U-Haul, America’s most recognized do-it-yourself moving company, was founded in 1945 by Leonard Shoen in Ridgefield, Washington. Today, U-Haul CEO Joe Shoen — son of the founder — leads the company’s massive network of over 23,000 locations across North America. A billionaire who has served as Chairman, President and CEO since 1987, Shoen is notably modest in his compensation, taking just over $1 million annually despite heading a $6 billion revenue enterprise. Under his nearly four decades of leadership, U-Haul has grown from a truck rental business into a diversified moving and self-storage powerhouse operating under the U-Haul Holding Company (formerly AMERCO) on the NYSE.

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Joe Shoen – Quick Facts

Early Life & Education

Edward Joseph “Joe” Shoen was born on October 28, 1949, in Phoenix, Arizona. He is the third son of Leonard Samuel Shoen, the legendary entrepreneur who founded U-Haul in 1945 in Ridgefield, Washington, and his first wife, Anna Mary Carty. Growing up in the Shoen household meant growing up in the moving business — Leonard Shoen had 12 children in total, many of whom would eventually become involved in the family enterprise.

Joe Shoen received a rigorous education that prepared him for both business and law. He earned his Bachelor of Arts degree from the College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, Massachusetts, a prestigious Jesuit liberal arts college. He then went on to earn his Master of Business Administration (MBA) from Harvard Business School, where he notably wrote his thesis on the self-storage business — a sector that would later become a major revenue driver for U-Haul. Additionally, Shoen earned a Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree from the Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law at Arizona State University, making him a licensed attorney as well as a seasoned business executive.

Education Summary

Career History

Joe Shoen’s career has been inextricably linked to the family business. From a young age, he worked in various capacities at U-Haul, learning the ins and outs of the truck rental and moving industry. After completing his education at Holy Cross, Harvard, and Arizona State, he held multiple executive roles within AMERCO (the parent company of U-Haul International) throughout the late 1970s and 1980s.

The pivotal moment in Shoen’s career came in 1986, when a bitter family feud erupted over the direction of U-Haul. Leonard Shoen, the founder, wanted to diversify the company into the general equipment rental business. Joe and his brother Mark Shoen disagreed, insisting the company should focus on its core truck rental and moving services. The brothers ultimately prevailed in a dramatic boardroom battle, taking control of the company and effectively pushing their father into early retirement.

In 1987, Joe Shoen was formally named Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of AMERCO/U-Haul, a position he has held for nearly four decades — making him one of the longest-serving CEOs of any major American corporation. Under his leadership, Shoen streamlined operations, expanded the truck and trailer fleet, invested heavily in the self-storage business, and strengthened U-Haul’s nationwide network to over 23,000 rental locations.

The Shoen Family Feud

The Shoen family’s internal struggle for control of U-Haul became one of the most publicized corporate family feuds in American history. After Joe and Mark gained control in 1986, Leonard Shoen and several of his other children contested the takeover through numerous lawsuits. The conflict escalated tragically in 1990, when Eva Shoen, the wife of Joe’s oldest brother Sam, was murdered in Telluride, Colorado, in what was ultimately determined to be a botched robbery. The murder cast a dark shadow over the family dispute, though the criminal case ultimately concluded without implicating any family members.

The legal battles continued through the 1990s, culminating in a 1994 Maricopa County Superior Court jury verdict ordering Joe and Mark Shoen’s faction to pay $1.48 billion in damages to the opposing family members. The amount was later reduced on appeal to $461 million. Leonard Shoen passed away in 1999 at the age of 83, but Joe Shoen emerged from the decades-long feud with firm control of the company.

CEO Role at U-Haul

As Chairman, President and CEO of U-Haul Holding Company, Joe Shoen oversees one of America’s most iconic brands. U-Haul operates the largest fleet of rental trucks and trailers in North America, with over 186,000 trucks, trailers, and towing devices available at more than 23,000 locations. The company also operates a rapidly growing self-storage division with over 80 million square feet of storage space.

