Are Members of the Ford Family Still Alive?

Yes. Several prominent “Ford” families still have living members today—notably the descendants of automaker Henry Ford, the family of U.S. President Gerald R. Ford, and Canada’s Ford political family—many of whom remain active in business, public service, and philanthropy. Below is a guide to who’s who and how they’re engaged today.

Which “Ford family” do you mean?

The name “Ford” can refer to different, unrelated families that are often in the news: the automotive dynasty founded by Henry Ford; the family of the 38th U.S. president, Gerald R. Ford; and the Canadian political family associated with Toronto and Ontario provincial politics. Each of these families has living members who continue to play public roles.

The Henry Ford automotive dynasty today

Descendants of Henry Ford are very much alive and some remain directly involved with Ford Motor Company and other civic institutions. The family continues to influence the automaker through a special class of stock (Class B shares) held by family interests, which preserves significant voting power for Ford descendants.

Notable living members

The following list highlights a few of the best-known living descendants of Henry Ford and their current public roles as of late 2024.

• William Clay Ford Jr. (born 1967) — Executive Chair of Ford Motor Company, a director since 1988, and a leading public face of the company’s strategy and sustainability efforts.
• Edsel B. Ford II (born 1948) — Longtime Ford executive and former board member (1988–2019), active in philanthropy and motorsports; a visible advocate for Detroit-area civic causes.
• Elena A. Ford (born 1966) — A senior Ford Motor Company executive focused on customer and dealer experience initiatives; the first female family member to hold a top executive role at the automaker.
• Sheila Ford Hamp (born 1951) — Principal owner and chair of the NFL’s Detroit Lions since 2020, leading the franchise’s front-office and organizational modernization.

Together, these and other living descendants underscore that the Henry Ford family remains influential across industry, sports, and philanthropy, with a continuing presence in the leadership of Ford Motor Company and Detroit’s civic life.

U.S. President Gerald R. Ford’s family

President Gerald R. Ford (1913–2006) and First Lady Betty Ford (1918–2011) have surviving children who remain publicly engaged in various fields, from ministry and the arts to civic and historical organizations.

Living children and public roles

Below are the living children of Gerald and Betty Ford and a brief note on their current or recent public activities.

• Michael Gerald Ford (born 1950) — A minister and author who has been active in faith-based and community work.
• Steven Meigs Ford (born 1956) — An actor and public speaker with film and television credits and frequent appearances at educational and civic events.
• Susan Ford Bales (born 1957) — Chair and longtime leader within the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Foundation; ship sponsor of the U.S. Navy’s aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN-78).

This branch of the Ford family continues to steward the late president’s legacy through education, public service, and cultural engagement, with multiple grandchildren and great-grandchildren also living.

Canada’s Ford political family (Toronto/Ontario)

In Canada, the Ford name is associated with the family of the late Toronto mayor Rob Ford and his brother Doug Ford, the current premier of Ontario. Several members remain active in provincial and municipal politics.

Key living members in public life

The following figures are among the best known living members of the Canadian Ford family and their current roles.

• Doug Ford (born 1964) — Premier of Ontario since 2018, leading the Progressive Conservative government at Queen’s Park.
• Michael Ford (born 1994) — Doug Ford’s nephew; a Member of Provincial Parliament (MPP) who has served in Ontario’s cabinet.
• Kathy Ford and Randy Ford — Siblings of Doug and the late Rob Ford; known publicly but largely outside elected office.
• Renata Ford and children — The widow and children of Rob Ford (1969–2016) remain private citizens and occasionally appear in public contexts.

Collectively, the Canadian Ford family remains a significant force in Ontario politics, with Doug Ford and Michael Ford occupying high-profile roles in provincial government.

What about other well-known Fords?

Some readers may think of unrelated public figures who share the surname. For example, actor Harrison Ford (born 1942) is alive and remains active in film and television; he is not related to the automotive, presidential, or Canadian political Ford families discussed above.

Summary

Yes—members of multiple prominent “Ford” families are very much alive. Henry Ford’s descendants continue to influence Ford Motor Company and Detroit civic life; President Gerald R. Ford’s children remain active in cultural, historical, and public service roles; and Canada’s Ford political family holds key offices in Ontario. The name “Ford” spans several distinct lineages, each with living members in visible public roles today.

Are there any living Ford family members?

