Blackstone’s Plans for Ancestry.com: What Could It Mean for Genealogists?

Blackstone’s Plans for Ancestry: The Big News: Ancestry.com Could Go Public (Again) or Be Sold

Genealogy folks, you might have heard the buzz – Ancestry.com’s owner, Blackstone, is considering big changes for Ancestry.com. According to a recent Reuters report, Blackstone is “weighing strategic options, including an initial public offering or a sale” of Ancestry.com. In plain English, that means they might either sell Ancestry to a new owner or take it public on the stock market (an IPO, or Initial Public Offering).

Nothing is final yet – discussions are “at an early stage” and Blackstone could even decide to hold off for now. But a public listing could value Ancestry at about $10 billion if it happens, which is a huge jump from the $4.7 billion Blackstone paid in 2020. Clearly, Ancestry.com has grown a lot in the past few years.

So, what do we know? Blackstone has invited banks to pitch for an IPO of Ancestry, which is based in Lehi, Utah. They’ve also hinted they might consider selling the company outright instead. Why now? One factor is that the U.S. stock market for new IPOs has warmed up again in 2025.

Also, Blackstone has held Ancestry for about five years – a typical timeframe for an investor to decide on their next move. Ancestry.com is a hugely popular platform for tracing family history, with over 3 million paying subscribers and more than $1 billion in annual revenue. Most of that money comes from subscriptions (access to historical records, family tree tools) and also DNA test kit sales. In short, Ancestry is big business in genealogy, so any change in ownership is notable.

But before we get into the implications, remember: this wouldn’t be the first time Ancestry.com has changed hands or stock market status. In fact, Ancestry has had several owners and even a previous stint as a public company – and through all those changes it continued to serve family historians. Let’s take a quick look back.

Blackstone’s Plans for Ancestry.com: A Look Back: Ancestry.com’s Changing Owners

Ancestry.com has been around since 1983, and over more than four decades it has gone from a startup to a public company, back to private, and so on. Here’s a brief timeline of who’s owned Ancestry and what happened:

• 1983 – Founded as Ancestry Publishing (a genealogy magazine).

• 1996 – Ancestry website debuts.

• 2009 – First IPO: Ancestry went public on NASDAQ under the ticker ACOM, raising about $100 million. It was an exciting time – many of us remember when Ancestry’s stock was traded and the company was expanding its databases rapidly.

• 2012 – Taken Private: Just a few years later, a group led by private equity firm Permira (along with Spectrum Equity and Ancestry’s management) bought Ancestry.com and took it private in a $1.6 billion deal. This ended the first public era of Ancestry. Around this time, Ancestry was launching its DNA testing service (AncestryDNA) and continuing to grow its record collections. Users didn’t see any disruption – in fact, the company kept adding features.

• 2016 – New Investors: Silver Lake Partners and Singapore’s sovereign wealth fund GIC bought minority stakes in Ancestry, valuing the company at about $2.6 billion. Again, from a user perspective, Ancestry kept on trucking – more records, a sleeker website, and continued growth. (Those were the years Ancestry introduced things like hint improvements and a more robust mobile app.)

• 2020 – Blackstone Era: Blackstone, one of the world’s largest investment firms, acquired a 75% stake in Ancestry for $4.7 billion (with GIC retaining a minority stake). This made headlines, partly because people wondered “Why does a big private equity firm want a genealogy company?” At the time, Blackstone emphasized that they loved Ancestry’s subscription business and strong brand – “a clear leader in its industry”, as they put it, with plenty of room to grow. They even explicitly said “Blackstone has not and will not access user DNA and family tree data, and we will not be sharing this data… Doing so was never part of our investment thesis – period.” to quell privacy concerns. In other words, they claimed they bought Ancestry for its legitimate business value, not to secretly mine our DNA.