Shoen is known for his hands-on, no-nonsense management style. Despite leading a multi-billion-dollar enterprise, he has famously kept his own compensation modest — earning just over $1 million per year in total compensation. He has been quoted saying he does not believe in excessive executive pay, a philosophy rooted in U-Haul’s cost-conscious culture.

In 2025 and 2026, Shoen has continued to innovate. In March 2026, U-Haul announced a one-year rate lock guarantee for self-storage customers, with Shoen publicly criticizing industry-wide pricing practices that he called unfair to consumers. The move positioned U-Haul as a consumer-friendly alternative in the increasingly competitive self-storage market.

Leadership & Achievements

Over nearly four decades as CEO, Joe Shoen has transformed U-Haul from a truck rental company into a diversified moving and storage conglomerate. Key achievements under his leadership include:

• Self-Storage Expansion: Under Shoen’s direction, U-Haul invested billions in building and acquiring self-storage facilities, growing to over 80 million square feet of rentable storage space
• Fleet Modernization: Continually invested in modernizing U-Haul’s truck and trailer fleet, maintaining the largest rental fleet in North America
• Sustainability Initiatives: U-Haul was honored with sustainability awards for its environmental efforts, including truck fleet efficiency improvements and sharing economy leadership
• Responsible CEO Nomination: Nominated by CR Magazine for Responsible CEO of the Year Award
• Drug-Free Workplace: In 2020, U-Haul became the first major U.S. company to implement a nicotine-free hiring policy in states where permitted
• Customer-First Pricing: Introduced the 2026 self-storage rate lock guarantee, challenging industry norms of frequent price increases on existing tenants
• Long-Term Stability: Maintained consistent leadership for nearly 39 years, providing stability through multiple economic cycles

Personal Life – Wife, Family & More

Joe Shoen resides in Phoenix, Arizona, and is known for being intensely private about his personal life. He married his wife, Sylvia Shoen, in 2002 in a private ceremony. Together they have three children: Royal, Carty, and Joseph. Shoen also has two sons, Stuart and Sam, from a previous marriage.

Sylvia Shoen is a successful businesswoman in her own right. She previously served as Vice President of Supplier Diversity at US West Communications and later founded Royal Exchange Furniture and Sooo U! Fine Clothing and Accessories in 2011. Unfortunately, Sylvia was diagnosed with myelofibrosis cancer in 2017.

In his personal time, Joe Shoen enjoys golf, swimming, and traveling. Despite his billionaire status, he is known for his frugal lifestyle and aversion to ostentation — consistent with U-Haul’s cost-conscious corporate culture. He has been described by associates as modest, direct, and deeply committed to the company his father built.

Joe Shoen Net Worth 2026 – U-Haul CEO Salary

As of 2026, Joe Shoen’s net worth is estimated at approximately $4.4 billion, making him one of the wealthiest people in Arizona and among the richest individuals in the transportation and logistics industry. His wealth derives primarily from his significant ownership stake in U-Haul Holding Company (NYSE: UHAL), which has a market capitalization of approximately $9.5 billion.

Net worth estimates vary by source — ranging from approximately $3.3 billion to $4.7 billion — due to fluctuations in UHAL stock price and differing valuation methodologies. Regardless of the specific figure, Shoen has been consistently listed among Forbes’ and Bloomberg’s global billionaires.

U-Haul CEO Compensation

Joe Shoen’s total annual compensation is approximately $1.03 million, which is remarkably modest for the CEO of a nearly $10 billion market cap company. This figure stands in stark contrast to the average S&P 500 CEO compensation of approximately $16 million. Shoen’s low compensation reflects his philosophy that executive pay should remain reasonable, especially given his substantial ownership stake in the company.

U-Haul Holding Company – Financial Overview

U-Haul Holding Company (formerly AMERCO) is the parent company of U-Haul International, Amerco Real Estate, and Republic Western Insurance. The company trades on the NYSE under the ticker symbol UHAL.

