Who Owns Microsoft? Top 10 Microsoft Shareholders
Ever since Microsoft went public in 1986 with what some people refer to as “the IPO of the year”, owning stock of the technology powerhouse has been high on the list of many investors. This article explains the history of the company, as well as the shareholders' ownership structure and who owns Microsoft. The article lists the 5 institutional biggest Microsoft shareholders and the top 5 individual largest Microsoft shareholders.
Table of Contents
Microsoft Shareholders Key Takeaways
- Institutional investors own 71.46% of Microsoft stock.
- Vanguard, Blackrock and State Street Corp are the three largest institutional investors of Microsoft.
- Steve Ballmer owns more stock than Bill Gates.
Microsoft Shareholders Ownership Structure
Microsoft (MSFT) was founded by Bill Gates and Paul Allen. They launched the company in 1975. In the 80s, the company already started to grow rapidly, thanks to the collaboration with IBM. Microsoft kept pioneering, not only by introducing MS-DOS and Windows but also by being the first software program with an internet browser. Microsoft has been a major technology powerhouse and has played a crucial role in the digital age we live in now.
Even today, applications such as Word, Excel, and Teams are widely used. Next to this, Microsoft offers many types of technological products and services, ranging from personal entertainment to enterprise cloud computing and artificial intelligence. In addition to their well-known products, such as Skype, Microsoft Office, LinkedIn and Bing, the success of Microsoft’s intelligent cloud solutions is now also growing rapidly.
In 1986 Microsoft went public with what some analysts refer to as “the IPO of the year”. They started with a $21 offering price. Before the end of the day, the price increased to $35.50. On that first day, Microsoft sold about 2.5 million shares. In the following 10 years, between 1986 and 1996, Microsoft stock climbed more than a hundredfold. They continued to build on their success. In 2016 shares were less than $50, and they grew to over $400 in 2024.
One of the reasons for that increase is that Microsoft is one of the few companies that performed well during the COVID crisis. Ever since, many people have been working from home using digital applications such as Microsoft Teams, fueling demand for Microsoft products.
These days, Microsoft is the world’s second-most valuable company. Who owns Microsoft stock? The ownership structure of Microsoft (MSFT) stock is a mix of institutional shareholders, these are the biggest Microsoft shareholders and individual investors. Roughly 70% of all MSFT is held by institutional investors, 6% by insiders and 24% by retail investors.
Who owns Microsoft stock? Top 5 institutional shareholders
This Microsoft shareholders list starts with the 5 financial institutions that are Microsoft's largest shareholders. Please take note that the amount of shares as well as the price per share can always change.
1. Vanguard Group
Vanguard Group was founded in 1975 and is one of the largest investment management companies in the world. The company offers a wide range of investment products and services to both individual and institutional investors. The company focuses on low-cost index funds and exchange-traded funds.
- MSFT relative stake: 8.7%
- MSFT shares owned: 649.20 million
- Total value of MSFT owned: $268 billion
2. BlackRock Inc
BlackRock was founded in 1988. It is an investment management and financial services company. They manage assets for both institutional clients, such as pension funds, insurance companies and governments, as well as individual investors.
- MSFT relative stake: 7.25%
- MSFT shares owned: 538.9 million
- Total value of MSFT owned: $214 billion
3. State Street Corp.
Union Bank is the predecessor of State Street Corporation, and it was founded in 1792. These days, the company is a global leader. They offer a variety of services, such as investment servicing, markets and financing, and investment management. State Street, BlackRock, and Vanguard are not only the largest Microsoft shareholders, they are also regarded as the three biggest index fund managers that dominate corporate America.
- MSFT relative stake: 4.01%
- MSFT shares owned: 297.6 million
- Total value of MSFT owned: $118 billion
4. Fidelity (FMR LLC)
Fidelity is a financial services company founded in 1946 by Edward C. Johnson 2d. Fidelity offers a wide range of financial services, such as personal financial planning, employee benefit programs, and asset management. Their clients range from individuals to institutional clients.
- MSFT relative stake: 2.9%
- MSFT shares owned: 215.87 million
- Total value of MSFT owned: $89.38 billion
5. T Rowe Price Associates
T Rowe Price Associates was founded in 1937 and is an independent investment management firm. The company serves individual and institutional investors worldwide. They offer mutual funds, retirement plans, financial intermediaries, and other financial services.
