Jim Pattison, the Canadian Billionaire, has owned the various Ripley’s rights for a while now. He has also had a long association with Guinness museums (including in Niagara Falls). Well, apparently he has taken it one step further and on Friday purchased the Guinness Book of
“It gives us another iconic global brand that works very well with the Ripley’s brand,†Jim Pattison Jr., Jimmy’s son and president of Ripley, said when reached by telephone at the company’s head office in Orlando, Fla. “The Guinness book is a world authority on records, it is recognized and has no equal. Ripley’s in its own right is a global authority on the odd, the unusual and the very strange.â€
Here are some articles on the purchase:
- Pattison goes for the record books – ReportOnBusiness.com
- Pattison makes a record, Guinness, that is, purchase – National Post
- Pattison makes ‘record’ purchase; Owns Ripley’s Guinness museum, now owns the book as well – Niagara Falls Review
The articles say that the two brands will continue to operate independently. I wonder how long that will continue for. In Niagara Falls, Ripley’s Entertainment runs Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Museum, Ripley’s Moving Theatre, and Tussaud’s Waxworks. Niagara Clifton Group runs the Guinness World Records Museum.