No, LinkedIn is not owned by Apple. LinkedIn is an American business and employment-oriented online service that operates via websites and mobile apps. It is mainly used for professional networking, including employers posting jobs and job seekers posting their CVs. As of 2022, LinkedIn is owned by Microsoft after being acquired in 2016 for $26.2 billion.
LinkedIn and Apple are both large, well-known technology companies, but they operate in different spaces. LinkedIn is focused on professional networking and recruitment, while Apple is primarily a consumer electronics company known for products like the iPhone, iPad, and Mac computers.
Apple does not own LinkedIn. LinkedIn has gone through a few different owners over the years, but since 2016 it has been owned by Microsoft after they acquired the professional networking platform for $26.2 billion.
History of LinkedIn
LinkedIn was founded in 2002 by Reid Hoffman, Allen Blue, Konstantin Guericke, Eric Ly, and Jean-Luc Vaillant. The company is headquartered in Sunnyvale, California.
Some key events and milestones in LinkedIn’s history:
- 2003 – LinkedIn is officially launched.
- 2006 – LinkedIn begins allowing companies to have company profile pages.
- 2008 – LinkedIn launches mobile apps and reaches 20 million members.
- 2011 – LinkedIn holds its initial public offering (IPO) and starts trading on the New York Stock Exchange.
- 2016 – Microsoft acquires LinkedIn for $26.2 billion in cash.
- 2017 – LinkedIn reaches 500 million members.
As evidenced by this brief history, LinkedIn operated as an independent company until 2016 when it was purchased by Microsoft. Apple has never owned LinkedIn.
Ownership History of LinkedIn
Here is a summary of LinkedIn’s ownership history:
- 2002 – Founded by Reid Hoffman, Allen Blue, Konstantin Guericke, Eric Ly, and Jean-Luc Vaillant.
- 2003 – Received $4.7 million in funding from Sequoia Capital.
- 2004 – Received $10 million in funding led by Greylock Partners.
- 2006 – Received $10 million in funding led by Greylock Partners.
- 2008 – Received $53 million in funding led by Bain Capital Ventures.
- 2011 – Went public, trading on NYSE under symbol LNKD with initial stock price of $45 per share.
- 2016 – Acquired by Microsoft for $26.2 billion.
As seen above, LinkedIn operated as an independent company from their founding until being purchased by Microsoft in 2016. Apple was never an owner of LinkedIn.
History of Apple
Apple is a technology company that was founded in 1976 by Steve Jobs, Steve Wozniak, and Ronald Wayne. It is headquartered in Cupertino, California. Some key events and milestones in Apple’s history:
- 1976 – Apple Computer Company founded by Steve Jobs, Steve Wozniak, and Ronald Wayne.
- 1977 – Apple II computer launched.
- 1980 – Apple goes public and lists on NASDAQ.
- 1984 – The Macintosh is introduced.
- 1985 – Steve Jobs resigns from Apple and founds NeXT.
- 1996 – Apple acquires NeXT and Steve Jobs returns to Apple.
- 2001 – Apple launches the iPod.
- 2007 – Apple launches the iPhone.
- 2010 – Apple launches the iPad.
As seen from Apple’s history, the company has focused on consumer electronics like computers, MP3 players, smartphones, and tablets. Apple did not create or acquire LinkedIn at any point in its history.
Microsoft’s Acquisition of LinkedIn
In June 2016, Microsoft officially acquired LinkedIn in a deal valued at $26.2 billion. This gave Microsoft ownership of the professional networking platform.
Some key points about Microsoft’s LinkedIn acquisition:
- The deal was announced on June 13, 2016 and closed on December 8, 2016.
- Microsoft paid $196 per share of LinkedIn stock in an all-cash deal.
- The total value was $26.2 billion, making it Microsoft’s largest acquisition to date.
- LinkedIn continues to operate as a separate platform under Microsoft’s ownership.
- Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella said the deal would connect LinkedIn’s network with Microsoft’s cloud and productivity tools.
The acquisition gave Microsoft ownership of LinkedIn’s 600 million members to complement its own enterprise and cloud services. However, Apple was not involved in this deal in any way.
Date | Event |
---|---|
June 13, 2016 | Microsoft announces plans to acquire LinkedIn for $196 per share |
December 8, 2016 | The acquisition deal officially closes for a total value of $26.2 billion |
Conclusion
In summary, LinkedIn operates the world’s largest professional networking platform but is not owned by Apple. LinkedIn has been owned by Microsoft since 2016 when Microsoft acquired LinkedIn for $26.2 billion in an all cash deal.
Apple and LinkedIn operate in different technology spaces, with Apple focused on consumer electronics and LinkedIn focused on professional networking for recruitment and employment opportunities. At no point in LinkedIn’s history, dating back to their founding in 2002, has Apple ever owned LinkedIn.
The ownership history of LinkedIn traces back to their founding team of Reid Hoffman, Allen Blue, and others in 2002. LinkedIn operated as an independent company until 2016 when Microsoft purchased the professional networking platform for $26.2 billion, gaining ownership of LinkedIn’s 600 million members.
