Last updated: August 2026
| Net Worth | Approximately $340 billion market capitalization (2026) |
| Founded | September 16, 1935, New York City |
| Headquarters | New York City, New York, USA |
| Industry | Investment Banking / Financial Services |
| CEO | Ted Pick |
Morgan Stanley is an American multinational investment bank and financial services company with a market capitalization of approximately $340 billion as of 2026. One of the largest investment banks in the world, it provides services spanning investment banking, wealth management, and institutional trading.
Founding & Early History
Morgan Stanley was founded on September 16, 1935, in New York City by Henry Sturgis Morgan and Harold Stanley, following the passage of the Glass-Steagall Act, which required the separation of commercial and investment banking and led to the spin-off of the firm from J.P. Morgan & Co.
Rise to Prominence
The firm grew rapidly into one of Wall Street’s leading investment banks, underwriting major securities offerings and advising on landmark corporate deals throughout the 20th century. It went public in 1986 and later merged with Dean Witter Discover & Co. in 1997, broadening its retail brokerage and credit-card operations before that business was later spun off.
Corporate History
Like other major banks, Morgan Stanley faced severe strain during the 2008 financial crisis, receiving a capital injection through the U.S. Troubled Asset Relief Program and converting to a bank holding company. It has since rebuilt around a strategy emphasizing wealth and investment management alongside its traditional institutional securities business, including acquisitions such as E*TRADE in 2020.
How It Built Its Wealth
Morgan Stanley generates revenue primarily through investment banking fees (advising on mergers, acquisitions, and securities underwriting), institutional securities trading, and its large wealth management division, which grew substantially following the E*TRADE acquisition and now manages trillions of dollars in client assets.
Corporate Leadership
Morgan Stanley is led by Chairman and CEO Ted Pick, who became CEO in January 2024 and added the chairman role in January 2025, succeeding James Gorman.
With a market capitalization of approximately $340 billion as of 2026, Morgan Stanley remains one of the world’s leading investment banks.
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