Microsoft was founded in 1975 by Bill Gates and Paul Allen and became one of the world’s highest-valued companies.
Gates and Allen established Microsoft after developing a version of the BASIC programming language for the Altair 8800 personal computer. The company later became a dominant supplier of operating systems and productivity software.
Microsoft’s major businesses include Windows, Microsoft 365, Azure cloud services, Xbox, and professional networking through LinkedIn. Its recurring software subscriptions and cloud growth have helped make it a leading public company by market capitalization.
Microsoft’s market value is not the same as its annual sales or accounting book value. Investors price the company according to expected future earnings, competitive advantages, and growth prospects, so the ranking of large companies can change as share prices move.