Microsoft became one of the first technology companies to exceed a $1 trillion market capitalization, doing so in April 2019.
Founded by Bill Gates and Paul Allen in 1975, Microsoft initially became famous for software such as MS-DOS and Windows. Its later growth was increasingly driven by enterprise products, cloud computing, productivity software, and recurring subscriptions.
Microsoft’s Azure cloud platform and Microsoft 365 services helped investors view the company as a major cloud and software-services business rather than only a traditional PC-software maker.
The $1 trillion figure refers to the market value of Microsoft’s publicly traded equity. It does not mean Microsoft raised that amount in cash, nor does it equal annual revenue. Market capitalization changes as the share price changes.