In 1835, a small book publisher was founded with a simple but powerful insight: that creativity and entrepreneurial spirit could build something lasting. What began as a local publishing house in Germany has evolved over nearly two centuries into Bertelsmann, an international media, services, and education powerhouse. The founders recognized early on that empowering creative minds would be the key to their success - a philosophy that still guides the company today.
Today, Bertelsmann stands as a global group with diverse divisions including RTL Group, Penguin Random House, BMG, Arvato, Bertelsmann Marketing Services, Bertelsmann Education Group, and Bertelsmann Investments. With well over 80,000 employees across approximately 50 countries, the company continues to champion personal initiative and creative thinking. Every day, people at Bertelsmann have the opportunity to shape their own careers, creating paths that grow with them while contributing to an organization that has been the home of creative entrepreneurs for nearly 200 years.