Henry Ford has 12 living great-grandchildren: Charlotte M. Ford, Anne Ford, Edsel Ford II, Benson Ford Jr., Lynn Ford Alandt, Eleanor Clay Ford Sullivan, Josephine Clay Ford Ingle, Alfred Brush Ford, Martha Parke “Muffy” Ford Morse, Sheila Ford Hamp, William Clay Ford Jr., and Elizabeth Ford Kontulis.

Who did Henry Ford leave his money to?

Henry Ford bequeathed the majority of his assets, specifically 95% of the company’s common stock, to the Ford Foundation upon his death in 1947, while his grandson, Henry Ford II, inherited control of the company along with the remaining voting stock. His wife, Clara, and his other children also received a share of the remaining 5% of the voting stock. 
The Ford Foundation 

• The Ford Foundation was established in 1936 and received the vast majority of Henry Ford’s wealth, a significant amount of Class A stock, which was non-voting.
• This foundation was established as a tax-exempt charitable trust, which was a strategic move to reduce inheritance taxes.

Henry Ford II

• Henry Ford II, his eldest grandson, took over leadership of Ford Motor Company in 1945, two years before Henry Ford’s death. 
• Upon Henry Ford’s death in 1947, Henry Ford II also inherited the Class B, or voting, stock, which gave him and his family control over the company. 
• In 1987, Henry Ford II left his own estate to his third wife, Kathleen DuRoss Ford, with the stipulation that upon her death, it would go to his six grandchildren. 

Does the Ford family still own Ford?

Yes, the Ford family still exerts significant influence and control over Ford Motor Company, not through majority ownership, but through a special class of stock that grants them 40% of the company’s voting power despite owning less than 2% of the total outstanding shares. This unique ownership structure, established when the company went public in 1956, ensures the family remains involved in steering the company’s direction. William Clay Ford Jr., the great-grandson of founder Henry Ford, is the executive chairman and the largest individual shareholder, further solidifying the family’s strategic role.
 
How Family Control is Maintained

• Special Voting Stock: The Ford family owns a separate class of stock, Class B shares, which have super-voting powers, meaning each share carries many more votes than a common share. 
• Voting Trust: A significant portion of these Class B shares are held within a voting trust managed by family members, which allows them to act in unison to maintain their voting control. 
• Strategic Role: While the family’s financial stake is small, the enhanced voting power ensures they have a major say in company decisions, allowing them to keep the company aligned with its founding values. 

Key Family Members Involved

• William Clay Ford Jr.: Opens in new tabThe great-grandson of Henry Ford, he serves as the executive chairman of the board and is the largest individual shareholder, increasing his stake over the years. 
• Other Family Members: Opens in new tabSeveral other family members remain active, with some holding executive positions within the company, such as William Clay Ford Jr.’s sisters and cousins, and Henry Ford III on the board of directors. 

How much is Henry Ford’s family worth today?

The net worth of the Ford family as a whole is not publicly disclosed, but Forbes reported the family’s collective net worth as approximately $2 billion in 2015, a figure that has likely changed since then. The family’s wealth is primarily derived from their control of Ford Motor Company, where they hold a significant portion of the voting power through super-voting Class B stock and a family trust. Key individual family members also hold significant personal wealth, such as Sheila Ford Hamp, who is worth an estimated $2 billion. 
Family Control and Wealth

• Ford Motor Company: The Ford family controls the vast majority of the voting power at Ford Motor, holding 40% of the total voting power through a combination of Class B shares and a family trust. 
• Publicly Available Information: While the collective net worth of the entire Ford family isn’t regularly updated by Forbes, the 2015 report placed their combined wealth at around $2 billion. 
• Individual Wealth: Wealth is distributed among many family members, with individual net worths varying significantly. 
  • Sheila Ford Hamp: is a prominent example, with a reported net worth of approximately $2 billion as of early 2025, according to the Detroit Free Press. 
  • Martha Firestone Ford, the granddaughter-in-law of Henry Ford, is also wealthy, with estimates placing her net worth in the range of $800 million in late 2023. Her wealth comes from both the Ford family and her own Firestone family lineage. 

Controlling the Company

• Dual-Class Structure: The Ford family’s control is maintained through a dual-class share structure, which allows them to hold a large portion of the company’s voting power even though they own a smaller percentage of its overall equity. 
• Family’s Continued Role: The family continues to play a significant role in the company’s management and operations.