The Rothschild family does not own the Bank of England or the U.S. Federal Reserve Bank

Context

In a clip being shared on TikTok, conspiracy theorist Anthony J. Hilder is shown on what is claimed to be “the Rothschild estate” in an unnamed location in “mid-England.” 

In the clip, Hilder states the Rothschild family controls the Bank of England and the United States Federal Reserve and uses their money to buy politicians. Thus, prime ministers and presidents are beholden to the Rothschilds, not to the public. The Rothschilds are also said to be behind the Treaty of Lisbon, which Hilder refers to as “the constitution of Europe.” 

Hilder also points to a pyramid-shaped building which he claims is a temple of the pagan god Apollo, located on the same estate. Here, the Rothschilds and other “Masonic religion” members supposedly worship Lucifer. These are said to include royalty and rock stars who participate in rituals to gain power, prestige, and fame. 

However, these claims are part of a long-running conspiracy theory concerning the Rothschilds. 

In Fact

The Bank of England is wholly owned by the U.K. government, although it carries out its responsibilities independently of day-to-day politics. It was originally founded by Royal Charter in 1694 and functioned like other private companies, including paying annual dividends to shareholders. From the mid-19th century, it started to behave more like a central bank, for instance, by controlling the issuing of banknotes in England and Wales. Due to its importance to the economy, the bank was nationalized in 1946. Most of the world’s central banks are similarly owned by national governments; they are not controlled by the Rothschilds.

Similarly, the U.S. Federal Reserve is an independent agency created by Congress in 1913 to manage the money supply and help maintain economic stability. The Board of Governors reports to and is directly accountable to Congress and oversees 12 Federal Reserve banks in an equal number of districts. 

All nationally chartered commercial banks are required to own a certain number of stocks in their district's Reserve Bank. This does not generate profit, and they do not have a vote over Federal Reserve policy. The 12 Federal Reserve banks must transfer all net earnings to the U. S. Treasury after covering all necessary expenses. 

The Lisbon Treaty was approved at a meeting of Heads of State and Government in Lisbon in October 2007 and adopted by the European Parliament in February 2008. It entered into force on 1 December 2009 after all 27 member states ratified it. It clarified the powers of the Union, gave the Union a legal personality and the right to sign international treaties, and established procedures for member states wishing to leave the Union. There is no evidence that any of the Rothschilds were able to influence or shape this treaty in any way.

While the Rothschild family owns several estates in the U.K., the building shown in the clip is actually the Oare Pavilion, built for Henry and Tessa Keswick by Chinese-born architect H. I. Pei in 2003 and located in Wiltshire, England. This was determined through a reverse image search of screenshots from the video and comparing details, including the number of window panes and visible furniture. Logically Facts could not establish any connections between the pavilion and the Rothschild family. 

The Rothschilds are a Jewish banking dynasty, although the numerous descendants mean there is no longer a centralized family fortune. Since the 19th century, the Rothschilds have been targeted by conspiracy theorists as an alleged example of Jews using their wealth to control global finances. The origin of these conspiracy theories has been traced to a French pamphlet, Histoire édifante et curieuse de Rothschild Ier, roi des juifs, published in 1846. The Rothschilds often symbolize alleged Jewish power and have even been accused of controlling the weather. 

The claims in the clip tie in with antisemitic notions depicting Jews as scheming for world domination through control over banks, politicians, and the mass media, as typified in the infamous forgery Protocols of the Elders of Zion. Such claims form the basis of contemporary conspiracy theories, like the New World Order, that state global elites are running the world.

The Verdict

The Rothschild family is frequently the target of antisemitic conspiracy theories claiming they are a global elite that runs the world. There is no evidence the family owns or has any say in the U.S. Federal Reserve Bank or the Bank of England. Therefore, we have marked this claim as false.