You Know You’ve Made It With These Guys

Otherwise known as “The Big Five,” these publishers have dominated the world of books for decades. From Pulitzer Prize-winning novels to hundreds of imprints across dozens of countries, these impressive conglomerates made a name for themselves pretty early—and a name for their authors as well. 

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1. Penguin Random House

It’s hard to believe that a publishing house founded in 2013 has grown to be the largest name in the industry. That’s right, folks, these guys have only been around for 12 years, making it all the more impressive that they publish thousands of titles a year, operate on six continents, and have several Nobel Prize laureates under their belt.  

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2. HarperCollins

HarperCollins is considered one of the “Big Five,” which makes sense when you find out they publish 10,000 titles a year! Even more impressive is that they’ve been around since 1817 and now operate in over a dozen countries, publishing in at least 16 languages. 

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3. Simon & Schuster

Founded in 1924, Simon & Schuster landed themselves within the “Big Five” since its inception, publishing over 2,000 titles a year. That might sound like small potatoes compared to Penguin and HarperCollins, but this publishing house also has over 30 imprints to its name, giving thousands of authors across the globe a chance to have their voices heard. 

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4. Hachette

If you’re on this side of the globe, you might not be familiar with Hachette, a French publishing group that’s been around since 1826. However, they’re one of the largest publishers in the world, publishing at least 10,000 new titles every year. They also have hundreds of imprints in over 70 countries, and their books have earned numerous awards. 

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5. Macmillan

Founded in 1843, this little publishing company saw pretty early success with its titles. It was responsible for beloved classics like Alice in Wonderland and The Jungle Book, solidifying its place among the largest publishers. Today, it operates in over 70 countries and is considered part of the “Big Five.” 

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