Overview
Edelman was launched in 1952 by Daniel J. Edelman, a former journalist, starting from an office in Chicago’s Merchandise Mart with one client, the Toni Corporation.[19] His son Richard Edelman was president and CEO when the founder died in 2013.[19] In O’Dwyer’s 2026 ranking Edelman reported worldwide net fees of US$950.5 million for 2025, a decline of 3.6% on 2024, with 5,457 full-time employees, making it the largest firm in either ranking used here.[1] PRovoke’s table gives the same 2025 figure and a 2024 figure of US$986.0 million.[2] The firm is widely known outside the PR trade for the Edelman Trust Barometer, an annual survey of public trust in business, government, media and NGOs; the 2026 edition reported that seven in ten respondents were unwilling or hesitant to trust people with different values or information sources.[20]
Edelman strengths and limitations
Strengths
- Largest reported fee base in the industry, implying broad market coverage
- Proprietary research programme (Trust Barometer) used in corporate counselling
Limitations
- Fee income fell 3.6% in 2025, from US$986.0m in 2024
- Scale and senior-level pricing are oriented to large corporate clients
Appears in
Edelman alternatives and competitors
Alternatives to Edelman: companies ranked in the same lists.
Burson
Weber Shandwick- FleishmanHillard
FGS Global
Brunswick Group
MSL
Ogilvy PR
APCO
SEC Newgate
Ruder Finn
FINN Partners
Is this your company?
Update the description, logo, image and link through the submission form. Editors review every change.