How the Zildjian Family Kept Their Cymbal Empire for 400 Years

Family Business Stories with Fexingo: Succession, Legacy, and Multi-Generational Companies · May 25, 2026 · 10m · transcript

In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore how the Zildjian family has maintained control of their cymbal-making business for nearly four centuries—from 17th-century Constantinople to modern-day Boston. They dive into the specific governance structures that allowed the company to survive wars, economic crises, and family feuds, including the 'eldest son' tradition that later evolved into a more inclusive model. The hosts focus on the 20th-century succession crisis when the company went from Armenian to American leadership, and how the family trust structure prevented a sale to outside…