Microsoft first reached a $3 trillion market capitalization during regular trading in January 2024.
Microsoft crossed the milestone on January 24, 2024, briefly becoming the second company after Apple to reach a $3 trillion valuation. Its share price had been lifted by strong demand for cloud computing and investor enthusiasm about artificial intelligence.
The company’s Azure cloud platform, Microsoft 365 subscriptions, Windows, business software, and gaming operations all form part of its modern business. Microsoft’s investment in OpenAI also increased attention on its role in the generative-AI market.
Microsoft was founded in 1975 by Bill Gates and Paul Allen. The company was once best known primarily for Windows and Office, but its later transition toward cloud services changed how investors assessed its growth and recurring revenue. The milestone describes a stock-market valuation, not a cash balance.