Microsoft acquired LinkedIn for US$26.2 billion in 2016.
LinkedIn was founded in 2002 and launched in May 2003 as a professional networking website. It allows members to maintain career profiles, connect with colleagues, advertise jobs, publish content, and sell recruiting and business services.
Microsoft announced the acquisition in June 2016 and completed it in December of that year. LinkedIn continued operating as a distinct brand and service, while Microsoft incorporated it into its broader portfolio of enterprise and productivity products.
The deal is often confused with Microsoft’s acquisition of GitHub, which was announced in 2018 for US$7.5 billion in stock. LinkedIn and GitHub serve different professional audiences: LinkedIn centers on careers and business networking, while GitHub centers on software development and code collaboration.