So in summary, no – LinkedIn is not owned by Apple. It is owned and operated by Microsoft after their $26 billion acquisition in 2016.
Summary of Key Points
- LinkedIn operates a professional networking platform and is not owned by Apple.
- LinkedIn was founded in 2002 by Reid Hoffman, Allen Blue and others.
- Apple is focused on consumer electronics like iPhones and Macs, not professional networking.
- LinkedIn operated independently until being acquired by Microsoft in 2016 for $26.2 billion.
- Microsoft gained ownership of LinkedIn and its 600 million members with the acquisition.
- At no point in LinkedIn’s history has Apple ever owned the company.
So in conclusion, no – LinkedIn is owned by Microsoft, not Apple. The two companies operate in different technology spaces.
Frequently Asked Questions
When was LinkedIn founded?
LinkedIn was founded in 2002 by Reid Hoffman, Allen Blue, Konstantin Guericke, Eric Ly, and Jean-Luc Vaillant.
When did Microsoft acquire LinkedIn?
Microsoft acquired LinkedIn in 2016 for $26.2 billion. The deal was officially completed and closed on December 8, 2016.
Who are LinkedIn’s key founders and leaders?
LinkedIn’s founders are Reid Hoffman, Allen Blue, Konstantin Guericke, Eric Ly, and Jean-Luc Vaillant. Jeff Weiner joined as CEO in 2008 and remains in that role today under Microsoft’s ownership.
What products and services does LinkedIn offer?
LinkedIn offers a professional social networking platform for finding jobs, connecting with other professionals, posting resumes, advertising jobs, and more. They also now offer online learning courses through LinkedIn Learning after acquiring Lynda.com.
How many members does LinkedIn have?
As of December 2022, LinkedIn reports having over 600 million members in over 200 countries and territories around the world.
What are LinkedIn’s main revenue sources?
LinkedIn generates revenue through premium subscriptions, advertising sales, talent/recruitment solutions for corporations, and sales of online learning courses. Subscriptions and ads are their largest revenue sources.
Does Apple own LinkedIn stock?
No, Apple does not own shares of LinkedIn. When Microsoft acquired LinkedIn in 2016, they purchased all outstanding shares at $196 per share. This gave Microsoft 100% ownership of LinkedIn.
What companies does Apple own?
Apple owns various subsidiaries like Braeburn Capital, Apple Energy, and Apple Sales International. They also own smaller technology companies acquired for their assets and talent, such as Beats, Topsy, and Shazam.
Has Apple ever made any large acquisitions like Microsoft’s LinkedIn deal?
Yes, Apple has made large acquisitions before, though not on the scale of Microsoft’s LinkedIn deal. Some of Apple’s biggest acquisitions include Beats Electronics in 2014 for $3 billion and NeXT Computer in 1996 for $429 million, which brought Steve Jobs back to Apple.
Does Microsoft own any other large social media or networking platforms besides LinkedIn?
No, LinkedIn is the only major social media/networking platform owned by Microsoft. In 2016, Microsoft did offer to acquire Yahoo’s core business for $44.6 billion, but the offer was rejected and later withdrawn.
What do analysts think of Microsoft’s acquisition of LinkedIn?
Analysts generally saw Microsoft’s LinkedIn acquisition as a smart strategic move to combine LinkedIn’s professional social data with Microsoft’s enterprise offerings. However, some analysts thought Microsoft overpaid at their $26 billion valuation. Overall though, it gave Microsoft an asset not matched by competitors.
How does LinkedIn’s business model work and generate revenue?
LinkedIn’s revenue comes from premium subscriptions, online advertising sales, recruitment services for corporations, and online education/learning content. Premium subscriptions give members added features and insights. Advertisers can target members based on their employment, education, interests, and other data.
What is the current stock price and market cap valuation of LinkedIn under Microsoft?
Since Microsoft acquired LinkedIn in 2016, LinkedIn is now a wholly-owned subsidiary and its stock is no longer publicly traded. Microsoft does not break out specific revenue or valuation data for LinkedIn.
Could Apple ever buy LinkedIn from Microsoft?
It’s highly unlikely Apple would ever acquire LinkedIn from Microsoft. The 2016 acquisition price of $26 billion was already substantial, and Microsoft would likely demand a significant premium to even consider selling. An agreement between such dominant tech competitors would also raise anticompetitive concerns.
References
LinkedIn Company History – https://about.linkedin.com/
Microsoft to acquire LinkedIn – https://news.microsoft.com/2016/06/13/microsoft-to-acquire-linkedin/
Satya Nadella on Microsoft’s LinkedIn acquisition – https://www.cnbc.com/2016/06/13/microsoft-ceo-satya-nadella-on-linkedin-acquisition.html
Apple Company History – https://www.macobserver.com/tmo/article/the-real-history-of-apple-inc
Microsoft Closes Acquisition of LinkedIn – https://news.microsoft.com/2016/12/08/microsoft-closes-acquisition-of-linkedin/