Shell’s story begins in 1833, when Marcus Samuel opened a small curio shop in London selling antiques and exotic seashells imported from the Far East. 

Victorians loved decorating their homes with these treasures, and Samuel’s family built a thriving trade. As demand grew, they expanded into shipping, first with seashells, then other goods. 

By the late 1800s, the same ships that once carried decorative shells began transporting kerosene to Asia, where lighting fuel was in high demand. This shift from curios to commodities laid the foundation for the Shell Transport and Trading Company. 

In 1907, Shell merged with Royal Dutch Petroleum, transforming a seaside souvenir business into one of the world’s biggest energy empires.

Shell PLC is valued at approximately $215 billion as of August 15, 2025.