Who owns October’s Very Own?

October’s Very Own, better known as OVO, is primarily owned and controlled by Canadian rapper and global music icon Drake, alongside his longtime business partners Oliver El-Khatib and Noah “40” Shebib. Together, they co-founded the brand and remain the key figures behind its creative direction, business growth, and cultural influence.

Who Actually Owns October’s Very Own?

OVO is a privately held company, co-founded and co-owned by:

Drake (Aubrey Drake Graham) – Co-founder, lead visionary, and the public face of the brand
Oliver El-Khatib – Co-founder, brand strategist, and executive driving the business and creative identity
Noah “40” Shebib – Co-founder and producer, contributing to the OVO sound and overall brand culture

While exact ownership percentages are not publicly disclosed, it is widely understood that OVO is a partnership between these three core figures, with Drake as the central figure and majority influence.

OVO also has multiple sub-entities and collaborations, including OVO Sound (the record label) and OVO clothing and lifestyle ventures, but all trace back to the founding trio.

The Origins of October’s Very Own

To understand who owns October’s Very Own, it helps to look at how it started:

Origins in a blog and crew: OVO began as a blog and lifestyle movement created around Drake and his close circle in the late 2000s.
Name meaning: “October’s Very Own” references Drake’s birth month (October 24) and became a personal label that evolved into a global brand.
From mixtapes to movement: As Drake’s music career exploded, OVO grew from a behind-the-scenes collective into a recognizable name for music, fashion, and culture.

From the start, Drake, El-Khatib, and Shebib built OVO as a shared project, combining music, branding, and design.

Key People Behind OVO

Drake (Aubrey Drake Graham)

Role: Co-founder, primary owner, and face of the brand
Contribution:
- Puts OVO on the global stage through music, tours, and public appearances
- Integrates OVO branding into album campaigns, merchandise, and collaborations
- Drives the brand’s cultural relevance across music, fashion, and sports

Drake’s celebrity status is the single biggest factor in OVO’s visibility and value, and he is commonly regarded as the main owner of October’s Very Own.

Oliver El-Khatib

Role: Co-founder and strategic leader of the OVO brand
Background: Known for his work in branding, curation, and creative direction
Contribution:
- Shapes OVO’s visual identity, tone, and brand partnerships
- Oversees much of the fashion, retail, and brand-side decisions
- Acts as a behind-the-scenes architect of OVO’s image and business moves

El-Khatib is often described as the “brand brain” of OVO, focusing on long-term positioning and execution.

Noah “40” Shebib

Role: Co-founder, producer, and sound architect
Contribution:
- Co-creates the signature OVO sound through his work with Drake and OVO Sound artists
- Supports the creative vision that links the music side of OVO to the broader brand
- Helps maintain the distinct, moody, atmospheric sound OVO is known for

While 40’s role is more music-focused, his co-founder status means he is an integral owner and cultural pillar of October’s Very Own.

OVO Sound vs. OVO Clothing: Who Owns What?

October’s Very Own operates across multiple business verticals, but ownership ties back to the founding team.

OVO Sound (Record Label)

Founders: Drake, Noah “40” Shebib, Oliver El-Khatib
Focus: Signing and developing music artists under the OVO umbrella
Ownership: Shared among the three co-founders, often in partnership with major labels for distribution and rights

OVO Sound is the music arm of the OVO ecosystem and is closely linked to Drake’s recording career and collaborations.

OVO Clothing and Lifestyle Brand

Core Ownership: Drake, El-Khatib, and Shebib as co-founders
Business Focus:
- Streetwear and luxury-inspired apparel
- Seasonal capsule drops
- Flagship retail locations and online store

While additional business partners, investors, or operational stakeholders may exist, public information consistently identifies the co-founding trio as the central owners and decision-makers.

Is October’s Very Own Owned by a Parent Company?

