Microsoft, founded by Bill Gates and Paul Allen, became one of the world’s most valuable companies through Windows and cloud computing.
Gates and Allen established Microsoft in 1975. The company became widely known for MS-DOS and Windows, operating systems that helped make personal computers common in homes and businesses.
Microsoft later expanded into productivity software, gaming, enterprise services, and cloud computing. Microsoft Azure became a major part of the company’s business, while Microsoft 365 and other subscription products created recurring revenue.
These businesses helped Microsoft maintain a very large market capitalization. The company’s valuation reflects investor expectations about future earnings and cash flow, not simply the number of software products it sells. Microsoft’s shares trade on Nasdaq under the ticker MSFT.