Through each of these transitions, the Ancestry.com experience for genealogists remained fairly steady. When the company went private in 2012, we still had access to all our trees and records – and soon gained the AncestryDNA service. When ownership shifted in 2016 and 2020, Ancestry continued to roll out new collections (census records, vital records from more countries, etc.) and features (like improved Thrulines for DNA matches and life-story generation tools). There may have been occasional pricing changes or new subscription tiers over the years, but nothing radically changed overnight for users during those handovers. That history is somewhat reassuring: Ancestry’s core mission of helping us discover family history has persisted regardless of who holds the reins.

Blackstone’s Plans for Ancestry.com: Why Might Blackstone Make a Move Now?

It’s natural to ask, “Why is Blackstone thinking of selling or doing an IPO now?” A few likely reasons:

• Investment Timeline: Private equity firms like Blackstone typically invest with a ~5 year horizon. They bought in 2020; now in 2025 it’s time to consider cashing in on that investment (and potentially doubling their money if the $10 billion valuation holds). Ancestry’s subscriber base and revenues have grown, so Blackstone sees an opportunity to realize a profit.

• Market Conditions: The IPO market was sluggish for a while but has rebounded in late 2025. A few big tech IPOs have gone well recently, so taking Ancestry public might attract strong interest. Likewise, there might be buyers out there willing to pay top dollar for a profitable tech company with recurring subscription revenue.

• Genealogy Industry Trends: It’s worth noting that the genealogy and DNA testing boom of the late 2010s has leveled off. For example, Ancestry’s DNA kit rival 23andMe went public in 2021 amid a lot of hype, but since then demand for DNA tests has weakened and 23andMe ran into serious challenges (including a big data breach and falling kit sales). In fact, 23andMe’s valuation plummeted from $6 billion at its peak to penny-stock territory, and the company filed for bankruptcy in 2025. Ancestry has also felt the pinch of a saturated DNA test market – many consumers bought a kit once and don’t need another. However, Ancestry’s core strength is its subscription record database, which provides ongoing value (and revenue) beyond one-time DNA kit sales. Blackstone might figure that now is a good time to capitalize on Ancestry’s strong subscription business, especially as growth in DNA testing slows. Better to sell or go public while the company’s finances look solid, rather than risk any downturn.

• Potential Buyers or Partners: There may be strategic players eyeing Ancestry. Big tech or media companies, or even healthcare firms, might find Ancestry’s huge database of genealogical information valuable. Blackstone exploring a sale could flush out any such interested parties. (Pure speculation: for instance, could a company like Microsoft, Google, or a DNA-focused biotech be intrigued? If so, Blackstone would want to hear those offers now.)

In short, Blackstone’s move is likely driven by a combination of timing and market dynamics. For us as users, the reasons might be less important than the outcomes. So let’s talk about what these outcomes – an IPO or a sale – might mean for everyday genealogists.

Blackstone’s Plans for Ancestry.com: How Might This Affect Ancestry Users?

Whenever we hear about corporate shake-ups, the first question is: “What does this mean for me as a user?” Here are a few key areas to consider, in a friendly Q&A style:

• 🔍 Access to Records and DNA Data: In the near term, you shouldn’t lose access to any records or DNA matches you currently enjoy. Past transitions didn’t yank away our census records or family trees, and this one likely won’t either. If Ancestry goes public, it’s the same company offering the same service, just with its stock traded publicly – your account and data remain under Ancestry’s control. If Ancestry is sold to a new owner, that new owner will want to keep subscribers happy (our subscriptions are the asset they’re buying!). In fact, a new owner might invest more in content: we could see more digitized records, new databases, or improved features as part of efforts to attract and retain users. Keep in mind, Ancestry has always been adding collections (e.g., recently digitized war records, city directories, etc.), and that likely won’t stop. Bottom line: your family tree and DNA results aren’t going anywhere. Of course, it’s always smart to back up your data (we’ll touch on that in a bit), but there’s no sign of any disruption in access.

