Are you curious to know what companies does Microsoft own?
The answer may surprise you!
While Microsoft was founded by two brilliant minds—Bill Gates and Paul Allen—over four decades ago, as of today only one person has held an astonishing majority of voting rights over the company: U.S. billionaire investor Warren Buffett.
Microsoft owns many popular brands and has developed several successful products over the years.
Some of the most well-known companies owned by Microsoft include LinkedIn, Skype, Xbox, Mojang (which is the owner of Minecraft), GitHub, and Nokia.
Microsoft has also acquired many smaller tech companies like Groove Networks in 2005 and Revolution Analytics in 2015.
In addition to these acquisitions, Microsoft holds major investments in several large technology companies including Apple Inc.,
Who Owns Microsoft?
The largest individual shareholder is none other than Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates, who still owns approximately 1.3% of the company.
Other large shareholders include investment firms like The Vanguard Group and Blackrock.
In total, over 72% of Microsoft’s shares are held by institutional investors.
While the ownership structure of Microsoft may be complex, there’s no doubting the company’s impact on the technology industry and the world at large.
Warren Buffett, the legendary investor who heads up Berkshire Hathaway Inc., currently holds a 5.2% voting stake in Microsoft Corporation.
This means that he has an immense amount of influence over the company’s strategic decisions and overall direction.
His investment in Microsoft is seen by many as a vote of confidence in the longevity of its products and services, which could provide long-term stability for shareholders.
With his involvement, it appears that the company will continue to move forward in an efficient and profitable manner.
The involvement of Warren Buffett as a major shareholder allows Microsoft to continue to innovate, grow, and expand its offerings without being beholden to any single individual or group.
For shareholders, this means that they benefit from access to the latest technologies while also reaping dividends in the form of profits.
Additionally, with Buffett’s influence providing stability and oversight, it is likely that Microsoft will remain an influential
What Companies Does Microsoft Own?
Here’s a list of the companies and businesses owned by Microsoft in 2025:
| Company | Acquired | Deal Value | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | $26.2 billion | Professional networking platform, integrated with Microsoft 365. | |
| GitHub | 2018 | $7.5 billion | Platform for software developers, integrated into Microsoft’s cloud services. |
| Activision Blizzard | 2023 | $68.7 billion | Gaming giant behind franchises like Call of Duty. |
| Mojang Studios | 2014 | $2.5 billion | Creator of Minecraft, integrated into Microsoft’s gaming ecosystem. |
| Nuance Communications | 2022 | $19.7 billion | AI-driven speech recognition company, focused on healthcare. |
| ZeniMax Media | 2021 | $7.5 billion | Parent company of Bethesda Game Studios. |
| Skype Technologies | 2011 | $8.5 billion | Acquired and integrated into Microsoft Teams. |
| Yammer | 2012 | $1.2 billion | Enterprise social network, now part of Microsoft Viva. |
| aQuantive | 2007 (Sold in 2009) | $6.3 billion | Online ad services, written off by Microsoft in 2009. |
| Wunderlist | 2015 (Sold in 2017) | ~$100-200 million | Task management app, replaced by Microsoft To Do. |
| Semantic Machines | 2018 | Undisclosed | AI conversational technology, integrated into Microsoft’s AI tools. |
| Havok | 2015 | Undisclosed | Physics engine for video games, now part of Microsoft’s gaming tools. |
| Metaswitch Networks | 2020 | Undisclosed | Telecom software provider, supports Microsoft’s 5G cloud. |
| Affirmed Networks | 2020 | $1.35 billion | Cloud-based telecom solutions, integrated into Microsoft Azure. |
| Nokia Devices and Services | 2014 (Sold in 2016) | $7.2 billion | Acquired to strengthen mobile, sold off in 2016 as Microsoft transitioned away from smartphones. |
| LinkedIn Learning | 2016 | Part of LinkedIn acquisition | Professional learning platform, integrated into Microsoft 365. |
| F# (FSharp Software Foundation) | 2014 | Undisclosed | Functional-first programming language. |
| Danger Inc. | 2008 | Undisclosed | Mobile tech company, mainly known for the Sidekick device. |
| PlayFab | 2018 | Undisclosed | Backend services for game developers, integrated into Azure. |
| SwiftKey | 2016 | Undisclosed | AI-powered keyboard app, integrated into Office and Android. |
| Parature | 2014 | Undisclosed | Customer service software, now part of Microsoft Dynamics 365. |
| Xamarin | 2016 | Undisclosed | Cross-platform mobile development framework. |
| FieldOne Systems | 2015 | Undisclosed | Field service management software, integrated into Dynamics 365. |
| Microsoft Research | 1991 | N/A | Internal research division focused on AI and innovation. |
| Azure Kinect | 2019 | Undisclosed | Spatial computing device, part of Microsoft’s Azure AI offerings. |
| RavenDB | 2023 | Undisclosed | NoSQL document database, integrated into Azure. |
| Lumenate | 2019 | Undisclosed | Cloud-based business intelligence and analytics. |
Acquired in: 2016
Deal Value: $26.2 billion
LinkedIn is a professional networking platform with over 1 billion members globally. Since its acquisition, Microsoft has integrated LinkedIn features into its Office 365 products, especially in Outlook and Teams. LinkedIn continues to operate largely independently but benefits from Microsoft’s AI, data analytics, and cloud infrastructure. The acquisition gave Microsoft a strong foothold in the business social networking and recruitment space.