OVO is not owned outright by a large parent company like Nike or a major fashion conglomerate. Instead:

The brand is independently owned by its founders.
OVO collaborates with major brands (such as Nike, Air Jordan, Canada Goose, and others) through strategic partnerships, not ownership transfers.
These partnerships bring co-branded products and collections, but they do not replace OVO’s underlying ownership by Drake, El-Khatib, and Shebib.

This independent structure allows OVO to maintain a tight grip on its brand identity while leveraging the reach and resources of larger brands.

How OVO’s Ownership Influences Its Brand Identity

Because October’s Very Own is owned and led by its creative founders, the brand reflects their vision rather than a corporate committee. This shows up in several ways:

Artist-driven branding: Drake’s personal style, lyrics, and aesthetic are deeply ingrained in OVO’s look and feel.
Consistency of tone: Oliver El-Khatib helps ensure a cohesive, minimal, and premium design ethos across fashion, digital, and physical spaces.
Music-first culture: Noah “40” Shebib’s presence keeps OVO rooted in music culture, not just fashion or hype.

The result is a brand that feels personal and curated, rather than mass-produced—something fans and customers often value highly.

OVO’s Business Growth and Partnerships

While the founders own October’s Very Own, the brand’s success is amplified through high-profile collaborations and expansions.

Notable Collaborations

Nike & Jordan Brand – OVO-branded sneakers and apparel
Canada Goose – Co-branded outerwear collections
Sports partnerships – Connections with NBA culture, especially through Drake’s role with the Toronto Raptors

These deals are partnerships, not acquisitions. OVO remains independently owned while expanding its reach through co-branded products.

Retail Expansion

OVO has opened flagship and pop-up stores in major cities such as:

Toronto
Los Angeles
New York
London

Each store reinforces the OVO identity, showcasing how the founders’ vision extends into physical spaces and community engagement.

Is OVO a Canadian Company?

Yes. October’s Very Own is strongly rooted in Toronto, Canada:

Drake, El-Khatib, and Shebib all have deep ties to Toronto.
OVO frequently incorporates Canadian motifs, Toronto references, and local pride into its branding.
OVO Fest, the annual music event tied to the brand, takes place in Toronto and has become a cultural staple.

Ownership by Canadian founders and the city-centric storytelling help differentiate OVO in a crowded streetwear and music market.

Common Misconceptions About Who Owns OVO

Because OVO is so closely tied to collaborations and major partnerships, some myths circulate about its ownership. Here are a few clarifications:

“Nike owns OVO.”
False. Nike collaborates with OVO on products but does not own the brand.
“OVO is just a label, not a brand.”
False. OVO is both a record label (OVO Sound) and a fashion/lifestyle brand, all under the October’s Very Own umbrella.
“Drake sold OVO to a major company.”
There is no credible public information indicating that Drake or his partners sold controlling ownership of October’s Very Own.

Why Ownership Matters for OVO’s Future

Knowing who owns October’s Very Own helps explain how the brand will likely evolve:

Creative control: With founders still in charge, OVO can make bold, artist-driven decisions rather than chasing short-term trends.
Brand consistency: The same core team that built OVO continues to guide it, which tends to preserve authenticity.
Strategic expansion: OVO can choose partnerships that align with its identity, leveraging outside companies without surrendering ownership.

As long as Drake, Oliver El-Khatib, and Noah “40” Shebib remain at the helm, OVO is expected to keep operating as a founder-led brand with strong ties to music, fashion, and Toronto culture.

Summary: Who Owns October’s Very Own?

October’s Very Own is co-owned and co-founded by Drake, Oliver El-Khatib, and Noah “40” Shebib.
The brand encompasses OVO Sound (record label) and OVO clothing/lifestyle, both under the same founder-led umbrella.
OVO remains independently owned, using collaborations with major brands to expand its reach while keeping creative and strategic control in the hands of its founders.

If your key question is “who owns October’s Very Own,” the answer is clear: it is a founder-driven brand primarily led and owned by Drake, with crucial ownership and influence shared by Oliver El-Khatib and Noah “40” Shebib.