A chaotic Friday unfolded as a Microsoft outage reverberated across the globe, disrupting the operations of banks, airlines, media outlets, and businesses. According to Downdetector, a website tracking internet outages, numerous airlines, including American Airlines, Visa, ADT Security, and Amazon, faced operational disruptions.
Microsoft, a cornerstone of the global economy, holds immense significance and value. Understanding the company’s net worth and ownership structure is crucial. Shares of Microsoft Corporation are owned by a diverse mix of retail, institutional, and individual investors. Institutional investors, including large organizations like insurance companies and mutual funds, hold a significant 69.14 percent stake in the company. Among these, ‘The Vanguard Group’ emerges as the largest shareholder, owning approximately 9 percent of Microsoft’s equity.
The remaining shares are held by the general public and individual investors, with company insiders owning roughly 7.73 percent. Company insiders encompass officers and board members, with Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella holding the largest share in this category. As of May 2024, Nadella owned 801,331 Microsoft shares. Bill Gates, the company’s founder, retains a significant stake, owning approximately 2.79 percent of the company. Finally, we arrive at the general public, or retail investors, comprising all those who buy and sell shares on the stock market. They collectively own 23.13 percent of Microsoft’s outstanding shares.
As of July 18, 2024, Microsoft boasted a market capitalization, or net worth, of $3.30 trillion. This figure reflects a remarkable year-over-year increase of 30.18 percent. The widespread impact of the Microsoft outage underscores the company’s critical role in the global technological landscape, while the ownership structure reveals the diverse players holding stakes in this tech giant.