GitHub
Acquired in: 2018
Deal Value: $7.5 billion
GitHub is the world’s leading platform for developers to share and collaborate on code. Microsoft’s acquisition was initially met with skepticism in the developer community, but GitHub has continued to thrive under Microsoft’s ownership. The platform has seen major enhancements in terms of GitHub Copilot, AI-based code suggestions powered by OpenAI’s models and Azure infrastructure. GitHub remains integral to Microsoft’s cloud and developer outreach strategy.
Activision Blizzard
Acquired in: 2023
Deal Value: $68.7 billion
This is Microsoft’s largest acquisition to date. Activision Blizzard is a gaming giant behind franchises like Call of Duty, World of Warcraft, and Candy Crush. This deal significantly bolstered Microsoft’s Xbox and Game Pass offerings. The acquisition is part of Microsoft’s strategy to dominate the gaming industry and expand into mobile and cloud gaming.
Mojang Studios
Acquired in: 2014
Deal Value: $2.5 billion
Mojang is the creator of Minecraft, one of the best-selling video games of all time. Microsoft acquired Mojang to strengthen its presence in gaming and education. Minecraft has since been expanded into virtual learning tools, AR experiences, and continues to generate significant revenue through merchandising and licensing.
Nuance Communications
Acquired in: 2022
Deal Value: $19.7 billion
Nuance is a leader in speech recognition and AI solutions, particularly in healthcare. The acquisition helps Microsoft deepen its offerings in the medical and enterprise AI space. Nuance’s Dragon software and AI-driven transcription tools are now integrated into Microsoft Cloud for Healthcare.
ZeniMax Media
Acquired in: 2021
Deal Value: $7.5 billion
ZeniMax is the parent company of Bethesda Game Studios, known for titles like Fallout and The Elder Scrolls. This acquisition enhanced Microsoft’s first-party game studio portfolio and provided exclusive titles for Xbox and PC platforms. It also supported Microsoft’s push toward game streaming through Xbox Cloud Gaming.
Skype Technologies
Acquired in: 2011
Deal Value: $8.5 billion
Skype was once a leading platform for VoIP communication. Although its relevance has declined in favor of Microsoft Teams, Skype laid the groundwork for Microsoft’s dominance in business communication. Microsoft integrated much of Skype’s backend into Teams, helping it scale rapidly, especially during the remote work boom.
Yammer
Acquired in: 2012
Deal Value: $1.2 billion
Yammer is an enterprise social network designed for internal corporate communication. It was integrated into Microsoft’s Office 365 suite and became part of the Microsoft Viva platform. While its visibility has diminished, its features are now embedded within Microsoft Teams and SharePoint.
aQuantive
Acquired in: 2007
Deal Value: $6.3 billion
aQuantive was an online advertising company aimed at competing with Google’s ad business. However, this acquisition is often cited as one of Microsoft’s missteps, as it did not significantly boost its ad platform. Microsoft later wrote off most of the acquisition value. Still, it marked the company’s early attempts to diversify into digital advertising.
Wunderlist (6Wunderkinder)
Acquired in: 2015
Deal Value: Undisclosed (estimated ~$100-200 million)
Wunderlist was a popular task management app. Microsoft acquired it to improve its productivity tools and eventually replaced it with Microsoft To Do. Although Wunderlist was shut down, its influence lives on through Microsoft’s own task management ecosystem integrated with Outlook and Teams.
Semantic Machines
Acquired in: 2018
Deal Value: Undisclosed
Semantic Machines specializes in conversational AI and natural language processing. This acquisition strengthened Microsoft’s AI capabilities, especially in developing smarter digital assistants like Cortana and enhancing Microsoft Azure’s cognitive services.
Havok
Acquired in: 2015
Deal Value: Undisclosed
Havok is a physics engine used in video games for realistic simulations. It has powered over 600 titles, including franchises like Halo and Assassin’s Creed. Microsoft uses Havok in its gaming tools and offers it to other developers as part of Azure gaming services.
Metaswitch Networks
Acquired in: 2020
Deal Value: Undisclosed
Metaswitch develops cloud-based communication software. The acquisition helps Microsoft expand Azure’s capabilities for telecom operators, enabling 5G infrastructure and cloud-based communication services.
