Which company owns the professional social network LinkedIn?

Microsoft owns the professional social network LinkedIn.

LinkedIn launched in 2003 as a platform for professional profiles, networking, recruiting, and business publishing. Its early founders included Reid Hoffman, Allen Blue, Konstantin Guericke, Eric Ly, and Jean-Luc Vaillant. The service grew from a networking site into a major business platform with recruiting, advertising, learning, and premium subscription products.

Microsoft announced its agreement to acquire LinkedIn in June 2016 for approximately $26.2 billion in an all-cash transaction. The deal closed on December 8, 2016, and LinkedIn remained a distinct brand rather than being renamed as a Microsoft product. Jeff Weiner continued as LinkedIn’s chief executive after the acquisition and later became executive chairman.

A common mix-up is confusing ownership with integration: LinkedIn works closely with Microsoft products such as Outlook and Microsoft 365, but it is not owned by Google, Apple, or Amazon. Microsoft’s later acquisition of Activision Blizzard also surpassed LinkedIn in purchase price.