• 💵 Subscription Prices and Plans: Many genealogists immediately wonder if a new owner or shareholders would hike the price. It’s true that once a company goes public, there’s pressure to keep revenue growing. That could eventually translate into pricing changes – but not necessarily overnight. Ancestry’s subscriptions currently run roughly in the $20–$50 per month range depending on plan (basic U.S. records vs. all-access with Newspapers.com, Fold3, etc.). If anything, an IPO might push Ancestry to introduce new tiers or add-on services to entice more subscribers (for example, special DNA analysis packages or historical newspaper bundles). They might also offer promotional deals to boost subscriber counts – something we at Genealogy Bargains are always on the lookout for! So, don’t panic about price hikes yet, but do stay alert. If you’re on a yearly subscription, it wouldn’t hurt to renew at current rates if you’re concerned. In the long run, competition from other services (MyHeritage, FamilySearch, Findmypast, etc.) will help keep Ancestry’s pricing in check; they know we have choices.

• ✨ Features and Innovations: One reason to take a company public is to raise capital – which could be invested in product improvements. We might see new features roll out faster with an infusion of cash. Imagine better search algorithms, more integration of AI for things like handwriting recognition in old documents, or improved family tree charting tools. Ancestry has already been dabbling in features like Storymaker Studio (for turning tree facts into narrative) and photo colorization (though MyHeritage led the way on AI photo tools). With more resources, Ancestry could develop these further. Conversely, a new owner might look to streamline the service. It’s possible they could retire little-used features to focus on what’s most profitable. For example, in the past Ancestry retired its MyFamily.com and the old RootsWeb mailing lists to focus on core offerings. If there are features you love, use them and advocate for them – companies do listen to user feedback, especially passionate communities like genealogists. Overall, expect evolution, not revolution: the basic experience of building trees, searching records, and taking DNA tests will remain, but hopefully with some nifty upgrades over time.

• 🔐 Privacy and Data Security: Let’s talk about the elephant in the room – our family data and DNA privacy. Genealogists are understandably protective of their family trees, stories, and genetic information. The idea of a new corporate owner (or public shareholders) having a say in how Ancestry handles our data can be nerve-wracking. Here’s what we know: Blackstone, when it bought Ancestry, explicitly stated it “will not access user DNA and family tree data” and won’t share it with other companies. They said their profit would come from subscriptions, not selling data. So far, there’s been no sign of misuse of Ancestry’s data under Blackstone’s tenure. If Ancestry goes public, the company will have to be transparent about data practices in its filings. If it sells to another company, one of the first questions users should ask is “What are their privacy policies?” A reputable buyer will hopefully make their stance clear upfront (for example, when MyHeritage was acquired by a new investor in 2021, the CEO assured users that they would not sell or license genetic data to third parties, reinforcing an industry-leading privacy policy).

That said, we’ve seen cautionary tales: 23andMe’s recent struggles included a 2023 breach that exposed data of ~7 million users, and it raised alarms about how genetic data might be used if a company falters. We don’t want to be paranoid, but it’s smart to be vigilant.

Continue to read Ancestry’s privacy updates (they do send notifications for any changes). You control how much you share – for instance, whether you make your family tree public or private, or opt in to DNA matching. Those settings remain under your control. In summary, privacy remains a top concern, but there’s no concrete reason to believe an IPO or sale would suddenly compromise your data. Just stay informed and proactive about your settings.

Blackstone’s Plans for Ancestry.com: Lessons from Other Companies in Genealogy Tech

To put things in perspective, let’s compare Ancestry’s situation with a couple of other genealogy and consumer tech examples:

