Samsung vs TSMC: Founders, CEOs and History
Samsung was founded in 1969 by Lee Byung-chul and is led by Jun Young-hyun and Roh Tae-moon. TSMC was founded in 1987 by Morris Chang and is led by C.C. Wei.
Company facts
Founders
Samsung
Lee Byung-chul
Lee Byung-chul founded Samsung Sanghoe in Daegu in 1938, trading dried fish, produce and noodles.
TSMC
Morris Chang
Morris Chang was born in Ningbo, China in 1931 and emigrated to the United States as a young man, completing his undergraduate engineering education at MIT before earning a PhD in electrical engineering from Stanford in 1964.
CEOs and their tenures
Samsung
- Jong-Hee Han2022–2025
Vice Chairman and CEO
A longtime TV business leader who helped keep Samsung the top global TV brand. He died suddenly in March 2025 while in office.
Source - Jay Y. Lee2022–present
Executive Chairman
Grandson of the founder and son of Lee Kun-hee. He was convicted in the 2017 bribery case and pardoned in 2022, and became Executive Chairman in October 2022. In 2025 the Supreme Court upheld his acquittal in the separate merger and accounting fraud case.
Source - Jun Young-hyun2024–present
Vice Chairman, Co-Chief Executive Officer, Head of Device Solutions
Head of the semiconductor (Device Solutions) division and memory business; sole CEO for part of 2025 after Han Jong-hee's death, then co-CEO with TM Roh from November 2025.
Source - Roh Tae-moon (TM Roh)2025–present
Co-Chief Executive Officer, Head of Device eXperience
Longtime head of the mobile business. Acting head of the Device eXperience division after Han Jong-hee died in March 2025, and formally named co-CEO in November 2025.
Source
TSMC
- Morris Chang1987–2018
Founder, Chairman, and CEO
Created the pure-play foundry model and built TSMC into the central manufacturing partner for fabless semiconductor companies.
Source - Rick Tsai2005–2009
CEO
Led TSMC during a difficult semiconductor cycle before Morris Chang returned to direct operational leadership.
Source - C.C. Wei2018–present
Chairman and CEO
Leads TSMC through advanced-node ramps, AI demand, global fab expansion, and customer-supply resilience.
Source
Timeline: Samsung and TSMC side by side
1938Samsung
Samsung Group begins
Lee Byung-chul founded Samsung as a trading company before later generations expanded the group into electronics and industry.
1969Samsung
Samsung Electronics established
Samsung Electronics Industry Co. Ltd. was established as the group entered electronics manufacturing.
1977Samsung
Korea Semiconductor acquired
Samsung acquired Korea Semiconductor, a key step toward memory and component manufacturing leadership.
1987TSMC
TSMC Founded
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company is incorporated in February 1987 with $220 million in initial capital from Taiwan's government, Philips Electronics, and private investors.
1993Samsung
New Management initiative
Lee Kun-hee launched the New Management push to raise quality, design, and global competitiveness.
1994TSMC
Taiwan Stock Exchange Listing
TSMC lists on the Taiwan Stock Exchange (TWSE: 2330) in 1994. It adds American Depositary Receipts on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: TSM) in October 1997, opening access to global investors.
1997TSMC
NYSE ADR Listing and Fabless Growth
TSMC lists ADRs on the New York Stock Exchange in October 1997, the first Taiwanese company to do so.
2000TSMC
Revenue Surpasses $5 Billion
Riding the dot-com boom and the explosion of fabless semiconductor companies, TSMC's annual revenue exceeds $5 billion for the first time. The company begins construction of multiple 200mm and 300mm wafer fabs in Taiwan to meet surging demand.
2010TSMC
28nm Process Node Launched
TSMC introduces its 28-nanometer process node, a technology generation that proves long-lived due to its balance of performance, power efficiency, and cost.
2014TSMC
16nm FinFET Process Industry First for External Foundry
TSMC introduces its 16-nanometer FinFET process, the first 3D transistor architecture deployed in high volume at an external foundry.
