Johnson & Johnson was founded in 1886.
Brothers Robert Wood Johnson, James Wood Johnson, and Edward Mead Johnson established the company in New Brunswick, New Jersey. The business initially focused on sterile surgical dressings, responding to advances in antiseptic medicine and the need for cleaner medical procedures. Its early products helped make prepared, standardized medical supplies more widely available.
Johnson & Johnson later expanded into consumer health products, pharmaceuticals, and medical devices. Its portfolio has included well-known brands and prescription medicines, although the company has changed its structure and brand ownership over time. In 2023, the consumer-health business was separated as Kenvue, while Johnson & Johnson retained its pharmaceutical and medical-technology operations.
The founding year is sometimes confused with the dates of later product launches or corporate reorganizations. Johnson & Johnson's long history makes it one of the older major companies commonly included in discussions of large public companies and market capitalization.