Who actually owns the most trademarks in the United States? To find out, we ranked every owner in the TMarkMetric database of 97,978 U.S. federal trademark records by the number of marks they have on file. The result upends a common assumption — that a handful of mega-corporations hoard the register. They don't.
The headline: the single largest portfolio here — ESPN, with 140 marks — is a rounding error against the 97,978 total. The register is spread across 71,934 distinct owners, averaging about 1.4 marks each. Concentration at the top is remarkably shallow.
The 20 Largest U.S. Trademark Portfolios
Ranked by total marks on file. "Registered" shows how many of those are live registrations rather than pending or dead:
What the Ranking Actually Tells You
1. Even the giants own surprisingly few marks
Nike — one of the most brand-obsessed companies on earth — appears with 37 marks. Walmart, 32. The reason is that a U.S. trademark protects a brand, not a product line: one strong word mark can cover an enormous range of goods within its classes. Companies file dozens of marks only when they run many distinct sub-brands, taglines, and logos — not to "stockpile."
2. Consumer brands and entertainment lead
ESPN, Universal City Studios, Nike, CVS, Walmart, and Ferrero cluster at the top because consumer-facing companies launch the most named products, campaigns, and characters — each a candidate for its own registration. If your business is in a naming-heavy category, expect a crowded field when you run your clearance search.
3. Trademarks are global — the U.S. register is full of foreign owners
Several of the largest portfolios belong to companies headquartered outside the U.S.: Kosé (Japan), Korea Zinc (South Korea), Transtek (Hong Kong), and Del Monte International (Switzerland). Foreign companies file U.S. trademarks to lock down the American market — often through the Madrid Protocol. A big portfolio is a signal of U.S. market ambition, wherever the owner sits.
4. Gaming is a hidden trademark heavyweight
Both IGT and Light & Wonder — casino and slot-machine companies — rank near the top. Gaming brands trademark individual game titles aggressively, which is why a relatively niche industry produces such dense portfolios.
5. Big ≠ clean
Look at the "Registered" column. Some owners with 50–75 marks on file have only a handful actually registered — the rest are pending or already dead. Portfolio size and portfolio health are different things. This is the same churn we found across the whole register in our U.S. trademark statistics report, where roughly one in ten marks is dead.
Methodology
Owners are ranked from the TMarkMetric database, a snapshot of 97,978 U.S. federal trademark records sourced from USPTO data, grouped by normalized owner identity. "Marks" counts all records on file for that owner; "Registered" counts those in a live-registered status. Because the dataset is a large sample rather than the complete USPTO register, treat this as a representative ranking, not an official all-time leaderboard. Aggregates pulled 2026-07-14.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which company owns the most trademarks?
In this dataset of 97,978 U.S. trademark records, ESPN holds the largest single portfolio at 140 marks on file, followed by Del Monte International and Kosé Holdings. Even the largest portfolio is tiny relative to the register as a whole, which spans 71,934 distinct owners.
How many trademarks does a big company usually own?
Fewer than most people expect. Well-known brands like Nike and Walmart appear with only 32–37 marks each. A single word mark can protect a brand across a wide range of goods within its classes, so companies file many marks only when they run numerous distinct sub-brands, taglines, and logos.
Do foreign companies own U.S. trademarks?
Yes — extensively. Several of the largest U.S. portfolios belong to companies based in Japan, South Korea, Hong Kong, and Switzerland. Foreign owners register U.S. trademarks, often via the Madrid Protocol, to protect their brands in the American market.
Does a large trademark portfolio mean all the marks are active?
No. Portfolio size and portfolio health are different. Some top owners have most of their marks still pending or already dead rather than registered. Roughly one in ten trademarks across the register is abandoned, cancelled, or expired.