Now: Samsung’s headquarters, known as Samsung Digital City, is located in Suwon, South Korea. The sprawling complex houses numerous research and development facilities, as well as corporate offices.
YouTube: Before: YouTube was founded in a small office above a pizzeria in San Mateo, California, in 2005. Steve Chen, Chad Hurley, and Jawed Karim developed the platform as a way for users to share and watch videos online.
Now: YouTube operates from its headquarters in San Bruno, California. The office space caters to the platform’s content creators, providing resources and support for their video production endeavors.
Corporate Legends: Tracing the Roots of Kraft, Marriott, Mattel, and More
Kraft: Before: Kraft began in 1903 when James L. Kraft started selling cheese from a horse-drawn wagon in Chicago, Illinois. He eventually established a wholesale cheese distribution business.
Now: Kraft’s headquarters is located in Chicago, Illinois. The company has expanded its product portfolio and presence globally, becoming one of the largest food and beverage companies in the world.
Marriott: Before: Marriott’s story began with a nine-stool root beer stand that J. Willard Marriott and his wife, Alice Marriott, opened in Washington, D.C., in 1927. The stand eventually evolved into a restaurant and, later, a hotel business.
Now: Marriott’s headquarters, known as the Marriott International HQ, is situated in Bethesda, Maryland. The company has grown into a global hospitality giant, operating a vast network of hotels and resorts worldwide.
Mattel: Before: Mattel originated in a Southern California garage workshop in 1945. Harold “Matt” Matson and Elliot Handler founded the company, initially producing picture frames before transitioning to toy manufacturing.
Now: Mattel’s headquarters is located in El Segundo, California. The company is renowned for its iconic brands, including Barbie, Hot Wheels, and Fisher-Price, and continues to shape the toy industry.