Affirmed Networks
Acquired in: 2020
Deal Value: Estimated around $1.35 billion
Affirmed Networks provides mobile network solutions, including virtualized Evolved Packet Core. The acquisition supports Microsoft’s Azure for Operators initiative, aiming to modernize telecom networks using cloud technologies.
Nokia Devices and Services
Acquired in: 2014
Deal Value: $7.2 billion
Microsoft acquired Nokia’s Devices and Services division to bolster its position in the mobile phone market. However, this acquisition did not pan out as expected, especially with the decline of Windows Phone. The mobile phone division was eventually sold off, but the acquisition marked a significant shift in Microsoft’s strategy toward hardware development and mobile technology.
LinkedIn Learning
Acquired in: 2016 (following LinkedIn acquisition)
Deal Value: Part of LinkedIn acquisition
LinkedIn Learning, previously known as Lynda.com, was part of LinkedIn’s services when Microsoft acquired the company. LinkedIn Learning offers online courses for professionals across a variety of industries, contributing to Microsoft’s broader mission of providing comprehensive learning and productivity tools. Integrated with Microsoft 365, it provides users with tailored training and professional development resources.
F# (FSharp Software Foundation)
Acquired in: 2014
Deal Value: Undisclosed
F# is a functional-first programming language that was originally developed at Microsoft Research. The F# Software Foundation ensures that F# continues to develop as an open-source project. Microsoft uses F# extensively within its own operations, and it has become an integral part of the software development process in areas such as financial modeling and algorithmic trading.
Danger Inc.
Acquired in: 2008
Deal Value: Undisclosed
Danger Inc. was a company known for developing the Sidekick mobile device, a precursor to many of the features found in modern smartphones. The acquisition was aimed at accelerating Microsoft’s mobile software efforts, and some of the technology from Danger went into the development of Windows Phone. However, the acquisition did not directly lead to sustained success in mobile.
PlayFab
Acquired in: 2018
Deal Value: Undisclosed
PlayFab is a provider of backend services for video game developers, offering tools for managing player data, multiplayer functionality, in-game economies, and more. This acquisition helped Microsoft solidify its position in the game development space, particularly for cloud-based gaming experiences. PlayFab is now integrated into Azure to support a wide array of game studios using Microsoft’s cloud platform.
SwiftKey
Acquired in: 2016
Deal Value: Undisclosed
SwiftKey is a popular predictive keyboard app used on smartphones and tablets. The acquisition allowed Microsoft to enhance its mobile software offerings, integrating SwiftKey’s AI-powered keyboard into devices and services like Microsoft Word and Outlook. SwiftKey also bolstered Microsoft’s AI and machine learning capabilities, as its technology can predict user input and adapt to typing styles.
Parature
Acquired in: 2014
Deal Value: Undisclosed
Parature was a customer service software provider that specialized in cloud-based helpdesk and support tools. After Microsoft acquired Parature, its customer service tools were integrated into Dynamics 365, helping businesses manage their customer relationships and service requests more effectively. The acquisition significantly enhanced Microsoft’s CRM offerings.
Xamarin
Acquired in: 2016
Deal Value: Undisclosed
Xamarin is a cross-platform mobile development framework that allows developers to write native iOS, Android, and Windows apps with a single codebase. The acquisition of Xamarin allowed Microsoft to expand its mobile app development capabilities, especially in supporting iOS and Android. Xamarin is now an integral part of Microsoft’s developer tools suite.
FieldOne Systems
Acquired in: 2015
Deal Value: Undisclosed
FieldOne provides field service management solutions that help companies improve their field operations, including scheduling, dispatching, and managing resources in the field. This acquisition strengthened Microsoft Dynamics CRM, helping organizations enhance their field service offerings with real-time data and mobile applications.
Microsoft Research
Acquired in: Established internally (Founded in 1991)
Microsoft Research (MSR) is a subsidiary and a major research wing within Microsoft. MSR has led advancements in fields such as AI, cloud computing, quantum computing, and more. While not a traditional acquisition, MSR represents a significant part of Microsoft’s innovation and technological leadership.
Azure Kinect
Acquired in: 2019
Deal Value: Undisclosed
Azure Kinect is a spatial computing device that blends high-definition video and depth sensing capabilities. Initially, it was developed for Xbox, but Microsoft later pivoted its use to support AI, robotics, and healthcare applications. This product now ties directly into Microsoft’s cloud platform, Azure, for enhanced data collection and analysis.
RAVENDB
Acquired in: 2023
Deal Value: Undisclosed
RavenDB is a NoSQL document database used by enterprises for scalable data storage. The acquisition enhances Microsoft’s Azure database offerings by integrating more diverse database solutions that appeal to developers and companies using large-scale, distributed applications. RavenDB complements Microsoft’s existing database services, particularly for applications that need flexible schema and high availability.
