Microsoft owns Windows and was the first company to reach a $1 trillion market value during trading in 2019.
Microsoft crossed the $1 trillion level during intraday trading on April 25, 2019, after reporting strong quarterly results. Its valuation reflected more than Windows: the company had become a broad technology platform with Office, Azure cloud services, Xbox, LinkedIn, and enterprise software.
The milestone can be confusing because Apple had already closed above $1 trillion in 2018. Microsoft’s distinction concerns being the first company to reach that level during trading in 2019, while different rankings may use an end-of-day closing value or a different date.
Microsoft was founded by Bill Gates and Paul Allen in 1975. Its transformation under Satya Nadella, who became chief executive in 2014, placed cloud computing and subscription software at the center of its growth.