Microsoft, founded in 1975, became one of the world’s largest companies by market capitalization through Windows and Azure.
Bill Gates and Paul Allen founded Microsoft in Albuquerque, New Mexico, on April 4, 1975. The company first became widely known for software such as MS-DOS and Windows, which helped establish the personal computer as a mass-market product.
Microsoft later expanded into productivity software, gaming, enterprise tools, and cloud computing. Azure became a major cloud platform, while Microsoft 365 and business software created recurring subscription revenue.
Its market capitalization has been supported by the combination of a large installed software base and fast-growing cloud businesses. Microsoft’s share price and ranking can change daily, but its long history makes it one of the most recognizable companies in global market-value comparisons.