Ford vs. Dodge: A Battle for Control

In 1916, the Dodge Brothers opened a war against Henry Ford. Not with bullets…

but with a lawsuit that shook American industry. Ford had slashed dividends to reinvest

in cheaper cars for the everyday worker. The Dodges, major shareholders,

said Ford was destroying profit on purpose. Inside courtrooms, the tension was brutal.

Ford insisted: “A company should serve the public.” The Dodges insisted: “A company exists

to serve shareholders.” It wasn’t just business, it was personal. The Dodges once built engines for

Ford… Now they were trying to force him to stop expanding and pay them millions.

The court ruled against Ford… But Ford didn’t bend—he outplayed them.