Who is the owner of Microsoft? No single owner: Vanguard and BlackRock lead the shareholder list
Who is the owner of Microsoft? No single person. It is a public company led by shareholders Vanguard and BlackRock, with Steve Ballmer the largest individual holder. Here is the 2026 ownership picture.
Microsoft has no single owner. It is a public company listed on Nasdaq as MSFT, so it is owned by its shareholders, led by index fund managers Vanguard (7.48%) and BlackRock (7.30%) as of 30 September 2026, according to Microsoft’s 2026 proxy statement. Satya Nadella is the chairman and CEO, but he runs the company rather than owns it, El-Balad reported from the proxy. 12
Who is the owner of Microsoft?
When people search “microsoft owner”, “owner of Microsoft” or “who is the owner of Microsoft company”, they usually expect one name. There is not one. Microsoft’s proxy statement lists only two holders with more than 5% of the stock: Vanguard, with 555,988,240 shares, and BlackRock, with 540,020,228 shares. Both are fund managers that hold shares on behalf of millions of investors. 1
The BlackRock figure comes from a filing dated February 2024, so it may be out of date. Estimates of how much institutions own in total range from about 72% to 76%, depending on the data provider, according to WhoMakeThis and RankRed. 34
Key numbers
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Listing | Nasdaq: MSFT |
| Vanguard stake | 7.48% (proxy, 30 Sept 2026) |
| BlackRock stake | 7.30% (proxy, 30 Sept 2026) |
| Steve Ballmer | Largest individual holder, estimated about 4% |
| Bill Gates | Last reported about 103 million shares in 2019 |
| Chairman and CEO | Satya Nadella (CEO since February 2014, chairman since June 2021) |
Microsoft owner name: the people behind the company
- Satya Nadella: chairman and CEO. He owns a very small share of the company.
- Steve Ballmer: the former CEO is widely reported as the largest individual shareholder with roughly 4%. His last filed holding was 333 million shares in 2014, so current figures are estimates. See our Steve Ballmer profile.
- Bill Gates: the co-founder reportedly owned about 49% when Microsoft went public, but he has sold or given away most of his shares since. See the Bill Gates profile. 356
Who controls Microsoft?
Owning shares and controlling a company are different things. Revenue Memo reports that no person or fund holds a controlling stake or special voting rights at Microsoft. Fund managers hold large blocks, but no single holder can steer the company alone. 5
What happens next
The ownership picture shifts every quarter as funds buy and sell and new filings arrive, so treat percentages as snapshots. The next proxy statement and quarterly fund filings will show the update. For the company’s own story, read our Microsoft company page, and for who started it, see our guide to the Microsoft founders. 1
Frequently asked questions
Who is the owner of Microsoft?
Nobody owns Microsoft alone. It is a public company owned by shareholders. Vanguard held 7.48% and BlackRock 7.30% as of 30 September 2026, according to Microsoft’s proxy statement.
Does Bill Gates still own Microsoft?
No. Gates co-founded Microsoft and held about 49% at its stock market debut, but he has since sold or given away most of his shares.
Who is the largest individual shareholder of Microsoft?
Steve Ballmer, the former CEO, is widely reported as the largest individual shareholder, with an estimated stake of about 4%.
Is Satya Nadella the owner of Microsoft?
Satya Nadella is chairman and CEO, but he is an executive, not the owner.
Who is the Microsoft owner, or microsoftowner?
“Microsoftowner” is a misspelling. It is searched by people asking who owns Microsoft. The answer is its shareholders, not one person.
