Microsoft operates the Windows and Azure businesses and was founded by Bill Gates and Paul Allen.
Gates and Allen founded Microsoft in 1975 after developing software for the Altair 8800 microcomputer. The company became closely associated with personal-computer software through MS-DOS and Windows, and Windows later became one of the world’s dominant desktop operating systems.
Microsoft expanded far beyond operating systems. Its businesses include Azure cloud services, Microsoft 365 productivity software, Xbox gaming, LinkedIn, enterprise applications, and hardware. Azure’s growth has been especially important to Microsoft’s position among the world’s most valuable companies.
A common mix-up is treating Microsoft as only a Windows company. Windows remains a major product, but Microsoft’s market capitalization reflects the expected value of its entire portfolio. The company’s enterprise software subscriptions and cloud infrastructure connect it to businesses, developers, and public-sector organizations worldwide.