SPRINGFIELD, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 15, 2026--MassMutual today marked its 175th anniversary, honoring a legacy built around one idea that has endured since its founding: when people look out for …
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SPRINGFIELD, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 15, 2026--
MassMutual today marked its 175th anniversary, honoring a legacy built around one idea that has endured since its founding: when people look out for one another, everyone is stronger.
This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260515578567/en/
Founded on May 15, 1851 in Springfield, Massachusetts by 31 investors who pooled together $100,000 to create a company to help their friends and neighbors protect their loved ones, MassMutual has grown into one of America’s largest mutual life insurance companies, serving more than four million customers1 with over $1 trillion in life insurance in force1, more than $34 billion in capital strength1, and $584 billion in assets under management. 2
“At its heart, this milestone is about the people who rely on us and the commitments we have kept to the millions of families throughout our history,” said Roger Crandall, Chairman, President, and CEO of MassMutual. “From the moment we issued our first policy, we have been a steady source of strength and support for moments of change, challenge, and celebration — and we are proud to carry that responsibility forward for generations to come.”
As MassMutual celebrates its 175 th year, the company remains as committed today as it was in 1851 to delivering on its purpose: We help people secure their future and protect the ones they love. The driving force behind MassMutual’s ability to deliver on this purpose is its dedicated employees and more than 6,000 affiliated financial professionals across the U.S. who serve individuals, families, and business owners.
MassMutual: A mutual company built for long-term policyowner value
As a mutual company, MassMutual focuses on the long-term interests of its policyowners and customers. Through eras of extraordinary change, the company has honored its commitments, paying more than $10 billion in insurance and annuity benefits last year and more than $70 billion in the last decade. 3
One benefit of being a mutual company is MassMutual’s ability to share its success with eligible participating policyowners. While dividends are not guaranteed, MassMutual has paid a dividend every year to eligible participating policyowners since 1869 – and the company’s cumulative dividend payments have exceeded $50 billion through 2025. Building on this, MassMutual will distribute an estimated record $2.9 billion to eligible participating policyowners in 2026.
Celebrating its 175 th year: Honoring MassMutual’s culture of people helping people
Building on more than $230 million that MassMutual and the MassMutual Foundation have given back to the community in the last decade, 3 the company’s legacy of people helping people and supporting the community will continue throughout MassMutual’s yearlong celebration, commencing with the following:
“Wherever the world takes us, one thing is certain for MassMutual: a strong, enduring foundation and bold, ambitious approach will continue to be a vital part of who we are and how we show up in the world – one person, family, and community at a time,” concluded Crandall.
To honor its legacy and inspire what’s next, MassMutual invites readers to explore a newly released timeline of historic moments and watch a short commemorative film that brings the company’s enduring purpose to life.
About MassMutual (Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company)
For 175 years, MassMutual has stood beside generations through life’s defining moments, guided by a clear, enduring purpose: We help people secure their future and protect the ones they love. What began in 1851 as a bold idea rooted in neighbors helping neighbors has grown into one of America’s largest mutual life insurance companies, serving more than four million customers 1 with over $1 trillion in life insurance in force 1 and $584 billion in assets under management, 2 all built on a foundation of more than $34 billion in capital strength. 1
MassMutual offers a broad range of products and services across protection, accumulation, wealth management, and retirement income, including annuities through our leading annuity provider, MassMutual Ascend. These solutions reach people through our expansive distribution, which is anchored by our dedicated network of affiliated financial professionals. For nearly two centuries, our offerings have helped people build, protect, and pass on what means the most to them. Through eras of extraordinary change, we have honored our commitments, paying upwards of $70 billion in insurance and annuity benefits over the past decade. 3
MassMutual is strengthened by a diversified portfolio of strategic businesses and investments – including Barings, our global alternative asset management subsidiary – which enables us to deliver greater long-term value to our policyowners. MassMutual has a longstanding, successful approach to bringing together deep life insurance expertise and advanced asset management capabilities, which put us at the forefront of this trend and helped pioneer growth beyond traditional industry boundaries. Through Barings, we have robust asset origination capabilities that have helped us achieve exceptional long-term performance for our policyowners.
Through it all, our scale provides strength; our mutuality provides alignment; and our purpose ensures we do not lose sight of who we serve. To learn more, visit massmutual.com.
1 As of December 31, 2025
2 Assets Under Management (AUM) include assets and certain external investment funds managed by MassMutual subsidiaries, including Barings and MassMutual Ascend as of December 31, 2025
3 2016-2025
View source version on businesswire.com:https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260515578567/en/
CONTACT: Media:
Paula Tremblay, MassMutual:ptremblay@massmutual.com
KEYWORD: MASSACHUSETTS UNITED STATES NORTH AMERICA
INDUSTRY KEYWORD: FINANCE BANKING PROFESSIONAL SERVICES ASSET MANAGEMENT INSURANCE
SOURCE: MassMutual
Copyright Business Wire 2026.
PUB: 05/15/2026 07:00 AM/DISC: 05/15/2026 07:02 AM
http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260515578567/en