuranceauto-insuranceindependent-agents
Competitive Analysis
Market Positioning: Farmers Insurance competes with 6 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.
Advertisement
Independent Alternatives to Farmers Insurance
Looking for brands with different ownership structures? These similar brands are not owned by Farmers Insurance Group of Companies, giving you alternative choices that support different corporate structures.
InsuranceAuto-Owners Insurance
Owned by Auto-Owners Insurance Company
Flagship brand of Auto-Owners Insurance Company, the policyholder-owned mutual insurer selling auto, home, business, and life coverage through independent agents since 1916.
insurancemutual-insuranceauto-insurance
Privately Owned
Auto-Owners Insurance operates independently without a large parent corporation.
InsuranceAmerican Family Insurance
Owned by American Family Insurance Mutual Holding Company
Flagship insurance brand of the American Family Insurance mutual group, founded in 1927. Auto, home, life, farm, and business coverage sold through exclusive agents in 19 states.
insuranceauto-insurancehome-insurance
Privately Owned
American Family Insurance operates independently without a large parent corporation.
InsuranceNationwide
Owned by Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company
Consumer-facing insurance and financial services brand of Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company, the Columbus, Ohio mutual founded in 1926.
insurancemutual-insuranceauto-insurance
Privately Owned
Nationwide operates independently without a large parent corporation.
InsuranceMutual of Omaha
Owned by Mutual of Omaha Insurance Company
Policyholder-owned American insurance brand founded in 1909, best known for Medicare Supplement plans and the Mutual of Omaha's Wild Kingdom television franchise.
insurancemedicare-supplementlife-insurance
Privately Owned
Mutual of Omaha operates independently without a large parent corporation.
InsuranceNorthwestern Mutual
Owned by The Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company
American life insurance and financial planning brand owned by policyowners through The Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company, the largest direct provider of individual life insurance in the United States.
life-insurancefinancial-planningmutual-insurance
Privately Owned
Northwestern Mutual operates independently without a large parent corporation.
InsuranceAon
Owned by Aon plc
Global insurance brokerage and professional services brand of Aon plc, the NYSE-listed firm domiciled in Dublin, Ireland.
insurancebrokerageprofessional-services
Publicly Traded
Aon operates independently without a large parent corporation.
Jobs at Farmers Insurance Group of Companies
Advertisement
Latest News About Farmers Insurance
Related Articles About Farmers Insurance
View more articles
Brand Ownership
Who Owns Your Car Insurance? GEICO, State Farm, Progressive, and Beyond
Auto insurance is a $350 billion industry with some surprising corporate parents. Warren Buffett owns GEICO. A mutual company owns State Farm. Here is who owns every major insurer.
Who Brands StaffFeb 11, 2026
InsuranceBrand OwnershipGeico
News & Updates
Monthly IPO Roundup: November 2026 -- October's Biggest Listings
October 2026 IPOs: Jio Platforms set India's all-time record at $3.2B and surged 27%, GCash owner Mynt raised a Philippine-record P60.9B, Anthropic filed publicly for a possible mid-November debut, and U.S. listings were a biotech grab bag. Full recap.
Who Brands StaffNov 6, 2026
Ipo RoundupIpoStock Market
News & Updates
Monthly M&A Roundup: October 2026 Brand Ownership Changes
October 2026's biggest deals: Paramount Skydance closed its $110B Warner Bros. Discovery takeover, Salesforce signed Braze for $5.66B, Proofpoint bought Varonis for $6.3B, the Weston family agreed to buy Boots for $8.9B, and Viatris added Pacira for $1.65B. Full breakdown.
Who Brands StaffNov 6, 2026
M And A RoundupAcquisitionsNews
Advertisement
People Also Searched
Discover popular brands and companies in the Insurance category and related searches from other users.
Brandsupplemental-insurance
Aflac
Supplemental insurance brand of Aflac Incorporated, the leading seller of cancer insurance in Japan and worksite voluntary benefits in the United States.
Brand in Insurance
cancer-insuranceworksite-benefits
Brandinsurance
AIG
Master insurance brand of American International Group, covering commercial, personal, and travel insurance products in more than 200 countries.
Brand in Insurance
commercial-insuranceproperty-casualty
Brandinsurance
Allied Insurance
Des Moines-founded insurance brand of Nationwide Mutual, serving independent agents and brokers for personal and small commercial lines since 1929.
Brand in Insurance
independent-agentsproperty-casualty