U-Haul Financial Summary (FY2025)

U-Haul Competitors

U-Haul operates in the competitive do-it-yourself moving and self-storage industries. Key competitors include:

• Penske Truck Rental — Major truck rental competitor
• Budget Truck Rental — Consumer truck rental division of Avis Budget Group
• Ryder — Commercial truck rental and fleet management
• Enterprise Truck Rental — Growing competitor in consumer truck rentals
• PODS — Portable on-demand storage containers
• Public Storage — Largest self-storage REIT in the U.S.
• CubeSmart — Major self-storage REIT
• Extra Space Storage — Self-storage competitor (merged with Life Storage in 2023)

U-Haul CEO Email Address | Joe Shoen Contact

Below are the official contact details for U-Haul CEO Joe Shoen:

About U-Haul

U-Haul was founded in 1945 by Leonard Samuel Shoen and his wife Anna Mary Carty Shoen in Ridgefield, Washington. The original concept was revolutionary: a nationwide, one-way rental trailer system that allowed ordinary Americans to move their belongings without hiring expensive professional movers. The company’s iconic orange-and-white branding has been a fixture on American highways for over 80 years.

Today, U-Haul operates through its parent company, U-Haul Holding Company (formerly AMERCO), which is publicly traded on the NYSE under the ticker UHAL. The company’s business segments include:

• Moving & Storage: Truck, trailer, and towing device rentals; self-storage; moving supplies; portable moving and storage containers
• Property & Casualty Insurance: Through Republic Western Insurance Company and Oxford Life Insurance Company
• Real Estate: Through Amerco Real Estate Company

U-Haul’s self-storage business has been one of its fastest-growing segments, with over 80 million square feet of rentable space across hundreds of facilities. The company’s 2026 rate lock guarantee reflects Joe Shoen’s commitment to consumer-friendly pricing in this space.

Ticker: NYSE: UHAL • Revenue: ~$5.99 Billion (TTM) • Employees: ~26,500

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Who is the CEO of U-Haul?

The CEO of U-Haul is Edward Joseph “Joe” Shoen. He has served as Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of U-Haul Holding Company (formerly AMERCO) since 1987. He is the son of U-Haul founder Leonard Shoen.

What is Joe Shoen’s net worth in 2026?

Joe Shoen’s net worth is estimated at approximately $4.4 billion as of 2026, primarily derived from his ownership stake in U-Haul Holding Company (NYSE: UHAL). Estimates from different sources range from $3.3 billion to $4.7 billion.

What is the U-Haul CEO salary?

Joe Shoen’s total annual compensation is approximately $1.03 million, which is remarkably modest for the CEO of a multi-billion-dollar public company. His low salary reflects his philosophy on executive compensation, given that his primary wealth comes from his ownership stake.

How old is Joe Shoen?

Joe Shoen was born on October 28, 1949, making him 76 years old as of 2026. He was born in Phoenix, Arizona, and is the third son of U-Haul founder Leonard Shoen.

What is the U-Haul CEO’s email address?

U-Haul CEO Joe Shoen’s email address is [email protected]. U-Haul Holding Company’s corporate headquarters is located at 5555 Kietzke Lane, Suite 100, Reno, NV 89511.

Is U-Haul a family business?

Yes, U-Haul was founded in 1945 by Leonard Shoen. His son Joe Shoen has led the company since 1987. While U-Haul Holding Company is publicly traded on the NYSE (ticker: UHAL), the Shoen family maintains significant ownership and control of the company.

Where is U-Haul headquartered?

U-Haul Holding Company is headquartered in Reno, Nevada. The company also has significant operational facilities in Phoenix, Arizona, where it was historically based for decades.

How long has Joe Shoen been CEO of U-Haul?

Joe Shoen has served as CEO of U-Haul since 1987, a tenure of nearly 39 years. This makes him one of the longest-serving CEOs of any major publicly traded company in the United States.

Article last updated: March 2026