2017Samsung
Harman acquisition closes
Samsung completed the Harman acquisition, expanding into connected car systems and premium audio.
2018TSMC
Morris Chang Retires C.C. Wei Becomes CEO
Morris Chang steps down as Chairman at age 87 after more than 30 years leading TSMC. Mark Liu assumes the Chairman role and C.C. Wei becomes CEO. The transition is smooth, reflecting years of succession planning and the institutional strength Chang built.
2020TSMC
5nm Process Enters Volume Production TSMC Announces Arizona Fabs
TSMC begins high-volume production at its 5-nanometer node, manufacturing Apple's A14 Bionic chip for the iPhone 12. Simultaneously, the company announces plans to build a $12 billion advanced semiconductor fab in Phoenix, Arizona, a direct response to U.S.
2022TSMC
3nm Process Volume Production Begins
TSMC enters volume production at its 3-nanometer node, the first foundry to do so globally, initially for Apple's A17 Pro chip.
2024TSMC
Revenue Reaches $90 Billion AI Chip Boom
TSMC reported full-year 2024 net revenue translated in its Form 20-F as $88.268 billion, as AI and HPC demand accelerated and Arizona Fab 1 began limited production at 4nm.
2024TSMC
Japan's Kumamoto Fab Opens
TSMC's first Japanese fab in Kumamoto begins production, manufacturing chips on 28nm to 12nm processes for automotive and consumer electronics customers.
2025Samsung
TM Roh joins Young Hyun Jun as co-CEO
Samsung named TM Roh Head of Device eXperience and CEO, joining Young Hyun Jun as co-CEO.
2025Samsung
Annual revenue reaches ~$237B (KRW 333.6T)
Samsung Electronics reported ~$237 billion (KRW 333.6 trillion) in 2025 annual revenue and ~$31 billion (KRW 43.6 trillion) in operating profit.
2025TSMC
2nm Process Enters Volume Production
TSMC begins volume manufacturing at its N2 (2-nanometer) process node, the most advanced chip manufacturing process in the world. Early customers include Apple for its A19 processor family and several major AI chip designers.
2026TSMC
Record Q2 2026 Profit on AI Demand
TSMC reports Q2 2026 revenue of NT$1,270.38 billion ($40.20 billion), up 36.0% year over year, and net income of ~$22.6 billion (NT$706.56 billion), up 77.4%, with a 67.7% gross margin.
Acquisitions
TSMC
- Xintec Inc. (Majority stake acquisition over time)2004Undisclosed
- Global Unichip Corporation (Partial Stake)2000Undisclosed
- TSMC Washington (WaferTech Acquired majority stake)1996Undisclosed
Questions about Samsung vs TSMC
Who is the CEO of Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company?
Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. is led by Jun Young-hyun and Roh Tae-moon and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company is led by C.C. Wei. Both serve as the top executive responsible for the company's strategy, operations, and financial performance.
When was Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. founded vs Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company?
Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. was founded in 1969 — 18 years before Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, which was founded in 1987. Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.'s longer operating history gives it a deeper track record but also potentially more institutional inertia compared to the younger Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company.
How many employees does Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. have compared to Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company?
Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. employs approximately 259,149 people, while Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company employs approximately 90,557. Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. has the larger workforce at 259,149 employees, compared to Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company's 90,557. A higher headcount does not necessarily imply greater efficiency — it often reflects differences in business model (e.g., manufacturing vs. software).
Where are Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company headquartered?
Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. is headquartered in South Korea and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company is headquartered in Taiwan. Their different home markets mean they may face different regulatory frameworks, tax regimes, and currency exposure.
Who founded Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company?
Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. was founded by Lee Byung-chul. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company was founded by Morris Chang.
Which company has a longer operating history — Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. or Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company?
Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. has been operating for approximately 57 years, making it the more established of the two companies. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company has been in operation for around 39 years. A longer operating history often signals greater institutional resilience and brand recognition, though it can also mean slower adaptation to new market conditions.
Figures come from each company's filings and the sources linked beside them. Amounts reported in another currency are shown in US dollars at an approximate rate and marked with ~. Back to the Samsung vs TSMC overview