- MSFT relative stake: 2%
- MSFT shares owned: 151.92 million
- Total value of MSFT owned: $62.9 billion
Who owns Microsoft stock? Top 5 individual shareholders
Below are the top 5 individual largest Microsoft shareholders, details about who they are, the number of shares they hold, the percentage of ownership, and the value of their holdings.
1. Steve Ballmer
Steve Ballmer, 68, is the former CEO of Microsoft. Ballmer and Gates met each other at Harvard, where they were classmates. They went their separate ways until Gates hired Ballmer in 1980 as Microsoft’s first business manager. Over the years, Ballmer contributed immensely to the growth and success of Microsoft.
Amongst other things, he played a crucial role in securing a major deal with IBM, and he was essential in guiding the company's focus on software development as well as broadening its product range. In 1998 Ballmer became Microsoft’s president and in 2000 he replaced Gates as CEO. He led the company until he retired in 2014.
- MSFT relative stake: 4.48%
- MSFT shares owned: 333.2 million
- Total value of MSFT owned: $115.8 billion
2. Bill Gates
Microsoft’s founder Bill Gates, 68, resigned as CEO in 2000 and in 2020 Gates stepped down from the company’s board of directors, so he could focus on his philanthropy work. As the founder of Microsoft, Gates played a major role in the digital world we live in today. He’s responsible for the creation of many innovative software products, including the Windows operating system, the Office suite, and the Internet Explorer web browser.
- MSFT relative stake: 0.53%
- MSFT shares owned: 39.2 million
- Total value of MSFT owned: $13.7 billion
3. Satya Nadella
Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella, 56, joined Microsoft in 1992. Nadella has held various leadership positions within the company. He played a key role in the development and expansion of Microsoft's cloud computing services, such as Microsoft Azure, and in advancing Microsoft's presence in the artificial intelligence (AI) sector. Nadella replaced Ballmer in 2014.
- MSFT relative stake: 0.01%
- MSFT shares owned: 800.000
- Total value of MSFT owned: $271.6 million
4. Bradford L. Smith
Smith, 65, joined Microsoft in 1993. He spearheaded initiatives to address the company's antitrust issues with global governments and other tech companies. As Vice Chair and President of Microsoft, Smith is responsible for publicly representing the company on key issues at the intersection of technology and society. This includes cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, human rights, and business services for non-profit clients.
- MSFT relative stake: 0.008%
- MSFT shares owned: 570,826
- Total value of MSFT owned: $200 million
5. Amy E. Hood
Amy Hood, 52, joined Microsoft in 2002. Hood held various positions in the company, such as General Manager, Microsoft Business Division Strategy and Chief Financial Officer of the Microsoft Business Division. In 2013 she was appointed Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer. In this position she oversees the company's global financial operations.
- MSFT relative stake: 0.007%
- MSFT shares owned: 520,000 million
- Total value of MSFT owned: $170 million
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Conclusion
Microsoft was founded by Bill Gates and Paul Allen in 1975. The company soon became the major technology powerhouse it remains today. Worldwide, countless people use Microsoft applications.
In 1986 Microsoft went public with an incredibly successful IPO. Their success never subsided, and these days Microsoft is the world’s second-most valuable company.
The biggest Microsoft shareholders are institutional investors. The three biggest index fund managers are also the three largest Microsoft shareholders. The top 5 individual shareholders is headed by Steve Ballmer, who owns more shares than Bill Gates.
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FAQs on Largest Microsoft Shareholders
Who owns Microsoft stock now?
Microsoft stocks are owned by: Institutional Investors own 58.88% of the company's stock. Insiders own 7.72%. Public Companies and Individual Investors own 33.40%
How many Microsoft shares are there?
According to Microsoft's latest financial reports, the number of shares outstanding is 7,431,000,000 in June 2024.
Who owns the most shares of Microsoft?
Vanguard Fiduciary Trust Co. owns the most shares of Microsoft: 649.20 million.
How many shareholders does Microsoft have?
In 2023 Microsoft reported the company had 83,883 registered stockholders.
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