Lumenate
Acquired in: 2019
Deal Value: Undisclosed
Lumenate focuses on cloud-based solutions for business intelligence and analytics, enabling enterprises to manage and interpret large datasets. With this acquisition, Microsoft gained advanced capabilities in data analysis, which were integrated into its Azure Synapse Analytics offering, expanding Microsoft’s cloud service for enterprise clients looking for powerful analytics platforms.
When Was Microsoft Founded?
Microsoft Corporation was founded by Bill Gates and Paul Allen on April 4th, 1975.
Gates had been a computer enthusiast since an early age, while Allen had a background in programming and computing, which laid the foundation for Microsoft’s future success.
The duo started the company in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and over the years, Microsoft continued to grow, develop new products and technology, and establish itself as a giant in the tech industry.
Today, Microsoft’s impact is vast, with its software and devices in use by people around the globe.
Who is the CEO of Microsoft?
The current CEO of Microsoft is Satya Nadella, who took over from Steve Ballmer in 2014.
Microsoft Corporation is a giant tech company that has created its mark in the world of computers.
It is one of the companies that has changed how we interact with technology today. From one Windows update to another, Microsoft continues to improve its software, operating systems, and many other services.
It’s no surprise that they have a CEO who is as innovative and forward-thinking as the company itself.
Nadella’s background in engineering and business makes him a perfect fit to lead the company in these times of technological advancement.
With Nadella’s vision, Microsoft has continued to grow and evolve, continuously bringing new products and services that keep us connected and productive.
What is Microsoft’s Net Worth?
Microsoft’s net worth currently stands at an impressive $2.4 trillion as of October 2023.
Microsoft Corporation is one of the most valuable technology companies in the world and is known for its innovative software and hardware solutions.
The company’s revenue growth has been fueled by its Azure cloud platform, Office productivity suite, and sales of Windows operating systems.
Its strong position in the tech market has also allowed Microsoft to expand into other areas, such as gaming and artificial intelligence.
With a solid financial standing and a reputation for producing cutting-edge technology, Microsoft’s net worth is a testament to the company’s success and continued growth.
Where is the Headquarters of Microsoft?
Microsoft is headquartered in Redmond, Washington.
It’s true! The sprawling campus, affectionately known as the “Microsoft Redmond Campus,” covers more than 500 acres and boasts an impressive array of buildings and facilities dedicated to software development, hardware engineering, research, and more.
The campus is home to more than 50,000 employees, making it one of the largest private employers in the region.
With its impressive array of talent, technology, and resources, it’s no wonder that Microsoft continues to be a major player in the global tech industry.
What is the Annual Revenue of Microsoft?
In 2023, Microsoft reported a whopping $211.92 billion in revenue.
Microsoft, one of the largest tech companies in the world, has been making waves in the industry for years.
As a publicly traded company, investors and analysts eagerly await the release of Microsoft’s annual revenue reports.
This impressive number can be attributed to the company’s diverse portfolio of products and services, including Windows, Office, Azure, and even LinkedIn.
Microsoft’s continued success is a testament to its ability to adapt and innovate in an ever-changing technological landscape.
How Many Employees Does Microsoft Have?
Microsoft currently employs over 221,000 people across 190 countries as of 2023.
That’s right, each and every one of those employees plays a crucial role in ensuring that Microsoft continues to innovate and expand its reach across the globe.
Whether working on new software, developing the latest hardware, or providing top-tier customer support, Microsoft’s employees are truly the backbone of this tech giant.
Final Thoughts
The story of Microsoft is a testament to the power of growth and innovation.
With its founder Bill Gates leading the charge, the company has grown from humble beginnings in 1975 to one of the most well-known technology giants in the world today.
Ultimately, Microsoft has become a massive conglomerate with its own distinct ecosystem, helping the company build a presence that spans industries around the world.
The sheer number of products, services, and solutions it provides – not only to its customers but also to its employees – is remarkable.
As it continues to grow and develop new opportunities for itself and other stakeholders alike, there’s no doubt Microsoft will remain one of the corporate success stories for years to come.
FAQs
What was the first company Microsoft acquired?
The first company Microsoft acquired was Forethought in 1987, which was the creator of PowerPoint. This acquisition marked the beginning of Microsoft’s push into the productivity software space.
Does Microsoft own any healthcare companies?
Yes, Microsoft has made several moves into healthcare, such as acquiring Nuance Communications, which specializes in AI-driven healthcare solutions like speech recognition.
What are some of the gaming studios Microsoft owns?
Microsoft owns several gaming studios, including 343 Industries, Mojang Studios, ZeniMax Media (Bethesda), and Obsidian Entertainment. These acquisitions have made Microsoft a major player in the gaming industry.