• The 23andMe Saga: As mentioned, 23andMe (a DNA testing company many genealogists use for cousin matching) went public in 2021 with a lot of fanfare. Initially, investors valued it at a whopping $3.5 billion (peaking near $6 billion). But being a public company exposed 23andMe to intense pressure when sales slowed. People don’t buy DNA kits repeatedly, and revenue from health reports wasn’t enough to keep growth investors happy. Then came a serious data breach in 2023, which badly hurt consumer trust. Fast forward to 2025: 23andMe’s stock had plummeted, the company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, and it’s being sold off in parts to recover. Ouch. The takeaway for genealogists? An IPO isn’t a magic bullet – a genealogy/DNA company still has to keep its customers satisfied and data secure, or it can stumble. However, Ancestry is in a different boat than 23andMe was. Ancestry’s subscription model means ongoing revenue, and it has a vast library of content that keeps people renewing. In a sense, it’s more like a Netflix of genealogy, whereas 23andMe was more like a one-time gadget. So, while 23andMe’s fate is a cautionary tale (especially about not getting complacent with privacy and product value), Ancestry has a more stable foundation if managed well.

• MyHeritage’s Buyout: MyHeritage, a popular genealogy site and DNA competitor based in Israel, was acquired by private equity firm Francisco Partners in 2021. At first, users weren’t sure what to expect – would the focus shift, would it become more commercial? In practice, MyHeritage continued on its mission and even accelerated some innovations. The new owners invested in growth: MyHeritage acquired smaller companies (like French genealogy service Filae) to add more records, and it rolled out amazing AI tools for photo colorization and enhancement (many of us had fun colorizing great-grandma’s old portraits!). Importantly, the CEO of MyHeritage reassured users about privacy, updating their policy to explicitly forbid selling users’ genetic data to third parties. The genealogy community welcomed this move. It shows that new investors can bring positive changes – more resources, new features – while respecting the user base. We can hope (and perhaps expect) that any outcome for Ancestry will be similar: the owners (whoever they are) will want to keep our trust, not lose it.

• Ancestry’s Own History: Remember, this isn’t Ancestry’s first rodeo with IPOs and buyouts. The company has gone public before and survived being bought out multiple times. Through each cycle, it kept growing its archives and user base. When it was taken private in 2012, that set the stage for launching AncestryDNA and expanding internationally. When new investors joined in 2016, Ancestry was valued higher but our day-to-day use only improved as more content was added. So, these corporate moves can simply be a normal part of a successful company’s life cycle. Many tech companies we use (from social media platforms to software apps) have gone through acquisitions or IPOs. Think of when Facebook acquired Instagram, or when Google bought Fitbit – there were user worries at first, yet those services are still here, and largely the core experience remains. In the genealogy world, we have fewer big players, but competition between them (Ancestry, MyHeritage, Findmypast, FamilySearch, etc.) ensures that each one tries to offer the best it can to keep us as customers.

In short, the sky isn’t falling. 🙂 If Ancestry goes public or gets a new owner, it will join a list of genealogy companies that have navigated changes. The outcome could be neutral or even net-positive for users if handled correctly. The key will be good leadership at Ancestry and open communication with its community.

Key Takeaways for Genealogists (What Should You Do?)

For hobbyists and professional genealogists who rely on Ancestry.com, here are some friendly pieces of advice as we watch this story unfold:

• 📖 Don’t Panic – Keep Researching: First and foremost, nothing has changed yet. Your Ancestry account and all its features are working just as they were last week. A potential sale or IPO will take months (if not longer) to finalize, and even then, any user-facing changes would likely roll out gradually. So continue your census digging, record hinting, and DNA matching as usual. The best way to respond to uncertainty is to enjoy the hobby that brought you here in the first place!

• 🔔 Stay Informed: That said, keep an eye on the news. If Blackstone does decide on an IPO or finds a buyer, there will be official announcements. Ancestry.com will surely email users about any major changes or new terms of service. You don’t need a finance degree to follow along – plenty of genealogy blogs (like this one) and newsletters will boil down the key points. Being informed means you won’t be caught off guard by, say, an email about a new parent company or a change in pricing. We’ll do our best to update you on Genealogy Bargains whenever important info comes out.

