The last family member to work for the company was Tim Sainsbury who retired as a non-executive director in 1999.
The Sunday Times reported in September 2006 that "The Sainsbury family continues to [sell] shares in the £6.2 billion retailer... and for the first time their combined holding has fallen below 20%.” The largest shareholder is the Qatar Investment Authority, the investment vehicle of the Qatari royal family of the Gulf Kingdom, who as of May 2011 holds 25.999% of the company.
The halving of the generous dividend yield in recent years may have been a significant factor regarding the family's decision to reduce their shareholdings.
The Sainsbury family are also major benefactors to English Heritage and the National Trust for Places of Historic Interest or Natural Beauty.
In 2021 The Sunday Times named the Sainsbury family among the most charitable people for the last 20 years with donations of £3.625 billion.