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    MyHeritage
    Genealogy

    MyHeritage

    Israel flagIsrael

    "Connecting you with your past and relatives around the world"

    Founded 2003 Or Yehuda CEO: Gilad Japhet
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    About

    Ordinary people started building family trees in Or Yehuda, Israel, back in 2003. Gilad Japhet launched the platform as a niche tool for genealogy enthusiasts but watched it evolve into a massive digital archive holding over 19.9 billion historical records. Users upload old photographs and construct detailed lineage charts while the system matches them against vast databases of birth certificates, census data, and military documents across 42 languages.

    The company expanded its scope beyond paper trails in 2016 by launching MyHeritage DNA, a genetic testing kit that added biological data to user profiles. By March 2023, more than 6.5 million kits sat in their database, helping strangers discover relatives they never knew existed. Financial growth continued until early 2021 when Francisco Partners acquired the brand for $600 million. Today the headquarters remain in Or Yehuda, Israel, but operations span offices in Tel Aviv, Kyiv, Burbank, and Lehi, Utah, supporting content in 42 different languages.

    Products & Sub-brands

    MyHeritage DNAScribe AIFamily InfographicsPhoto EnhancerRecord Matcher

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Who owns MyHeritage?
    MyHeritage is owned by Francisco Partners, a private equity firm that acquired the company in 2021 for $600 million, though it was originally founded and is still led by CEO Gilad Japhet.
    Is MyHeritage still in business?
    Yes, MyHeritage is actively operating and growing, recently launching new AI tools like Scribe and expanding its database with hundreds of millions of new records in late 2026.
    How accurate are MyHeritage DNA results?
    MyHeritage DNA provides reliable ethnicity estimates and cousin matching, though some users report discrepancies or unexpected findings that require cross-referencing with other databases.
    What is the difference between MyHeritage and Ancestry?
    While both offer DNA testing and family trees, MyHeritage often focuses more on European records and offers unique photo enhancement tools, whereas Ancestry typically has a larger volume of US-specific census data.
    Can I access my MyHeritage account if I forgot my password?
    Users can regain access to their accounts through the official login page by using the 'Forgot Password' feature to reset credentials via email, though some users have reported temporary technical difficulties requiring support intervention.

    Keywords

    genealogyfamily treeDNA testancestryhistorical recordsgenetic testingphoto restorationsurname distribution

    Sources

    Company Info

    Founded
    2003
    Founder
    Gilad Japhet
    CEO
    Gilad Japhet
    Headquarters
    Or Yehuda
    Industry
    Genealogy
    Parent Company
    Francisco Partners
    Acquisition Price
    $600 million
    Acquisition Year
    2021
    Historical Records
    19.9 billion
    DNA Kits Database (March 2023)
    6.5 million
    New Records Added (Sept 2026)
    450 million

    Official Website

    www.myheritage.com/

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