Is BTS Really the Fifth-Largest Shareholder of HYBE? Debunking the Viral Claim

According to KoreaBoo, a recent claim circulating on X (formerly Twitter) alleges that BTS members have become the fifth largest shareholder of HYBE. The claim states that BTS collectively owns 1.1% of HYBE’s total shares and will exercise their votes as a single entity. However, the claim lacks cited sources or statistical backing, raising doubts about its accuracy.
The viral claim suggests that each BTS member owns more shares individually than any CEO of HYBE’s subsidiary companies. While this assertion has gained traction among fans, publicly available financial data tells a different story.
Table of contents
HYBE’s Shareholder Structure
According to official figures released on HYBE’s website, the company’s major shareholders are as follows:
- Bang Si Hyuk – 31.6%
- Netmarble – 12.1%
- National Pension Service of Korea – 8.2%
- Dunamu Inc. – 5.5%
- Others (collectively attributed) – 5.7%
Additional financial data from Bloomberg further clarifies HYBE’s shareholder rankings. These reports identify Scooter Braun, CEO of HYBE America, as the actual fifth-largest shareholder, not BTS. This directly contradicts the claim that BTS collectively holds the fifth-largest stake in the company.

BTS’s Actual Shareholding
Based on publicly available records, BTS member Jungkook is among the top 10 shareholders of HYBE, holding 68,385 shares, which accounts for 0.16% of the company. These shares, along with those of the other six members, were originally gifted by HYBE’s founder, Bang Si Hyuk, in 2020 when the company went public.


However, BTS’s collective 1.1% stake is only feasible if all seven members retained their original shares. In reality, official filings show that some members have sold portions of their stock. According to HYBE’s 2021 Stock Holding Changes Report:
- Jin sold 16,000 shares
- RM sold 10,385 shares
- J-Hope sold 5,601 shares
This indicates that not all BTS members currently hold the same number of shares, making the claim of their collective 1.1% ownership questionable at best, and potentially false.

While BTS remains a significant entity within HYBE, the claim that they are the fifth-largest shareholder is not supported by verified financial data. Public records indicate that their collective ownership does not reach the stated 1.1%, especially after share sales by individual members. Moreover, Scooter Braun, not BTS, holds the position of the fifth-largest shareholder in the company.