• 💾 Back Up Your Tree and DNA Data: This is good practice regardless of ownership. Take some time to export your family tree as a GEDCOM file (so you have a copy of all your names, dates, notes, etc. that you can open in other software if needed). Similarly, you can download your raw DNA data file from AncestryDNA. While we expect Ancestry to continue business smoothly, having your own backup is just smart genealogy. It’s your research, after all – preserving it is part of the passion. Think of it like keeping a digital copy of family photos in addition to the originals. If ever you wanted to move your data or just have peace of mind, you’ll be glad to have that backup.

• 🔑 Review Your Privacy Settings: Now is a great time to double-check your account settings on Ancestry. Look at what you’ve shared on your public profile, review your DNA match settings (are you open to sharing your ethnicity and matches with others, or do you prefer to be private?), and read through Ancestry’s current privacy policy so you understand how your data is used. Ancestry allows you to opt in or out of certain research studies and communications – those options are under your DNA settings. Make the choices that you’re comfortable with. If down the road there are any changes (say, new privacy terms from an IPO), you’ll be reading them from a position of understanding your current setup.

• 💳 Consider Your Subscription Plan: If you’re worried about potential price changes in the future, take stock of your current subscription. Are you on a monthly plan? Annual? Do you have an auto-renew set up? It might be worth ensuring your renewal is locked in at today’s rates, especially if you’re on an annual World Explorer or All Access plan you got on sale. (Shameless plug: Genealogy Bargains often shares discount codes and sales – keep an eye out!). Also, remember you have options: you can downgrade or upgrade based on your needs. If, hypothetically, a year from now the price for All Access goes up, you might decide to switch to a cheaper plan or use other sites in tandem. Savvy genealogists often mix-and-match resources – for example, using the free FamilySearch for some things, a MyHeritage data subscription for others, or purchasing one-month access to newspapers during intensive research periods. Ancestry will remain a powerhouse, but you’re never without alternatives for specific tasks.

• 🤝 Community Support: One thing genealogy hobbyists excel at is community. If you’re unsure or anxious about what’s happening, reach out to fellow genealogists. There are Facebook groups, subreddits (like r/Genealogy), genealogy society meetups, and conference communities where people are surely discussing these Ancestry news. Share your thoughts and listen to others.’ Often, someone with a bit of industry knowledge can provide clarity (“Oh, an IPO just means they’ll have shareholders – it doesn’t mean the website is shutting down, don’t worry!”). And if you have strong feelings – say, about privacy – making your voice heard in the community can sometimes filter back to the company. Ancestry does pay attention to user sentiment. We’re all in this together, and it’s heartening to remember that the genealogy community has thrived across many platforms and decades. Whether it was dial-up bulletin boards, microfilm in library basements, or today’s online databases, our passion for family history persists. Ancestry.com is a big part of that ecosystem right now, and it will likely continue to be, whatever corporate logo ends up on the investor reports.

Finally, a bit of perspective: Ancestry’s mission is about connecting people with their family stories. That mission isn’t going to vanish just because stock shares change hands or a new firm comes onboard. In the best case, this next chapter could bring more resources and innovation to help us in our research. In the worst case (which seems unlikely), if Ancestry did something to upset users, the good news is genealogy as a field is bigger than any one company. But given Ancestry’s track record, any new owners or investors will want to keep improving the site, not drive us away.

So, keep calm and carry on with your genealogy! 🧬📜 We’ll be watching this story and will update you with any significant developments. In the meantime, happy ancestor hunting – may your hints be fruitful and your brick walls crumble, no matter who owns Ancestry.com. After all, our ancestors’ stories belong to us, and we’re just using these modern tools to discover them.

***

Author’s Note: I want to be transparent that this article – Blackstone’s Plans for Ancestry.com: What Could It Mean for Genealogists? – was created in part with the help of an artificial intelligence (AI) language model – ChatGPT 5o PRO with Deep Reasoning. The AI assisted in generating an early draft of the article, but every paragraph was subsequently reviewed, edited, and refined by me. The final content is the result of extensive human curation and creativity. I am proud to present this work and assure readers that while AI was a tool in the process, the story, style, and substance have been carefully shaped by the author.