Made in America
FOLLOW THE MONEY
Many brands that operate and market themselves in the United States are ultimately owned, controlled, or significantly financed by foreign governments, sovereign wealth funds, royal families, or state-linked corporations. While these companies may employ Americans and operate under U.S. law, a portion of the profits generated by American consumers flows overseas rather than remaining within the U.S. economy.
U.S.-FACING BRANDS (AND PROPERTIES)
WHERE PROFITS FLOW TO FOREIGN STATES
This list is intended to provide transparency by identifying well-known brands where consumer spending supports foreign nations rather than primarily supporting American ownership. Inclusion on this list does not imply illegal activity or wrongdoing; it reflects ownership structures and profit flows based on publicly available information. The goal is to allow Americans to make informed choices about where their money ultimately goes.
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China (PRC – state-linked or CCP-influenced economy)
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Brand/Asset How Money Flows_____________________________________________
AliExpress Chinese-owned (Alibaba Group).
DJI Chinese-owned and headquartered in Shenzhen.
Lenovo Chinese multinational; controls U.S. PC and enterprise markets.
Rockefeller Center China Investment Corporation (CIC) reportedly bought a ~45% stake. (2016)
Shein Chinese-founded and controlled, despite offshore restructuring.
Temu Operated by PDD Holdings (China).
TikTok Owned by ByteDance (China).
WeChat Owned by Tencent (China).
GE Appliances Owned by Haier (China).
Waldorf Astoria Purchased by Anbang (China) in 2014 for $1.95 billion; notable precedent for PRC capital buying U.S.
landmarks *(28 Liberty Street). The acquisition itself remains a well-publicized example of Chinese capital
buying a major U.S. real estate trophy.
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*28 Liberty Street (formerly One Chase Manhattan Plaza) – New York City
This is another famous Manhattan skyscraper, located near the World Trade Center site, that was acquired by a Chinese investment firm (Fosun) in 2013. Fosun bought the office building from JPMorgan Chase for around $725 million and renamed it 28 Liberty Street. It occupies a full city block and is a notable piece of downtown New York real estate.
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Qatar (sovereign wealth & royal investments)
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Brand/Asset How Money Flows_____________________________________________
Brookfield & QIA A major joint investment where QIA holds a significant share in a high‑profile NYC development.
Empire State Building The Qatar Investment Authority owns the iconic Empire State Building (2016).
Manhattan West QIA owns a reported ~44% stake in this major mixed‑use complex.
One57 (NYC ) Qatari sovereign or linked financing helped support investment positions in One57, a luxury residential
tower on Billionaires’ Row (57th Street).
Peet’s Coffee. Majority owned by Qatar Investment Authority (QIA).
Plaza Hotel (NYC). Owned by Qatari royal investment group.
St. Regis (select). Real estate owned by Qatari entities; profits flow to Qatar despite U.S. branding.
111 West 57th Street Qatari sovereign or linked capital helped finance stakes in this luxury residential skyscraper.
432 Park Avenue Qatari sovereign or linked capital helped finance stakes in this luxury residential skyscraper.
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United Arab Emirates (UAE)
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Brand/Asset How Money Flows_____________________________________________
Chrysler Building Abu Dhabi’s state‑linked investor (via its investment council) acquired a large stake. (2008)
Church’s Chicken Significant UAE/Saudi investment and franchise control internationally; profit participation beyond the U.S.
Ritz-Carlton (select). Many properties owned by UAE sovereign or royal investors.
Mandarin Oriental(select) UAE-linked ownership of real estate; profits flow to UAE investors.
Time Warner Center. Abu Dhabi Investment Authority (ADIA) participated in an acquisition
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Saudi Arabia
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Brand/Asset How Money Flows_____________________________________________
Four Seasons (select) Many hotels owned by Saudi sovereign or royal funds; profits flow to
Saudi Arabia though brand is Canadian-managed.
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​Midtown Manhattan Development Site — NYC​​​
In 2025, the Saudi Public Investment Fund invested significantly in a prime Manhattan real estate
development site near Central Park, expected to become a new skyscraper project with Related Companies.
Bahrain
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Brand/Asset How Money Flows_____________________________________________
Saks Fifth Avenue. Owned/controlled by Investcorp (Bahrain-based private equity with state ties).
Circle K (regional) Investcorp has held major stakes influencing operations and profit flows.
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Turkey
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Brand/Asset How Money Flows_____________________________________________
Beko Brand of Arçelik (Turkey); U.S. sales support Turkish parent company
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This list reflects foreign ownership, investment, or profit flow and does not allege illegal activity or wrongdoing by the listed brands.
